The United Cardinal Bloggers are dedicating June 6 to the memory of the Cardinals’ No. 6, the late Stan Musial. In that spirit, this post will review the 6 best games Musial had on the sixth day of the sixth month during his major-league career.
In chronological order, Musial’s top 6 performances on June 6 are:
1. _ Braves 9, Cardinals 5, June 6, 1946, at St. Louis: The big news came just before the Cardinals took the field when Musial informed reporters he had rejected a five-year contract offer from the Mexican League.
Musial had met that day with Alfonso Pasquel, one of five brothers who operated the Mexican League, and Mickey Owen, the former big-league catcher who was working for the Mexicans. Musial told the Associated Press the Mexicans offered him “a lot of money,” later reported to be a package of at least $175,000.
With his decision made and mind at ease, Musial, batting third and playing left field, singled twice off Braves starter Elmer Singleton, scored a run and drove in a run. Musial hit .500 (7-for-14) against Singleton in his career. Boxscore
2. _ Cardinals 5, Phillies 4, June 6, 1952, at St. Louis: Musial, batting third and playing center field, was 2-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored.
With the Phillies ahead 2-0, Musial led off the sixth with a single against starter Curt Simmons, igniting a four-run rally. After the Phillies tied the score at 4-4, Musial walked in the seventh against Jim Konstanty and scored the winning run on Peanuts Lowery’s sacrifice fly. Musial hit .400 (14-for-35) against Konstanty in his career. Boxscore
3. _ Dodgers 5, Cardinals 4, June 6, 1953, at Brooklyn: Musial produced a RBI-single and scored in a three-run Cardinals fourth inning against starter Johnny Podres.
Batting third and playing left field, Musial also singled in the ninth off Clem Labine. But the Dodgers erased a 4-2 deficit on Gil Hodges’ three-run homer off starter Stu Miller in the bottom of the ninth. Boxscore
4. _ Phillies 11, Cardinals 8, June 6, 1954, at St. Louis: Musial singled in each of his three at-bats against starter Curt Simmons. Musial was a .360 hitter (50-for-139) with 18 walks in his career against Simmons, a left-hander who became Musial’s teammate from 1960-63.
Batting third, Musial started the game at first base and moved to right field in the seventh inning. Boxscore
5. _ Cardinals 6, Pirates 0, June 6, 1957, at Pittsburgh: Musial, batting third and playing first base, doubled twice in four at-bats. The first double was in the opening inning against starter Ron Kline. The second drove in two runs in the fourth off Johnny O’Brien. Boxscore
With the 2-for-4 performance, Musial regained the National League batting lead at .362. He also took the league RBI lead, with 39.
Musial in 1957 would win his seventh and final National League batting title with a .351 average, 18 points ahead of the runner-up, Willie Mays of the Giants. Musial also finished tied with Ernie Banks of the Cubs for third in RBI at 102, 30 behind leader Hank Aaron of the Braves and three behind runner-up Del Ennis of the Cardinals.
6. _ Cardinals 4, Reds 3, June 6, 1962, at St. Louis: Batting fourth and playing left field, Musial had a pair of singles against starter Joey Jay.
In the eighth, with St. Louis ahead, 3-2, Musial led off with a single. He was lifted for a pinch-runner, Bobby Gene Smith, who scored the Cardinals’ decisive run on a bases-loaded walk to Julio Gotay. Boxscore
Previously: Cardinals’ spring lineup had Stan Musial, Earl Weaver
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