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Cardinals Hall of Famer Stan Musial Dies at Age 92
ABC News and Associated Press ^ | ST. LOUIS January 20, 2013 | By R.B. FALLSTROM AP Sports Writer

Posted on 01/19/2013 6:01:28 PM PST by bd476

click here to read article


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To: bd476

When I was 5-6-7 years old, one of our few recreational activities was watching the Panama City Fliers play at Lion’s Park.

It was the class D Alabama/Florida League. I still have an official Alabama/Florida League Spalding baseball autographed by the entire team. Probably 1953. My older sister got the groundskeeper to give her the gall and she got all the players to sign it.

One of the players for Pensacola was Cal Ripkin Sr. One of the Panama City players was Chase Riddle who I think set some minor league records before being a scout for the St. Louis Cardinals. After he retired he led Troy University to a couple of national championships.


21 posted on 01/19/2013 6:28:50 PM PST by yarddog (One shot one miss.)
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To: JoeProBono

Joe, thanks for posting those photos of Stan Musial.


22 posted on 01/19/2013 6:30:48 PM PST by bd476
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To: bd476
Not a baseball fan ... was it 82 or 92?
In the scheme of things it doesn't really matter ... I'm hearing/reading 82 ... which was it?
23 posted on 01/19/2013 6:33:35 PM PST by BluH2o
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To: bd476

Hat tip to one of the greats.


24 posted on 01/19/2013 6:36:41 PM PST by logitech (Who's here so vile, that will not love his country? If any speak, for him I have offended)
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To: bd476

A piece of my youth is now gone. May he join the others in the field of dreams, to play his game forever.


25 posted on 01/19/2013 6:37:04 PM PST by NTHockey (Rules of engagement #1: Take no prisoners)
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To: xrmusn
xrmusn wrote: "Not many heroes of my Summers Past are left. Although a die hard Brooklyn Dodger fan in the midst of NY Yankee and a smattering of NY Giants fans, I still held a lot of respect for many of the opposition, particularly "The Man". He was married 71 years.....and USN Vet, missing the 1945 season. RIP as you join the other 'Boys Of Summer'.

One couldn't help but admire him. His dear wife passed away last year. I didn't know he served in the US Navy, that's his character though. He was a real legend but those who met him said he was very humble and down to earth.

26 posted on 01/19/2013 6:38:26 PM PST by bd476
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To: BluH2o

Musial was 92. Earl Weaver also died today; he was 82.


27 posted on 01/19/2013 6:41:42 PM PST by twister881
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To: bd476

I *was* a baseball fan — Kansas City A’s, Washington Senators, San Diego Padres. Got it from my Mom, who loved the game.

In elementary school, the teacher would bring a radio so we could listen to Opening Day.

Drugs, bad behavior, and exorbitant prices ruined if for me.


28 posted on 01/19/2013 6:49:26 PM PST by twister881
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To: alfa6

Alfa6, thank you for sharing the link to that very interesting article about Stan the Man.
He set good standards for baseball and for life.


29 posted on 01/19/2013 6:53:11 PM PST by bd476
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To: bd476
Baltimore Oriole Manager, Earl Weaver died of heart attack today at the age of 82.

Earl Weaver
30 posted on 01/19/2013 6:58:03 PM PST by Brown Deer (Pray for 0bama. Psalm 109:8)
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To: twister881

OK ... thanks.


31 posted on 01/19/2013 6:59:05 PM PST by BluH2o
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To: bd476

This is what Bill James wrote about Musial in his first edition of THe Historical Baseball Abstract:

“The image of Musial seems to be fading quickly…. It doesn’t seem that the image is very sharp, that anybody really knows what made him different…

“What he was was a ballplayer. He didn’t spit at fans, he didn’t get into fights in nightclubs, he didn’t marry anybody famous. He hustled. You look at his career totals of doubles and triples, and they’ll remind you of something that was accepted while he was active, and has been largely forgotten since: Stan Musial was one player who always left the batter’s box on a dead run.”

