Stan Musial was one of the greatest ballplayers in an era of great players, perhaps the most complete player of his time. He hit for both average and power, drove in a bushel of runs, excelled in the clutch, ran the bases smartly, fielded his position expertly, and with quiet resolve and dignity served as team leader. When he retired in 1963 he held almost every National League batting record, surpassing such greats as Cap Anson, Rogers Hornsby, Honus Wagner and Mel Ott. Teammates and opponents alike admired him, as much for his baseball skills as for his conduct. He ran out every ball, never showed up his opponents or embarrassed an umpire, avoided public conflicts with his teammates and management, and stayed clear of all scandal. His steadfast dedication to the game and his uncommon decency earned him the nickname Stan "The Man" Musial, a moniker as fitting as any in the history of sports.Many consider the 1940s and '50s to be among the most glorious decades in the history of major-league baseball. Of the players, events, and circumstances responsible for this, Stan The Man, Joe Dimaggio, Jackie Robinson, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron stand out - along with integration, an unexceeded quality of play, and baseball's unchallenged grip on the sports interests of the country. Stan "The Man" Musial: Born to Be a Ballplayer is the ardent story of Stan's thick contributions to this era. It will transport you back to the days of baggy uniforms and "Country" Enos Slaughter, Sunday doubleheaders and Marty Marion, Sportsman's Park and The Man going 3 for 4.Author Jerry Lansche brings you many of these 3 for 4s, plus the drama of all of Musial's big days over a twenty-two-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals. His 3,000th hit. His 400th home run. His four World Series. His three MVPs. His induction into the Hall of Fame. Following Musial from his birth to immigrant parents in Donora, Pennsylvania, to his minor league days in the smoke-choked coal towns of West Virginia and the sun-bleached resorts of Florida, Lansche recreates Stan's checkered path to the Major Leagues. Signed as a pitcher, Musial turned the heads of only those who looked away in disappointment. The author reveals the telling story of how this non-prospect reinvented himself as one of the game's greatest hitters. Through the good and bad Stan exhibited a rare loylaty to his team and its city, rebuffing overtures from the Mexican League in the '40s and insisting on being in the lineup every day. Musial played in 3026 games, fifth most all time, and the author adds some flesh to the names and faces of those who played with and against him: The Cooper brothers, Dimaggio, Slaughter, Campanella, Robinson, Gibson, and many more.This book is a joyous tribute to the greatest player to ever wear a St. Louis Cardinal uniform - and it reveals the ultimate truth about Stan "The Man" Musial: he truly was born to be a ballplayer.
