Wow..."Stan The Man" was born in the same year as my late father, in January of '20, Musial later that November. The US/world was certainly a whole lot different back then than it is now, but I feel that they both witnessed more historic events (both good and bad) occur than I have and probably will in my lifetime. I really must say that I dislike the 21st century so far, it is not very much like I imagined it might be as a child. Only smartphones seem like a significant innovation. Seems like the US has regressed more than it has progressed in many ways, especially economically with a crumbling national infrastructure. But hey...Big Oil, Big Pharma, Big Farm, and Big MIC are still flourishing.

I really believed that the US would be colonizing Mars by now, while probing our solar system's outskirts with manned spaceships...watched too much Jetsons and Star Trek/Wars as a child and young adult, I guess.

Wow, 92...nice run. He is on the short list of guys I wish I would have been able to see play.

My friend Bill and his father were at the game a many year ago at the old park in St Louis, Sportman that is. Back before many of us were around. Stan did not play that day, giving the day off. Bill and his father thoe went down to the gangway anyway and watched the players go to there lockers rooms. that how the old ballpark was.
There they found an old man and his Grandson watching as well. The OLD man had brought his Grandson to the game to see Stan in person, and now was trying to see him up close and get hps autograph. Well as we all know the best laid plans sometimes go for not. They were on the wrong side and missed him. The old man was upset to say the least, And did say so. So much that the Door Guard took the ball from the boy and went inside to try to get it signed. At this point Bill wanted to go, but Bill's dad said lets wait and see. Bill's dad had played in the minor's. So he knew some of the players first hand and wanted to see what happen. And here where the story really starts. The guard returned and took the boy and grandfather in to get Stan signature. And the wait was on for his return. and a wait it was. Bill was really wondering just how long they would wait. But his dad was firm in his ways. At last the wait was over and the young boy returned with that smile on his face. The reward was indeed waiting for. For not only did he have Stan's autograph. Stan took him around the locker room and got eveplayers autograph that was there. So there you have it why Stan the man is such a beloved man in St Louis. Stan was with the fans and the fans were with Stan. And that day Stan made a fan for life.
I do not cry often but as I type I fight the tears back to see the letters to post this.
I shad a tear before I started this did not think it would affect me this much. Took a moment to think about this and recover my thoughts. Indeed this is a sad day for baseball and family and friends of Stan Musial A MAN in a boy life so many years ago. Stan will be missed.

Musial was one of the REAL greats. He was an Olympian overshadowed by DiMaggio and Williams. Had he played in New York, he would not be the most underrated player in sports history. Musial was on my short list of people I wanted to meet.

RIP Stan the Man.

Touching story you shared with us lonesome tiger,
Stan was every bit as great to fans as he was as a player.

Our own decades long beloved Kaline always said his two heros growing up were Ted Williams and Stan Musial. Kind of fitting he wore one of his hero's uniform numbers.
That gets me a bit teary eyed that our own #6 isn't going to be around forever, even though his clock of life goes on.

He was once on an episode of That Girl. He guest starred as himself. I saw it when I was a little kid.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/e...l-uniform-patch-to-feature-celebration-colors
Stan Musial uniform patch to feature 'celebration' colors.
from cbssports