But this is not a memorial for Stan I write. It is a look back to 1949, because I happened to come across an old Life Magazine while looking for an article on Charlie Chaplin and saw this.
The pennant race between the Cards and the Dodgers was in the home stretch. For the very young, a pennant race was just that, two teams battling it out to see who plays in the World Series. "Play-offs" and "Wild Cards" were as yet undreamed of. And in this year, 4 years following the end of World War II (good guys and bad guys clearly defined), Life Magazine ran a story on that: "Yanks or Red Sox? Cards or Dodgers?"
But the line I like best is "Can Stan the Man Beat the Brooklyns?"
The article says, "The principal reason the Dodgers are worried about the Cardinals is Stan the Man Musial. Although Musial has been having only a fair season (for him), Dodger pitchers cannot seem to get him out."
Sometimes I think I'd like to be 25 or 30 years old again, be around for whatever tomorrow brings. But I'm not so sure these days. And I sure am happy I didn't miss the pure excitement of watching the Cardinals take the field, with number 6 in the lineup, and anticipate what he might do that day. He and Slaughter and Schoendienst and Kurowski and Breechen and the others.
I followed the standings, watched Stan's batting average climb up through the 300's, his home run totals move to the top of the list, loved his easy way of coming through in the clutch to win a game with a long ball and watch his easy stride around the bases. No big deal, no fists pumped in the air. It was just his job, to play the best he could. And he always did. I didn't know it at the time, but when the Cards finally got around to adding black players to the roster, Stan was the one who welcomed them, in a city that had more trouble adjusting to the new reality.
I'll always carry those thrilling memories of Stan the Man. He was a part of my life and love of baseball. As long as there is someone to announce, "Play ball," Stan will be out there, a singular example of what a ballplayer, an athlete and a man should be.
When I was a kid, I participated in the March of Dimes Walkathon. This was in the early 70's. Before the 20-mile began at Busch Stadium, I saw some old guy in a leisure suit, standing by a statue. He was less than 20 feet away. All I saw was a guy with thinning hair wearing an old man's suit.
ReplyDeleteLater, I found out that was Stan Musial, standing next to the statue of him.
One of my few brushes with greatness...
I love that memory. How appropriate - the living, breathing Stan next to the bronze one. I'm sure you'll never forget it.
DeleteWhen I was growing up in South Dakota in the late 40's/early 50's, baseball was strictly a hometown affair. American Legion ball was as close as we got to the majors. Then the Boston Braves moved to Milwaukee and it was a whole new ballgame. When I was around 15 or 16, a neighboring family took me and their two sons near my age to Milwaukee to see The Braves play The Brooklyn Dodgers. I remember Eddie Mathews at third base for the Braves; Jackie Robertson and Roy Campanella for the Dodgers. It was a great thrill. A Braves pitcher (Burdette?) threw at Campanella's head and he charged the mound brandishing his bat. I remember being surprised by how fast this squat round man could run. Fortunately no one got hurt and the game continued, although I don't recall who won. Precious memories. RIP Stan the Man and all his ilk from a truly golden era.
ReplyDeleteLovely memory, Jim. I even love the concept of Campanella charging the mound. Something about baseball; the memories are almost better than the game.
DeleteGreat memories, Gerry. I don't have any remembrances like you have, certainly, and you've got some good ones. I just recall when we first moved here in 1997 and seeing the old Busch Stadium all lit up. I remember thinking, "now THIS is a real city!" Oh, and there was that time Mark McGwire autographed napkins for my three kids at Yen Ching on Brentwood. Despite the crazy salaries and corporate stink on major league baseball, I think I'll always be a fan. There's a reason Hollywood has cranked out so many baseball movies.
ReplyDeleteAnd now we move to the next level of adulation. Bernie M with the PD suggests changing the name of our city to St. Stan. Good idea except it won't track with the melody, Meet me in St. Louie, Louie. Or would we sing Meet me in St. Stanley, Stanley? Sounds like a Stanley and Livingston joke.
ReplyDeleteI was watching Bob Costas' piece tonight about Musial. It was said that he was never ejected from a game. Does anybody remember this? In the late fifties in a home game I think I heard Harry Caray describe a play, in which Musial was called out on a tag while approaching third base. A fielder had muffed a play and the ball had gone into fowl territory on a bad throw, and rolled up against the stands. Although the ball was still in play, the catcher put his hand up above, behind and over his shoulder, as is customary in asking for a new ball for his pitcher, and, from behind, the home plate umpire put a new ball in his hand. That's the ball the fielder tagged Musial out with, even though the original ball was still in play and was never, justifiably so, ruled dead. Musial got up and tried to explain the circumstances to the umpire at third, but he was so shocked to see Musial complain, that he just reflexively threw him out of the game. Musial quietly walked off the field. The umpire was so embarrassed when he understood the circumstances because he couldn't change his missed call or his ejection. Anybody remember this?
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