A Sad Weekend For Baseball

The Passings of Stan Musial and Earl Weaver

Originally published January 23, 2013 at Fansided Radio:

This past weekend was a sad one for the baseball world with the passing of both Stan Musial and Earl Weaver.

Stan Musial was one of the greatest players of all time and underrated for his talents when he played the game. Musial played at the same time as Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, and Willie Mays. But because St. Louis was a Midwestern market without the large New York media market, Musial didn’t get the same respect when he played.

Musial, like many that played for St. Louis, fell in love with the city. He would go on to call it home for the rest of his life.

His death came after a very strange sports week with the controversies surrounding Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o and cyclist Lance Armstrong.

Musial’s death came hours after that of the Hall of Fame manager for the Baltimore Orioles, Earl Weaver. Weaver, a St. Louis native, played minor league ball for the Cardinals system but never played a day in the majors. He would go on to become a manager who was known for arguing with the umpires more than anything else.

Weaver managed the Orioles from 1968 until 1982. He retired and then came back for two more seasons, managing again from 1985 until retiring a second time in 1986. His managerial record was 1,480–1,060 (.583). Weaver led the Orioles to a World Series win in 1970 and American League pennants in 1969, 1971, and 1979.

Cal Ripken, Jr. played for Weaver during the early part of his career.

“Earl was such a big part of Orioles baseball and personally he was a very important part of my life and career and a great friend to our family,” Ripken said. “His passion for the game and the fire with which he managed will always be remembered by baseball fans everywhere and certainly by all of us who had the great opportunity to play for him. Earl will be missed but he can’t and won’t be forgotten.”

Musial and Weaver will be remembered by their fans and teammates alike as the baseball world mourns their passing.