Stan Musial (51 page)

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Authors: George Vecsey

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6 | A HAND ON THE SHOULDER

  
1
 John Hall’s father died: John Hall, interview, Feb. 2, 2009.

7 | LUKASZ AND MARY

  
1
 In the afternoon:
Stan Musial: “The Man’s” Own Story
, 6.

  
2
 Lukasz Musial was not much more: Wayne Stewart,
Stan the Man: The Life and Times of Stan Musial
(Chicago: Triumph Books, 2010), 7.

  
3
 “They didn’t even have enough money”: Gerry Ashley, interviews, Mar. 1, 2009, and Jul. 2010.

  
4
 When the boy was seven: Stewart,
Stan the Man
, 7.

  
5
 “As far as drinking”: Mark Pawelec, interview, Apr. 2, 2009.

  
6
 “I think he struggled with alcohol”: Gerry Ashley, interview, Nov. 2009.

  
7
 Family members told Broeg:
Stan Musial: “The Man’s” Own Story
, 7.

  
8
 according to immigration records: Giglio,
Musial
, 4.

  
9
 The family’s name was pronounced:
Stan Musial, “The Man’s” Own Story
, 46.

10
 although the marriage certificate: Giglio,
Musial
, 5.

11
 There was a pecking order: Bimbo Cecconi, interview, Mar. 24, 2009.

12
 “Mommy did a lot of housework”: Ed Musial, interview on ESPN
SportsCentury
, Dec. 18, 2000.

13
 carrying homemade bread: Bill Bottonari, interview, Nov. 12, 2008.

14
 “My grandmother would tell me”: Gerry Ashley, interview, Nov. 2009.

15
 “I’ll never forget the ‘hunky’ dishes”:
Stan Musial, “The Man’s” Own Story
, 8.

16
 He liked being called Stash: Ruben Amaro Sr., interview, Mar. 2010.

17
 “She did not care”: Ray Robinson, interview, 2009.

18
 “Mr. Musial never had”: Ray Robinson,
Stan Musial: Baseball’s Durable “Man”
(New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1963), 12.

19
 “We had a shaft”: Ed Musial, interview on ESPN
SportsCentury
.

20
 “He was always the nice boy”: Roger Kahn, “The Man: Stan Musial Is Baseball’s No. 1 Citizen,”
Sport
, Feb. 1958.

21
 in a classic study: Bryng Bryngelson and Thomas J. Clark, “Left-Handedness and Stuttering,”
Journal of Heredity
, 24 (1933): 10.

22
 “I saw a group of women”: Kahn, “The Man.”

23
 Stan was alert, observant: Betty Jane Schmidt, interview, 2008.

24
 “Three times a week”:
Stan Musial, “The Man’s” Own Story
, 11.

25
 Upon Frank’s death: Pawelec, interview, Apr. 2, 2009.

26
 “One thing the children of alcoholics”: Roger Rosenblatt, “Person of the Year,”
Time
, Jan. 2, 1981.

27
 “Addicted parents often lack”: National Association of Children of Alcoholics, “Children of Addicted Parents: Important Facts,”
http://www.nacoa.net/pdfs/addicted.pdf
.

8 | INVITATION TO LUNCH

  
1
 They had never met: Ulice Payne Jr., interview, Apr. 7, 2009.

9 | HOW DONORA GOT ITS NAME

  
1
 In 1753, working for the British: Borough of Donora, Pa.,
Donora Diamond Jubilee
, 1901–1976.

  
2
 The Iroquois who fished and hunted: William Keyes, ed.,
Historic Site Survey of the Greater Monongahela River Valley
(Pittsburgh: Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, 1991).

  
3
 the Carnegies and Fricks: William Serrin,
Homestead: The Glory and Tragedy of an American Steel Town
(New York: Times Books, 1992).

  
4
 In May 1899: Keyes, ed.,
Historic Site Survey
, 113.

  
5
 West Columbia: Charles E. Stacey, Brian Charlton, and David Lonich,
Images of America: Donora
(Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia Publishing, 2010), 9.

  
6
 While on a European vacation: David Cannadine,
Mellon: An American Life
(New York: Knopf, 2006).

  
7
 There is no record: Charles E. Stacey, interview, Mar. 24, 2009.

  
8
 Belgians settled farther: Keyes, ed.,
Historic Site Survey
, 112.

  
9
 At its peak: Borough of Donora, Pa.,
Donora Diamond Jubilee
, 1901–1976.

10
 “The monstrous crucibles of molten iron”: Serrin,
Homestead
, 62.

