Stan Musial - 1920-2013

#6 Retired by Cardinals

Stanley Frank Musial wore No. 6, the first number retired by the Cardinals franchise. Upon his retirement on Sept. 29, 1963, Musial held 17 major league records, 29 National League marks and nine All-Star Game records. His career highlights include:

  • Ranked first in National League history in hits (3,630) and second in homers (475) when he retired.
  • Batted .331 in his career, won seven National League batting titles and led the league in hits six times.
  • Never ejected in 3,026 regular-season games.
  • Member of the the Cardinals' World Series championship clubs in 1942, 1944 and 1946, and a pennant-winner in 1943.
  • Cardinals general manager for one season, when they beat Boston in the 1967 World Series.
  • Business and civic leader, chairman of the Crippled Children's Society of St. Louis for 20 years, member of numerous boards of directors, including Boy Scouts, USO, Senior Olympics, St. Louis Muscular Dystrophy Association, St. Louis Diabetic Association and Southwest Bank.

Records Still Standing

Played in a record 24 consecutive All-Star Games and hit an All-Star record six home runs.

Set a National League record for most years (17) and most consecutive years (16) batting .300 or better (50 or more games).

His 22 years as a Cardinal, covering 3,026 games, established an N.L. record for most seasons with one club.

Established major league records for most seasons leading his league in doubles (eight) and in extra-base hits (seven).

Holds National League marks for most seasons leading the league in runs scored (five), in triples (five) and in fewest strikeouts (four).

Hit five home runs in a May 2, 1954, doubleheader vs. the New York Giants, setting the major league mark for most homers in a twin-bill.

Cardinals Franchise Leader

Games (3,026), at-bats (10,972), runs scored (1,949), hits (3,630), doubles (725), triples (177), home runs (475), runs batted in (1,951), extra-base hits (1,377), walks (1,599), total bases (6,134)

Awards

1943, 1946, 1948: Most Valuable Player in the National League

1946, 1951: Major League Player of the Year from The Sporting News

1950s: Player of the Decade from The Sporting News

1957: Sportsman of the Year from Sports Illustrated

1957: Lou Gehrig Memorial Award, given to players who best exemplify Gehrig's character

1961: Best player of the last 15 years from Sport Magazine

1962: Comeback Player of the Year, when he hit .330 at age 41, finishing third in batting average

Recognition

1964: Named chairman, President's Council on Physical Fitness by President Lyndon B. Johnson

1968: Larger-than-life-size bronze statue of Stan The Man unveiled outside Busch Stadium

1969: Elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, receiving 93.2 percent of the vote - the third-highest percentage after the Hall's inaugural class was enshrined in 1936.

1999: Cavalier Cross of the Order of Merit, the Polish government's highest civilian award

2011: President Barack Obama awarded Stan Musial the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States highest civilian honor, for his lifetime of achievement and service.

PLUS: He is a member of baseball's All-Century Team, the Polish National Hall of Fame, the Pennsylvania Hall of Fame and sports halls of fame in Missouri and St. Louis.

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