In that book he rated Musial ahead of Williams as the best left-fielder of all time, although he did reverse that decision in the second edition without much explanation. I would rather have had Musial on my team than Williams.


32 posted on 01/19/2013 7:06:37 PM PST by Gil4 (Progressives - Trying to repeal the Law of Supply and Demand since 1848)
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To: twister881
wister881 wrote: "I *was* a baseball fan — Kansas City A's, Washington Senators, San Diego Padres. Got it from my Mom, who loved the game. In elementary school, the teacher would bring a radio so we could listen to Opening Day. Drugs, bad behavior, and exorbitant prices ruined if for me."

I was too, couldn't help but be a fan of the greats, that is if you lived in my neighborhood with a nearby baseball diamond and a radio.


33 posted on 01/19/2013 7:07:57 PM PST by bd476
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To: Brown Deer
Brown Deer wrote: " Baltimore Oriole Manager, Earl Weaver died of heart attack today at the age of 82."

Thanks Brown Deer. More sad news. May Earl rest in peace.


34 posted on 01/19/2013 7:12:19 PM PST by bd476
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To: Gil4
Did anyone on FR see "The Man" play in person?

I refinanced my house back in the late 90's. The loan officer and I ended up talking baseball. He had seen Stan as a player. We got into a fascinating discussion about batting and batting stances. Being a young guy, I of course talked about Joe Morgan and the chicken arm flap, and the Pete Rose crouch. He showed me the Stan Musial "peekaboo" stance. I had never seen it.

It was cool. The loan guy was in his 70's at the time and knew every big time 1940s and 50s player's batting technique.

35 posted on 01/19/2013 7:16:54 PM PST by boop ("You don't look so bad, here's another")
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To: bd476

I had the honor of meeting him many times. A true gentleman, loved his fans.

RIP Sir.

We will all see you soon. Maybe you can show us a few things. I so look forward to playing some ball!


36 posted on 01/19/2013 7:18:43 PM PST by Steve Newton (And the Wolves will learn what we have shown before-We love our sheep we dogs of war. Vaughn)
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To: bd476
More sad news. May Earl rest in peace.

I wonder......are there any umpires in heaven?

If there are, how will Earl respond?

37 posted on 01/19/2013 7:19:22 PM PST by okie01 (The Mainstream Media: IGNORANCE ON PARADE)
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To: boop

I saw him

First thing I asked my dad was why was his stance so funny. I got one of his bats cracked in a foul.

I used it for a rock bat.

Yeah

I know


38 posted on 01/19/2013 7:23:21 PM PST by Steve Newton (And the Wolves will learn what we have shown before-We love our sheep we dogs of war. Vaughn)
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To: Gil4
Gil4 wrote: "This is what Bill James wrote about Musial in his first edition of THe Historical Baseball Abstract:

'The image of Musial seems to be fading quickly…. It doesn't seem that the image is very sharp, that anybody really knows what made him different…

What he was was a ballplayer. He didn't spit at fans, he didn't get into fights in nightclubs, he didn't marry anybody famous. He hustled. You look at his career totals of doubles and triples, and they'll remind you of something that was accepted while he was active, and has been largely forgotten since: Stan Musial was one player who always left the batter's box on a dead run.'


In that book he rated Musial ahead of Williams as the best left-fielder of all time, although he did reverse that decision in the second edition without much explanation. I would rather have had Musial on my team than Williams. "


Thank you, Gil4. Stan Musial was one of a kind. I sure hope God sends us another Musial with similar decent, mature, down to earth qualities soon.

Coincidentally "The Natural" just began on a local station.



39 posted on 01/19/2013 7:25:05 PM PST by bd476
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To: boop

My husband saw him many times in person. And when my husband was still a uni student in the late 1960’s, Musial had a restaurant in St. Louis and would be there most of the time. Once my husband met Musial at the restaurant, and, as usual for anyone who asked, Musial signed a photo of himself for my husband.


40 posted on 01/19/2013 7:34:12 PM PST by Aussiebabe
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