11
 Sometimes death happened fast: Devra Davis,
When Smoke Ran Like Water
(New York: Basic Books, 2002).

12
 During World War II: Stacey, interview, March 24, 2009.

13
 Working in the steel mills: Serrin,
Homestead
, 62.

14
 “That’s why I appreciate the unions”: Cecconi, interview, March 24, 2009.

15
 “the strong smell of sulphur”:
Stan Musial, “The Man’s” Own Story
, 6.

16
 “Fumes from the mills”: Davis,
When Smoke Ran Like Water
, 11–15.

17
 “There was always a store”: Ulice Payne, interview, Apr. 7, 2009.

18
 Davis also recalls: Davis,
When Smoke Ran Like Water
, 6.

19
 Old photographs suggest: Cassandra Vivian,
The Mid-Mon Valley
(Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia Publishing, 2004).

20
 “On the southern end”: Stacey, interview, Mar. 24, 2009.

21
 In the winter, the children: Cecconi, interview, Mar. 24, 2009.

22
 Some of the Italian families: Bill Bottonari, interview, Nov. 12, 2008.

23
 In 2007, Judge Walton presided: Neil A. Lewis, “Libby Guilty of Lying in C.I.A. Leak Case,”
New York Times
, Mar. 6, 2007.

24
 Judge Walton is proud: Judge Reggie Walton, interview Jun. 22, 2009.

25
 After law school: Fascinating profile of Judge Walton:
http://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/dcd/walton
.

10 | MENTORS

  
1
 “We were standing”: Email from Scott Dine, May 2009.

  
2
 “We all had ‘relations’ ”: Ed Musial, interview, Dec. 18, 2000,
The Legend of Stan the Man Musial
.

  
3
 The boys played at Weed Field: Charles Stacey, interview, Dec. 4, 2010.

  
4
 “You had to wait five minutes”: Stan Musial, interview,
Halls of Fame: Stan Musial
.

  
5
 Joe Barbao, who had played:
Stan Musial: “The Man’s” Own Story
, 11–13.

  
6
 “When I came in”: Ed Musial, interview,
The Legend of Stan the Man Musial
.

  
7
 The head coach was:
Stan Musial: “The Man’s” Own Story
, 16–22.

  
8
 Another adult: Verna Duda, telephone interview, Jan. 23, 2009.

  
9
 In the summer, Duda: Jim Kreuz, “Musial and Griffey,” Ragtyme Sports, Oct. 1995, 80.

  
10
 The business manager at Monessen:
Stan Musial: “The Man’s” Own Story
, 15–19.

11
 “It was deep in the Depression”: Neal Russo, “Vanek’s Decision 25 Years Ago Made Stan Musial a Cardinal,”
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
, Jan. 7, 1962.

12
 “He looked, as Ollie described him”: Jack Sher, “The Stan Musial Nobody Knows,”
Sport
, March 1949.

13
 Musial was a very ordinary student:
Stan Musial: “The Man’s” Own Story
, 18–19.

14
 “His father wanted him”: Verna Duda, interview, Mar. 25, 2009.

15
 One constant in the telling:
Stan Musial, “The Man’s” Own Story
, 21–22.

16
 “She’s a big woman”:
Stan Musial, “The Man’s” Own Story
, 20.

17
 the Donora Dragons surprised: Clippings courtesy of the Monessen Public Library, Monessen, Pa.

18
 The team was also tested:
Stan Musial: “The Man’s” Own Story
, 17.

19
 Through his basketball ability: Tom Ashley, interview, Feb. 2009.

20
 When Pizzica was quite old: Tom Ashley Jr., interview, Aug. 13, 2009.

21
 In the spring of 1938: Mary Jane Schmidt, interview, Nov. 14, 2008.

22
 “We played baseball”: Cecconi, interviews, 2008, Mar. 2009.

23
 Jerry Wunderlich, a gym teacher: Mark Pawelec, interview, Apr. 2, 2009.

24
 But Ki Duda recommended: Norma Miller, interview by Roger Kahn, 1957.

25
 “hypocritical Protestant bastard”: Lee Lowenfish,
Branch Rickey: Baseball’s Ferocious Gentleman
(Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2007), 280.

26
 “I honestly hoped”: Peter Golenbock,
The Spirit of St. Louis: A History of the St. Louis Cardinals and Browns
(New York: Avon, 2000), 237.

27
 In the spring of 1938: Lester J. Biederman, “Modest Stan Musial Still Embarrassed by Hero Worship,”
Pittsburgh Press
, Dec. 22, 1957.

28
 There are several reasons: Sher, “The Stan Musial Nobody Knows.”

29
 “Even though Donora”:
Stan Musial: “The Man’s” Own Story
, 23.

