The City of St. Louis laid to rest last week one of its most famous residents, the Catholic Hall of Fame outfielder-first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals, Stan Musial.
St. Louis native son Cardinal Timothy Dolan described Musial as “a great man! A superb athlete! Married seven decades to his beloved Lil; proud father; committed Catholic (he readily admits one of the high points of his life was getting to know his fellow Pole, Blessed John Paul II); never missed Sunday Mass; no steroids or drugs; no brawls, enemies, or DUI. Just a gentleman, day-in-day-out reliable, never complaining or demanding; no controversy or foul language.”
In an age of the overpriced, egotistical professional athletes who are more often interested in their own self-glory and in a year when not a single former major league baseball player could get elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Stan Musial stands shoulders above as an example of what Hall of Fame athleticism is truly all about. Stan Musial stepped up to the plate, gave his best effort, kept true to the rules, and made his way round the bases until he crossed home. For the goal of baseball is to cross home but so is the goal of life to cross home to God. May Stan Musial, Catholic Hall of Famer, find his home with the God he served so faithfully.
