He never achieved the singular achievement greatness in the sport he loved and honored by his presence the way many others did. Joe Dimaggio would hit in 56 successive games. Ted Williams would become the last great to hit .400 in a season. Mays and Mantle and Snider would capture the hearts of the media of the New York Metro area and stir great debates about who truly was the finest center fielder of the day.
The Old Polo Grounds, Third Base Stands.
Stan Musial was rather special. I was privileged to have seen him play in person on only a single occasion. He and the St. Louis Cardinals came to New York to face the Mets at the Polo Grounds when the Mets called the Polo Grounds home in the 1962 and 1963 seasons. I could not tell you what Musical did that day–that rare Saturday afternoon when a Double header was played, and Musial, age 40, played both games.
Musial was a life time .331 hitter and in 1962, at the age of 40, he hit .330 while amassing over 505 official at bats.
I was never a Cardinals fan, but I always rooted for Stan the Man. There was just something about the class and dignity he displayed at all times, and in so doing, he elevated the overall way the game was perceived.
Charming Sportsman’s Park. St. Louis, Mo. Where Stan Played.
I recall a time back in 1986, when a guy from Union Camp Corporation was retiring. His subordinate came to me and suggested I knew people in baseball and that I could probably get a personalized autographed picture of Stan Musial for the fellow retiring. He implored me to try and obtain a personalized and autographed picture for his boss’s retirement celebration.
I said I would try, but that I really knew no one at the Cardinals organization. But, as my kids would often remind me: “You don’t get 100% of what you don’t ask for”.
So I called the St. Louis organization and asked how I could get hold of Mr. Musial. They gave me Stan’s home number, and so I called. He actually answered the phone. We chatted for about 15 minutes and I told him of my having seen him play in 1962 and 1963.
I told him that a huge fan of his who had grown up in St. Louis was retiring from Union Camp,and would it be possible for me to obtain a signed autographed picture that could be presented to the fellow retiring at his retirement dinner? Of course, said Stan, and he asked me if I wanted a batting pose or a fielding pose for the picture. Then he asked me how would I like him to personalize the note on the picture.
After we completed all of the necessary directions, I asked Stan what would be his charge for this picture.
He simply replied that there was no charge–and that he would be pleased to provide the picture for the fan.
I pressed him, knowing that all baseball greats charge for a signed picture. Stan, in a very low key fashion, said if I wanted to do something, that I should simply make a donation to my favorite charity in the name of “Stan the Man”. A Fed-ex package came to my office the very next day with the requested autographed photo.
The folks at Union Camp followed through and made a lovely donation to “Big Brothers–Big Sisters”.
Fast-forward to September 2010. I am now serving on the Board of Trustees of Green Hill Nursing Home, a non profit organization. We are planning a Gala Fund Raiser and we are looking for product to raffle off at the Gala in order to raise money. (Side note: My boss was extremely generous and graciously took a table at the Gala to support me in the Green Hill fundraising .)
I decide to call the number of Stan’s home that I had kept since 1986. So, 24 years later, I called Stan Musial again.
He takes my call. He is no longer 65 (as he was in 1986)–he is now 89 or 90. I reminded him of what he did for me 24 years earlier but he was not sure he could recall the specifics of our previous conversation. But, he was delighted that he was able to help me out back then and of course he would be delighted to help me again now.
He asked: “what would you like me to do?” I said that I wanted a signed autographed picture of him that we could raffle off at the Gala fundraiser. He apologizes that he would not be able to provide a lengthy greeting on the picture as his arthritis is quite painful, but he hopes it would be ok if he simply provides “only” an autographed picture that he personally would send to me.
I thanked him profousely and once again, a Fed ex package arrives on my steps the very next day.
These were my two very personal and very memorable conversations with Stan Musial. I will never forget this man’s gentility, his humility, his generosity, and his goodness. Oh, if only all humans or all ball players could act with the charity and decency of this great man.
I will close by making the following point. I said earlier something about never achieving singular greatness in the sport of baseball.
No, Stan the Man did more than that. Stan achieved singular greatness in real and true life!!!
As Stan’s grandson said at the funeral of his grandfather, “grandpa, you never let anyone down in your entire life. And you made nobodies feel like somebodies all of your entire life”.
Side note #1: Stan never had a heated argument with an umpire–ever. He was never thrown out of a game–ever.
When asked about this years later, he simply said: “Can you imagine what Lil (Lillian, his wife of 72 years) would say to me if I ever came home and had to tell her that I had been thrown out of a game”?
Side note #2: I am pleased to report that my dear friend of 34 years, Greg, won the raffle at the Green Hill Gala fundraiser and is the proud owner of the Stan Musial autographed picture that the good and decent Mr. Musial provided.
Side note #3: My thanks to dear friend of nearly 50 years, Bill Hahn, who told me I had to share this story. I’m glad that he made me do this!
Yes, this past week we mortals on earth lost a touch of class about the time that Heaven received a true class individual for the Heavenly All Star team!
Farewell Stan Musial.
Rest well and know the world is a better place for the kindness you shared and the happiness you spread.
