Throwback Photo of the Day: Stan Musial is sworn into the U.S. Navy during World War II

In 1943, Stan Musial led MLB in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, hits, doubles and triples on his way to his first career NL MVP Award. His Cardinals wound up winning the NL pennant that season, when Musial was only 22.

The future Hall of Famer played one more year with the Cards before missing his age-24 season to serve his country during World War II.

Musial was drafted into service in 1944 and called to duty in January 1945. The above photo shows Ensign Gerry O'Brien welcoming the slugger to the Bainbridge Naval Training Center after Musial's induction into the U.S. Navy. Musial was assigned to a ship repair unit in Pearl Harbor, but still found time to play baseball in the Navy's on-base league.

After 15 months of service, Musial was released from service as a seaman first class in March of '46, and he went right back to doing what he did best. He led MLB in almost every measurable offensive statistic in 1946, won his second NL MVP Award and helped his Cardinals win the World Series (for the second time in Musial's career).