O.T.--- Stan Musial passed away Saturday night
- Thread starter Leap Frog
- Start date
full house frog
Tier 1
Stan was a fantastic player and will be missed. Earl Weaver also passed, he was a Baltimore legend.
tcudoc
Full Member
Both are all time greats. Musial was amazing. I have many of his baseball cards. I am too young to have seen him play, but I love the great players from back in the day.
I think Earl Weaver ranks up there with Sparky Anderson as a classic manager from the past.
Lots of good memories.
I think Earl Weaver ranks up there with Sparky Anderson as a classic manager from the past.
Lots of good memories.
Bonner4Prez
KMA
Saw this on Sportscenter this morning. RIP
RufeBruton
Active Member
I grew up in St.L and did watch him play at old Busch (Sportsman Park at Grand and Dodier). As every young kid, I 'turned around' and tried to hit lefty and did the Musial butt wiggle (before whiffing at the pitch).
RufeBruton
Active Member
I was there (Musial & Biggies) around the same time. Stan came over to our table with a 'baseball bat' sized pepper mill. He swung it like it was a bat and managed to drop it on the floor. Kinda confirmed that he was somewhat of a klutz in non-baseball activities.
joejordan
Member
I was there a little later, don't remember the year. Stan was there. He went from table to table saying hello, and signing a few autographs. I didn't really know much about the ballplayer, but I saw a man who knew how to work a crowd that night, one table at a time.
Z
Zebra Frog
Guest
He was my favorite as a kid. In the early 60's, my parents drove us from West Texas to St. Louis so I could see him play. The Cardinals were in the pennant chase and played the Braves. Ate at his restaurant as well. That trip remains one my fondest memories.
Stan Musial was one of my very favorite players. I lived on a farm near Mansfield and would stay awake listening to Cardinal baseball on my first portable radio. In 1963, when I was 12, I took the bus alone from Fort Worth to Houston to see him play his last game in Houston. It rained all the way. I was very worried because all I had was a round trip bus ticket and $10 and I knew that the game would not be replayed.
I found my way from the bus station to Colt 45 stadium, bought a ticket in the right-field bleachers hoping that he would play and hoping he would play that position. I got there quite early and the grounds crew was shoveling sand onto the field. The rain had stopped and I was optimistic. During batting practice, I spotted Joe Garagiola sitting in the stands with Jocko Conlon and went up and got their autographs.
I walked around the stands and discovered the visitors' clubhouse. It was still early. I would up getting Stan Musial to autograph my program along with Bob Gibson, Ken Boyer, Joe Torre, Curt Flood, and many others. Musial started the game, played 3 innings and got a single.
I was so thrilled about taking all that in that I missed the last bus downtown and started walking in the direction of downtown. Somehow, I don't remember exactly how, I made it back to the bus station, but I had missed the last bus to Fort Worth. I only had a dime left which I had not spent because I would have to call my parents to come from Mansfield to pick me up ( a collect long distance call and needed the dime. I spent the night on a bench in the bus station guarding that autographed program.
I got back the next day, called my parents and they drove to Fort Worth and picked me up. I felt so proud that they had trusted me enough to allow me my first adventure, and what a great adventure and memory it was. I met Musial several times later. I always wished I could have told him about my going to see him play and I also wish I could have heard him play the harmonica.
Not only was he one of the greatest baseball players ever, Stan The Man, was one of the game's greatest human beings. Rest in Peace, Mr. Musial. You were the kind of man all professional athletes ought to be, and the kind of man who deserved to be viewed as a hero and role model to so many young boys and girls.
I found my way from the bus station to Colt 45 stadium, bought a ticket in the right-field bleachers hoping that he would play and hoping he would play that position. I got there quite early and the grounds crew was shoveling sand onto the field. The rain had stopped and I was optimistic. During batting practice, I spotted Joe Garagiola sitting in the stands with Jocko Conlon and went up and got their autographs.
I walked around the stands and discovered the visitors' clubhouse. It was still early. I would up getting Stan Musial to autograph my program along with Bob Gibson, Ken Boyer, Joe Torre, Curt Flood, and many others. Musial started the game, played 3 innings and got a single.
I was so thrilled about taking all that in that I missed the last bus downtown and started walking in the direction of downtown. Somehow, I don't remember exactly how, I made it back to the bus station, but I had missed the last bus to Fort Worth. I only had a dime left which I had not spent because I would have to call my parents to come from Mansfield to pick me up ( a collect long distance call and needed the dime. I spent the night on a bench in the bus station guarding that autographed program.
I got back the next day, called my parents and they drove to Fort Worth and picked me up. I felt so proud that they had trusted me enough to allow me my first adventure, and what a great adventure and memory it was. I met Musial several times later. I always wished I could have told him about my going to see him play and I also wish I could have heard him play the harmonica.
Not only was he one of the greatest baseball players ever, Stan The Man, was one of the game's greatest human beings. Rest in Peace, Mr. Musial. You were the kind of man all professional athletes ought to be, and the kind of man who deserved to be viewed as a hero and role model to so many young boys and girls.
tcudoc
Full Member
Wow!! Great story. Thanks for sharing. My parents would have never let me do that.
Aloha Frog
Active Member
My favorite John Wayne movie is Donavon's Reef. The Duke takes care of some kids while their dad is off island. The little boy is a big "Stan the Man" fan. America doesn't get better than that. RIP.
oldscribe
Member
Great memories, Dutchman!!
Leap Frog
Full Member
Gosh, all the great memories you guys have about Stan are amazing. Dutchman's post sounds a lot like the things I used to do as a kid to see the Frogs play football. Except, I didn't have much money, so I hitch-hiked to the SWC location where the team was playing. In the 40's, you could get a ride real easy.
Later, I made several trips to St.Louis to see Musial and the Cards. My favorite Stan story is when he was asked by a writer what his secret was to hit so well against spitball pitchers: " I hit the dry side" was his reply, but he could hit all kinds of pitching.
Thanks, guys for the info, this was a one-of-a- kind player and person. Might have been all-time home run hitter, if it were not for the tall screen that covered the right field pavilion in old Sportsmans Park.
joejordan
Member
Stan Musialski?
