RetroSimba

(Updated July 30, 2024)

Stan Musial hit 12 walkoff home runs during his career with the Cardinals.

Musial hit his first walkoff home run for them at age 21 and his last 20 years later at 41.

Musial’s first walkoff home run was a two-run shot in the 11th inning off Dick Errickson of the Braves, lifting the Cardinals to a 7-5 win on July 14, 1942, at St. Louis.  Boxscore

On June 5, 1962, Musial hit his last game-ending home run, a solo blast with one out in the 11th against Dave Sisler for a 10-9 Cardinals win over the Reds at St. Louis. Boxscore

“I can pick up a bat right away and tell you whether it weighs 33 ounces or 34 ounces,” Musial said to Roger Kahn of Sport magazine. “Every bat has its own kind of feel to it.

“I got a special model,” Musial said. “The handle comes from one they made for Mel Ott. I haven’t got real big hands and I guess Ott didn’t either. But the barrel is big. I took that from one they made for Jimmie Foxx.”

As Kahn noted, Musial “can use a pipe stem handle safe in the knowledge that he will hit the ball with the dynamic part of the bat.”

A snapshot of Musial’s 12 walkoff home runs:

DATE………..FOE………LOSING PITCHER………….FINAL SCORE

7-14-42…….Braves……Dick Errickson……………..7-5 in 11

7-14-46…….Dodgers….Vic Lombardi………………2-1 in 12

8-22-46…….Phillies……Andy Karl…………………..7-6 in 12

8-26-48…….Giants……..Ken Trinkle…………………7-5 in 9

8-28-48……..Giants…….Monty Kennedy…………..5-4 in 12

9-6-50……….Cubs………Paul Minner………………..5-4 in 10

6-17-51………Phillies…..Russ Meyer…………………5-4 in 10

7-6-52………..Pirates…..Murry Dickson…………….6-5 in 9

5-7-59………..Cubs………Don Elston…………………4-3 in 9

8-7-59………..Phillies…..Ruben Gomez……………..3-1 in 9

8-27-60………Pirates……Roy Face…………………..5-4 in 9

6-5-62…………Reds………Dave Sisler………………..10-9 in 11