RetroSimba

Stan Musial of the Cardinals had 500 or more hits against each of six franchises: Braves, Dodgers, Giants, Phillies, Pirates and Reds.

To put that in perspective, consider Pete Rose, the only player with more National League hits (4,256) than Musial (3,630), never got 500 hits against any franchise.

Hank Aaron, who had more total hits (3,771) than Musial, also never achieved 500 hits against any opponent.

The most hits Rose recorded against an opponent were 486 in 1,513 at-bats against the Braves.

Aaron’s career-best hits total against one team: 448 against the Reds in 1,403 at-bats.

Musial was amazingly consistent in a big-league career that stretched from 1941-63. He hit against most teams with equal skill.

Not counting the Mets and Colt .45s (who entered the league in 1962 and against whom he had 79 career at-bats apiece), Musial failed to reach 500 hits against just one franchise _ the Cubs (and he missed by only eight).

Listed in order of most hits, here is how Musial did against NL opponents:

TEAM……..HITS…….AT-BATS…….BATTING AVERAGE

Pirates……526……….1,546……….. .340

Dodgers….522……….1,530……….  .341

Phillies……522……….1,547………  .337

Braves…….515……….1,571………  .328

Giants…….504……….1,494………   .337

Reds………500……….1,574………  .318

Cubs………492……….1,550………  .317

Mets………32…………79…………..  .405

Colt .45s..17………….79…………..  .215