Stan Musial spent 22 years in Major League Baseball, all as a St. Louis Cardinal. He played on three World Champion teams, 24 All-Star teams, won seven National League batting titles and was named National League MVP three times – but is best known for his brilliant consistency and gentlemanly personality.

It’s impossible to overrate Musial’s popularity during this playing days. Former baseball commissioner Ford C. Frick said of Musial, “Here stands baseball’s perfect warrior. Here stands baseball’s perfect knight.”

Stan Musial’s Early Career

Musial was born Nov. 21, 1920 in Donora, Penn. His Polish immigrant father gave him the name Stanisław Franciszek, although it was changed to Stan Frank when he entered school. Musial played baseball and basketball in high school. He began to get attention as a left-handed pitcher when he played as a teen for a semi-pro league.

The Cardinals offered him a contract. In 1938, he began playing in the minors. Musial briefly considered quitting baseball in 1940 after he hurt his shoulder while playing the outfield. One of his early managers, Dickie Kerr, talked him out of it and even let Musial, his wife, and their baby move into his home.

By spring training of 1941, Musial restarted his career as a hitter. By the end of the season, he had moved through the minor league system and joined the Cardinals. In 47 at-bats at the end of the season with the big-league club, he hit .426.

Stan Musial and the Cardinals Dynasty

In 1942, Musial and the Cardinals started an amazing run.

As the starting left-fielder for the Cardinals, Musial hit .315, knocked in 72 runs and scored 87. The Cardinals won 106 games and beat the New York Yankees in the World Series.

In 1943, Musial won the first of three National League MVP awards. The Cardinals once again reached the World Series, this time losing to the Yankees.

In 1944, Musial hit .347, scoring 112 runs, and the Cardinals played in a third straight World Series, beating the St. Louis Browns in the “All St. Louis Series.” In 1945, Musial did not play, joining the Navy during World War II.

Returning to the team in 1946, Musial hit .365. The Cardinals won a playoff against the Brooklyn Dodgers to win the National League pennant. Musial had six hits and four RBI as the Cardinals beat the Boston Red Sox in the World Series. Musial again was named National League MVP for the 1946 season.

Stan the Man Nickname

The 1946 season is also where Brooklyn fans generated the idea that gave Stan Musial his nickname.

According to a story in the book “Stan the Man Musial: Born to Be a Ballplayer” by Jerry Lansche, Brooklyn fans – not many years away from having their hearts broken – began chanting something every time Musial approached the plate during a game on June 23 at Ebbets Field.

A St. Louis sportswriter later learned that they chanted, “Here comes the man!” He wrote about it in a column for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and the Stan the Man nickname stuck.

Later Years and Retirement

By the end of 1946, Stan the Man was among the biggest stars in baseball. But his greatest year was still ahead of him. In 1948, Musial hit .376, with 39 home runs, 131 RBIs and scored 135 runs. He won his third and final National League MVP award.

He stayed with the Cardinals throughout his career, now playing first base (a position he started playing mid-season in 1946). In 1962, at the age of 41, Musial hit .330 and came close to another batting title.

Musial retired in 1963. He had a lifetime batting average of .331. He had 1,815 hits at home – and 1,815 hits on the road. He drove in 1,951 runs and scored 1,949. His consistency every day he played is one of his hallmarks.

So was his conduct. He shied away from media attention. Playing in the middle of the country, he did not get the attention that players on the coasts received, such as Joe DiMaggio. He liked it that way.

Musial became an advisor to the Cardinals after his retirement. In 1967, he took the position of general manager and the Cardinals beat the Red Sox in the World Series. He stepped down after that season and focused on running a restaurant, Stan and Biggie’s.

He was pretty good at harmonica playing, too.

Musial died in 2013, surrounded by family and friends at his home in Ladue, Missouri. He was 92 years old.