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100 years of 'The Man' | Remembering St. Louis legend Stan Musial on what would have been his 100th birthday

Our city's greatest sports icon would have turned 100 on Saturday. Here's 10 things to know about the one, the only... "The Man"

ST. LOUIS — If you've ever lived in the St. Louis area for any amount of time, there's about a 0% chance you don't know who Stan Musial is.

Our most celebrated citizen was not just a baseball player. He was the perfect baseball player, and you could argue, just as good of a man.

Stan's kindness and ability on the diamond made him universally beloved around the sport, even now, seven years after his death in 2013.

Musial would have turned 100 on Nov. 21, 2020, so for his centennial birthday - make that his "Stantennial" birthday - let's take a look at 10 things to know about baseball's perfect warrior and St. Louis' all-time icon.

1: He was a model of consistency

Of his 3630 career hits, 1815 came on the road, and 1815 came at home. 

Regardless of the year or ballpark, you could count on Stan to produce. At the time of his retirement he held a remarkable 55 major league records.

2: He once asked for a decrease in salary

In 1957, Musial became the first player in the majors to earn over $100,000.

But after a sub-par season by his standards in 1959 where he batted only .255, Musial asked that his salary be decreased to $80,000.

Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Stan (The Man) Musial, of the St. Louis Cardinals looks like anything but a 36-year-old as he lopes playfully in the outfield at Cards? training camp, Feb. 28, 1957 in St. Petersburg, Fla. Musial for first time for brief workout preceding club?s opening of drills tomorrow. Musial, six-time National League batting champion, almost every St. Louis hitting record in the books. (AP Photo)

3. Musial's nickname came from an opposing crowd

Stan became "The Man" in Brooklyn.

In 1946, Dodger fans at Ebbets field began to chant "Here comes the man", every time Musial came to the plate. The rest is history.

4: Stan was always an entertainer

Stan always had his trademark harmonica at the ready and would often strike up a tune whenever the mood would strike him.

No matter the company, Stan was always happy to put a smile on someone's face.

5: Stan was a veteran and also received the highest civilian honor one can receive

Stan chose to give up his entire 1945 season to serve in the United States military during World War II.

He served in the Navy and returned to the Majors in 1946.

In 2011 President Barack Obama awarded Stan the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor he United States can bestow on a civilian.

Credit: AP
Sailor Stan Musial, St. Louis Cardinal outfielder and 1943 National League batting champion, received approval of his Navy discharge papers on Feb. 26, 1946. However, he doesn't know when he will actually be discharged. Navy has said it will be on March 15 or later. He is standing beside sign at Philadelphia naval base, advertising his baseball school for sailors. (AP Photo)

RELATED: Photographs | Stan Musial in the Navy

RELATED: Mike Bush and Stan Musial talk hitting and harmonicas on the Sports Plus couch

6: His statue outside of Busch Stadium has become legendary

"Meet me at Musial" has been a common phrase for Cardinals fans over the years.

Stan's statue has become the de facto gathering place for Cardinals fans coming to a game. The description on the statue saying "Here stands baseball's perfect warrior, baseball's perfect knight," has also become standard nomenclature among Cardinals fans.

Credit: AP
A statue of Major League Baseball hall of fame member Stan Musial stands outside Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, Wednesday, March 25, 2020, in St. Louis. The start of the regular season, which was set to start on Thursday, is on hold indefinitely because of the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

7: His autograph isn't as valuable as you might think

Stan was known for his generosity, and that applied to his signature as well.

His autograph is so prevalent throughout the baseball memorabilia industry, it probably isn't as valuable as you'd think for a Hall of Famer of his magnitude.

Stan was known to even hand out pre-signed cards himself to fans.

8: He almost never struck out

Musial only struck out 696 times in 10,972 at-bats in his legendary career. In contrast, he walked 1,599 times. That means he walked twice as much as he struck out in his career.

That's not a stat you'll see much, if at all, from players in this current generation.

9: His hometown also produced another all-time baseball great, who was born on the same day as Stan

The small town of Donora, Pennsylvania had a population of fewer than 5,000 as of 2018. But it's produced two of the greatest baseball players in the history of the sport.

Stan was born there on Nov. 21, 1920. Ken Griffey Jr. was born there on Nov. 21, 1969. That's 49 years to the date.

Griffey Jr. hit 630 career home runs, the seventh most all-time, and was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016.

10: The annual Musial Awards honor the best sportsmanship around the country

Every year, the aptly named "Musial Awards" honor the best displays of sportsmanship each year.

The ceremony is aired on television and award recipients receive special "6" trophies.

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