30
 There was another trip: Ibid., 24.

11 | LIL

  
1
 He was a familiar sight: Bill Bottonari, interview, Nov. 12, 2008.

  
2
 “My grandparents married so young”: Gerry Ashley, interview, 2009.

  
3
 thereby nicknamed “Shrimp”:
Stan Musial: “The Man’s” Own Story
, 16.

  
4
 “Always neat as a pin”: Mrs. Stan Musial, “My Life with Stan,”
Parade
, Jul. 13, 1958.

  
5
 “Stan was never idle”: Jim Kreuz, “Musial and Griffey,” Ragtyme Sports, Oct. 1995, 83.

  
6
 “It’s tough to be the wife”: Tom Ashley, interview, Jun. 25, 2009.

  
7
 Anna Mikula: 1920 census, courtesy of Gerry Ashley.

  
8
 “I’ve been in that house”: Gerry Ashley, interview, 2009.

  
9
 Long after they were married: Robinson,
Stan Musial
, 21.

10
 “I wasn’t sure”: Kahn, “The Man.”

11
 Perhaps he sensed: Giglio,
Musial
, 29.

12
 Very much an outsider: Mike Whiteford, “Musial’s Lowly Beginning: A Bus Ride to Williamson,”
The Charleston Gazette
, Jul. 22, 1988, 1B.

13
 “I didn’t have confidence”:
Halls of Fame: Stan Musial
.

14
 He also caused a stir: Email message from Randolph Fiery, Feb. 17, 2011.

15
 “She wanted him to get a job”: Verna Duda, interview, Mar. 25, 2009.

16
 On May 25, 1940: Giglio,
Musial
, 37.

17
 Far away:
Stan Musial: “The Man’s” Own Story
, 33.

18
 “I didn’t even see a doctor”:
Halls of Fame: Stan Musial
.

19
 “He called me one day”:
The Legend of Stan the Man Musial
.

20
 “You won’t make it”: Sher, “The Stan Musial Nobody Knows.”

21
 Skip ahead: “Kerr Family Happy in New Home, a Gift From Musials,”
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
, May 21, 1958.

22
 Over the years: Giglio,
Musial
, 37.

12 | TAKEOFF

  
1
 “And he is sitting”: Bob Broeg, interview, ESPN
SportsCentury
, Nov. 29, 2000.

  
2
 Shotton watched Musial:
Stan Musial: “The Man’s” Own Story
, 37–38.

  
3
 Years later: Ibid., 57–58.

  
4
 “He was signed”:
The Legend of Stan the Man Musial
.

  
5
 “I told Clay”:
Halls of Fame: Stan Musial
.

  
6
 Vanek, who had praised Musial: Sher, “The Stan Musial Nobody Knows.”

  
7
 “Oh, sure, I remember”:
Stan Musial: “The Man’s” Own Story
, 39.

  
8
 Who was Ollie Vanek?: Dr. Ben Vanek, interview, Dec. 1, 2008.

  
9
 “Mr. Rickey, in a fairly loud”: Jim Kreuz, “Stan’s Rise to the Majors,”
Mound City Memories
, Summer 2007, 26.

10
 “Vanek spoke up”: Bob Broeg, “Vanek Provided an Early Assist in Musial’s Career,”
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
, Jul. 9, 2000.

11
 Springfield’s White City Park: John Hall, interview, Feb. 2, 2009.

12
 “I would pat him”: Frank Hungerford, interview, Sep. 19, 2009.

13
 “She was the one”:
Halls of Fame: Stan Musial
.

14
 Stan and Lil and Dickie: Tom Fox, “Killed by Greed: The Baseball Season Ended Early This Year,”
Philadelphia Inquirer
, Aug. 30, 1981.

15
 Lil also told Fox: Karen Wessel Fox, interview, 2009.

16
 “Goodbye, Stan”: Sher, “The Stan Musial Nobody Knows.” 81 The next morning: John Hall, interview, Feb. 2, 2009.

17
 “I’ll let you in”: Sher, “The Stan Musial Nobody Knows.”

18
 Stan and Lil took the train: Mrs. Stan Musial, “My Life with Stan.”

19
 As luck would have it: Giglio,
Musial
, 53–54.

20
 Lil and Dick joined: Betty Jane Schmidt, interview, Nov. 14, 2008.

21
 Manager Tony Kaufman immediately: Giglio,
Musial
, 54.

22
 “Well, guess I’ll be seeing you”: Jim Kreuz, “Musial and Griffey,” Ragtyme Sports, Oct. 1995, 81.

23
 Lil met him in Pittsburgh:
Stan Musial: “The Man’s” Own Story
, 44.

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