Ann Wagner: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of veterans, and one veteran in particular, one…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of veterans, and one veteran in particular, one of St. Louis' all-time heroes, Stan Musial. Stan the Man Musial is best known as the greatest player in St. Louis Cardinals history, winner of three World Series as a player and one more as general manager, a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, and as one of the greatest players to ever play our beloved national pastime. However, Stan Musial was also a great patriot. He temporarily left the St. Louis Cardinals during the Second World War to serve his country in the Navy. Stan and the Cardinals had just won the 1944 World Series when Stan left to serve during the war. And after the war, he returned to his beloved St. Louis Cardinals to bring home yet another World Series Championship in 1946. His athleticism and his greatness as a player are self-evident. His 3,630 hits are the fourth-highest in baseball history. Stan is also one of only seven players to hit 400 home runs and have over 3,000 hits. A model of consistency, Stan Musial could hit a baseball anywhere he was, home or away, finishing his career with 1,815 hits at home and 1,815 hits on the road. A former teammate described Stan's tremendous talent like this: ``He could have hit 300 with a fountain pen.'' Those who had the privilege to see Stan Musial play baseball swear that he was the greatest player they ever saw put on a St. Louis Cardinals uniform.…”