In this Sept. 29, 1963 file photo, St. Louis Cardinals’ Stan Musial waves to fans during ceremonies marking the his last game as a player before a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in St. Louis. Musial, one of baseball’s greatest hitters and a Hall of Famer with the Cardinals for more than two decades, died Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, the team announced. He was 92. (AP Photo/File)

The Ebbets Field faithful in Brooklyn were the first to call Stan Musial “The Man” after Musial had ravaged their beloved Dodgers time and again in the late 1940s. On one occasion, Post-Dispatch baseball writer Bob Broeg incorporated “The Man” into his game account. And that was how Musial forever after was referred to in St. Louis: “Stan the Man.”

Hall of Famer Musial died quietly at age 92 at his St. Louis County home Saturday (Jan. 19, 2013) evening at 5:45 p.m., surrounded by family and friends and under hospice care.

Musial had been in declining health for the last several years, notably the last several months, including being afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. Lillian Musial, his wife of more than 70 years, had died last May 4.

Musial is considered the greatest player in Cardinal history and probably the most popular, too. A former pitcher who turned to outfield and first base after hurting his arm, Musial played his entire 22-season career with the Cardinals, from 1941-63.

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