RetroSimba

In 1948, Stan Musial became the first Cardinals player to hit walkoff home runs in consecutive games.

No other Cardinal matched the feat until Albert Pujols did it June 4 and June 5 in 2011 against the Cubs at St. Louis, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

On Aug. 26, 1948, in the second game of a doubleheader against the Giants at St. Louis, Musial batted in the ninth inning with a runner on first, one out and the score tied at 5-5.

Facing Ken Trinkle, a right-handed reliever, Musial launched a home run, giving the Cardinals a 7-5 walkoff victory. Boxscore

In the next game, Aug. 28 against the Giants at St. Louis, Musial batted in the 12th with one out, the bases empty and the score tied at 4-4. Facing starter Monty Kennedy, a left-hander, Musial cracked a home run, giving the Cardinals a 5-4 victory. Boxscore

In his autobiography, “Stan Musial: The Man’s Own Story,” Musial indicated the Cardinals turned up their intensity when playing the Giants because of the presence of manager Leo Durocher, a relentless antagonist. In July 1948, in a move that shocked the baseball world, Durocher left the Dodgers and became manager of the Giants, replacing Mel Ott.

The 1948 Cardinals were 11-1 against the Giants after Durocher became their manager.

“Leo liked to play the game rough, liked to make it a game of intimidation,” Musial said. “His tactics turned us from tabbies into tigers.”

The game-winner on Aug. 28 was Musial’s 33rd home run of the season. Since arriving in the big leagues in 1941, Musial never had hit as many as 20 homers in a season. In 1948, he would finish with a career-best 39. It was the start of a 10-year stretch in which Musial hit 20 or more home runs each season, including six years with 30 or more.

“The power surge felt good, mighty good,” Musial said.

In his book “Musial: From Stash to Stan the Man,” author James N. Giglio wrote of Musial’s home run production: “Always able to smack outside pitches to left field, Musial nevertheless became a smarter and more confident hitter in 1948. His greater sensitivity to the strike zone made him even more dangerous with two strikes. Instead of trying to protect the plate, he bore down harder and took his customary swing.”

Musial won the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1948. He hit .376 with 131 RBI, 230 hits and 135 runs scored. His slugging percentage (.702) was the first above .700 in the NL since Hack Wilson (.723) of the Cubs in 1930, and his 103 extra-base hits were four shy of the NL record established by Chuck Klein of the Phillies in 1930.