Earl and The Man
It was a weekend of loss for Major League Baseball. First came the news of the long time Baltimore Orioles Manager Earl Weaver’s passing. The man who built the famed “Orioles Way” was on an Orioles fan cruise when he passed away at the age of 82. Many of today’s fans may not know much more about Weaver than a couple of Youtube clips showing one of his 97 ejections. Few know that Weaver was one of the most astute and progressive Managers in Major League Baseball history.
Later, it was announced that Stan Musial, one of the legends of baseball, had passed away at the age of 92. In St. Louis, Musial was beloved and celebrated for his great accomplishments on the field. More importantly, the people of St. Louis got the constant, first hand look of why Musial’s nickname was simply “The Man” as Musial was one of those rare icons whose feats on the field were also matched by the person he was off the field.
Both Weaver and Musial have their place in Major League Baseball history. They are both enshrined in Cooperstown and both do get some acknowledgement for their accomplishments when one thinks of the greats in the game. But, both are widely underrated when it comes to their place in baseball history. When discussing the sport’s greatest Managers, Weaver’s name is rarely mentioned in the first four or five names. When talking best players of all-time, Musial is always an afterthought when names like Ruth, Mays, Mantle, Cobb, DiMaggio, and many others are put into the discussion. In both cases, their greatness is forgotten.
Category: FCP on OS
