An Exemplary Life

When I was nine, I got a Stan Musial bat. It was big and weighty, just like the man himself. If truth be told, it was a little too heavy for a kid a year out of T-ball, but it became the weapon of choice when I hit the ball past the outfielders a couple of times. His name invested the wood with magic power.

Most baseball teams in the early 1960's had one superstar who stood head and shoulders above the rest of the players. The Giants had Willie Mays, and the Yankees Mickey Mantle. For the St. Louis Cardinals Stan Musial was the face of the franchise.

Stan Musial retired 50 years ago, led an exemplary life after his playing days, and died Saturday at the age of 92. For many St. Louis fans he was still the face of the franchise. R.I.P.