For the Faith and Witness of Stan Musial

This originally ran back when Spring Break was just getting underway. But tonight, the St. Louis Cardinals won Game 6 of the World Series in an epic come-from-behind, “never give up the ship” performance, forcing a Game 7. So I’m inspired to run this post again with the following exhortation: Win it for Stan the Man! Go Cardinals!

I saw a press release today from the Catholic News Service about three Catholics who were awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House.

Pardon me if I ignore the other two, because as a baseball dad, the only part of the announcement that I saw was the one that was about the Hall of Famer. Stan “the Man” Musial was one of the honorees!

You may think that sports doesn’t matter in the scheme of things. You regard what Blaise Pascal thinks about sports being even the “pursuit of kings” as being silly. Sports doesn’t matter because it doesn’t cure cancer, or get us to the Moon and back, or whatever. If you feel this way, good for you! But I feel sorry for you, because sports does still provide the inspiration that many, nay most, more tangible pursuits don’t, won’t or can’t.

I mean seriously, the Apostle Paul dipped into sports analogies all the time. If St. Paul “gets it” regarding the spirit of an athlete, perhaps you should too. Anyway, let me just have some fun celebrating the life of the life-long St. Louis Cardinal named Stan Musial. Besides, Spring Training has started, which is an even better predictor than Punxsutawney Phil that Winter is almost over!

I didn’t even know that he was a Catholic, until today. But I did know this about him:

Three World Series; seven batting titles; three MVPs; 24 All-Star Games; 3,630 hits; 475 homers(!); first-ballot Hall of Fame selection.

So the only problem you may have with “the Man” is that he didn’t play for your favorite team?! Move past that,  my Catholic sports fan brethren, as you check out this excerpt from Stan’s biography,

from Stan Musial: a Biography by Joseph Stanton

Some of Stan’s virtures seem almost of a Victorian nature, and are, therefore, difficult to discuss in the booze-and-broads context of the typical behind-the-scenes sports story. It is clear that he was devoted to his parents and deeply sensitive about the telling of any tales that would make clear the full extent of the poverty of his family as he was growing up. Broeg and other sports writers were sternly admonished by Stan not to comment at any length on the home that Stan grew up in, although Stan did eventually take Broeg to see it.

Stan, by all accounts, adored his wife Lil (ed. -still married after 70 years!) and pointedly refused any and all offered opportunities to be disloyal to her. Many have noted his dedication to church attendance. He was (ed. is!) a Catholic who did not think it acceptable to miss Mass. One of Stan’s children reported to Giglio that among the few things their father could be stern about were instances when family members wanted to allow sleepiness to get in the way of getting up for church.

Musial’s disciplined concentration was, no doubt, undergirded by his faith. Not overtly religious outside of church, Stan was, nonetheless, spiritually disciplined at the bat and in his life. Concentration was always key. He finally had to retire from playing, not so much because of a decline in physical ability, but because of the fall-off he noticed in 1963 in his ability to concentrate at bat.

You can read more here (or head to the library).

Bernie Miklasz, of STLToday.com has a great write up on Stan from the White House. Here is my favorite part,

The White House could honor Musial — but it could not hope to contain him.

Lillian Musial, who has been married to The Man for only 70 years, smiled and spoke for Cardinals fans everywhere when she said, “Wonders never cease with my husband.”

Musial was still proudly wearing the medal as he paused to speak to reporters for a few minutes late Tuesday afternoon outside the White House. He sat in his wheelchair, wearing leather gloves to ward off the chill, with two of his daughters gently rubbing his shoulders to generate additional warmth.

To Stan’s immediate left was his beloved Lil, also seated in a wheelchair. They were surrounded by their four children, son Dick and daughters Gerry, Janet and Jean.

It was a poignant moment, just seeing Stan and Lil and all of the Musials standing outside the White House, brimming with such obvious and warranted pride.

The Musials have been sweethearts since age 16 back in Donora, Pa. They were married on May 25, 1940. This was one of the most endearing aspects to this grand occasion: that Stan and Lil could share this blessed, once-in-a-lifetime experience with each other.

“I’ve always been proud of Stan from the very first day we met at 16 years old,” Lil said. “It’s been a long life and it’s been really wonderful.”

You know what, I can’t make it into the Baseball Hall Of Fame in Cooperstown. But I am going to do my level best to follow Stan and Lillian into the Marriage Hall of Fame! Now lets get to the video portion of this post, shall we?

President Barak Obama presents Stan “The Man” Musial with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Oh, and Basketball legend Bill Russel too.

Did I mention that Stan could play the harmonica? You just gotta love this! Especially because I read that he played his Hohner at the White House too. That surprised everyone except his wife Lillian.

Sing along with this one folks. Whaat? You don’t know the words?! Learn them and share this with your kids!

Check out this classic episode from What’s My Line.

Legendary announcer Jack Buck on Stan “the Man.”

Stan Musial is a gift to baseball and to all of us. Say a prayer thanking the Good Lord for witnesses such as him and his wife Lillian.

Updates:

The Anchoress is longing for baseball!

Psalms, Spring, Family and Sports

Stan Musial’s Career Statistics