"The Man" is rewarded

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI - Stan Musial of the St. Louis Cardinals became the highest paid player in National League history on this date in 1958. Stan "The Man" gratefully stroked his signature across a contract worth $100,000. It was certainly well deserved. He won his seventh batting title in 1957 with a .357 average, and drove in more than 100 runs for the tenth time in his career. The Associated Press reported that only Ted Williams of the American League's Boston Red Sox probably makes more at an estimated $125,000.

The Cardinals made it clear they wanted Stan to stick around. According to the AP the 37-year old former outfielder who now mostly plays first base, told reporters, ''Baseball has rewarded me richly, and the Cardinals have always treated me more than fairly, this year in particular. I would have settled for less."

Musial went on to hit .337 in 1958 and play six more seasons, finishing with a lifetime .331 average. He was not considered a home run hitter, but hit over 30 home runs six times and finished with 475 for his career.

He was named to 24 all-star teams (there were two all-stars some years), and elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969. Stan Musial died January 19, 2012. He was 92.

Contributing sources:
The Associated Press, January 30, 1958
Stan Musial statistics 

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