FanPost

The Musial Suspects

Two years ago, around this time, I wrote a fanpost that illustrated how I thought the series against Texas was a microcosm of the entire season, and that each game represented a different month of the year (ie, Game 1 = April, Game 2 = May, etc.). It was nicely received here, and it was fun to write. Unfortunately, I enjoy numbers, but I am prone to magical thinking and a lack of critical analysis when it comes to sports. I enjoy reading all the FwipWar written here, even if I don't take the time to research all the meaning. In my real life, I am a slave to science and reason, so I try to enjoy sports and entertainment for all the hidden magic. This time around, the magic is easy to see, and it's all about Stan Musial.

Our first postseason opponent was Pittsburgh, a western Pennsylvanian city, not far from where Musial was born and raised. Musial rooted for the Pirates as a boy, and was given a tryout at Forbes Field, but the story goes that the Pirates didn't sign him because they thought he was too skinny. I thought it was fitting that the Cardinals squared off against the Pirates in the season just after his passing.

It only seemed natural that the Dodgers would follow. Musial's Cardinals had a heated rivalry with Brooklyn during much of his career, and he often saved his best for the Dodgers. The Brooklyn fans gave him the nickname "The Man", and I still know old Dodger fans that have nothing but respect for him and mourned his passing. Musial was one of the few major leaguers who had no problems with baseball's move toward integration, which also endeared him to Brooklyn. In Li'lScoot's fanpost from last week, I made a brief mention of the interesting coincidence regarding the Pirates and Dodgers, and it seemed fitting that the Cardinals would win it in 6, of course.

Watching the ALCS and contemplating this theme, it became obvious that it had to be Boston in the World Series. Musial's '46 team won a 7-game classic against the Red Sox that featured Slaughter's Mad Dash. Then, in his only season as general manager, 46 years ago, the Cardinals beat the Red Sox in another 7-game classic.

Finally, the Cardinals won the World Series the year after Musial retired, so it stands to reason that they will win it all the year after his passing as well. I don't have a ZIPS or a BABIP to stand on, only sentiment and corn. As for the MVP, if you stick with the theme of 46 (1946, 46 years since the '67 series), then it has to be #4, because #6 is taken.

Unless it's Kevin Siegrist.

Thanks for reading.