Major League Baseball

Musial to receive highest civilian honor

Published Nov. 17, 2010 12:00 a.m. ET

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St. Louis Cardinals legend Stan Musial will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, MLB.com reported Wednesday.

The Hall of Famer, who turns 90 on Sunday, will become the eighth baseball player in history to accept the country’s highest civilian award, which was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963.

The decision to honor Musial brought to fruition the “Stand for Stan” campaign led by the Cardinals organization, in part, to persuade President Barack Obama to present Musial with the prestigious award.

Musial, known affectionately as “Stan the Man,” spent 22 seasons with the Cardinals between 1941 and 1963, earning Most Valuable Player honors three times.

The outfielder and first baseman built a reputation as one of the game’s greatest hitters during his long, productive career.

The 24-time All-Star (two All-Star games were played each year between 1959 and 1962) owned an astonishing .331 lifetime batting average. He ranks fourth in Major League history with 3,630 career hits and third in doubles with 725.

The Pennsylvania native helped lead the Cardinals to three World Series titles in 1942, 1944 and 1946. Musial missed the 1945 season to serve in the United States Navy during World War II.

The gifted left-handed hitter was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969.

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