Stan Musial American baseball player Date of Birth: 21.11.1920 Country: USA

Biography of Stan Musial

Stanley Frank Musial, known as Stan the Man, was born in Donora, Pennsylvania in 1920. He was one of six children born to Mary Lancos, who had Czech roots, and Lukasz, a Polish immigrant. Musial began playing baseball in his childhood and was recognized as a talented pitcher while playing for Donora High School.

In 1938, Musial signed his first professional contract as a pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals. After spending some time with the Williamson Red Birds, he caught the attention of the Cardinals' management in the early 1940s. Despite a serious shoulder injury in 1940, many believed Musial's career was over. However, manager Dickie Kerr saw potential in him as an outfielder and gave him a second chance.

By the end of the 1941 season, Musial had become one of the best players in the minor league. In 1942, he had 147 hits and a .315 batting average. Musial went on to become the most valuable player in 1943 and consistently ranked first in the National League for batting. It was during this period that he acquired his famous nickname, "Stan the Man."

Throughout his career, Musial achieved numerous baseball milestones. He retired in 1963 with a total of 3630 hits, which was the second-highest record in baseball history at the time. He spent 22 years playing for the Cardinals.

After his retirement, fans of the Cardinals were devastated by the loss of their beloved player. In honor of Musial, a monument with his jersey number "6" was erected in St. Louis. Musial was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969.

Musial lived to the age of 92 and passed away on January 19, 2013, at his home in Ladue, Missouri, surrounded by his family. His legacy as one of the greatest baseball players in history remains intact. Musial is remembered not only for his athletic accomplishments but also for his character. He was known as a humble and kind-hearted person both on and off the field.

Musial was married to Lillian Susan Labash, whom he met when they were both 15 years old. They got married in 1940 and had four children together. Their marriage lasted nearly 72 years until Lillian's death in 2012.

The passing of this legendary baseball player was mourned by countless Americans, all of whom agreed that Stan Musial's name is forever etched in the history of American baseball.