Former St. Louis Cardinal Given Medal of Freedom - The Associated Press

Former St. Louis Cardinal given Medal of Freedom

(AP) - 49 minutes

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Baseball great Stan Musial already a statue outside Busch Stadium and a plaque in Cooperstown, NY was awarded on Tuesday the former St. Louis Cardinal's highest civilian honor the nation's Medal Presidential freedom.

Musial was honored among the 15 recipients at a ceremony at the White House. President Barack Obama called the Hall of Fame "a gentleman you your children to emulate."

Musial, 90 wore his familiar red jacket cardinals at a ceremony in St. Louis television and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Web site showed. He beamed as the President put the medal around his neck.

Missouri politicians, said the honor was appropriate for the baseball immortal, whose nickname is "The Man", was considered appropriate for his philanthropy and kindness as for his on-field success.

U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay., A Democrat, St. Louis, recalled watching from the stands of Sportsman's Park as a boy Musial, and still know him as an adult. Musial said he showed great courage in 1947, including Jackie Robinson, the first black baseball player in the NHL.

"Stan Musial is a national treasure," said Clay. "His remarkable life is the best in America."

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., Musial was not only the largest-ever cardinal, but a great humanist who used his fame to help others in need. "

Jay Nixon said the governor of the medal is "appropriate for a man who was both an immortal baseball and America is an extraordinary and Lord."

Musial, native of Donora, Pennsylvania, was signed by the Cardinals as a pitcher, but converted to the outfield after a shoulder injury in the lower leagues. It worked well.

It was a 24-All-Star, after the 1963 season with a .331 success rate in retirement and 475 circuits. In his 3630 career hits, exactly half were at home and half on the road.

He received the nickname "The Man" in 1946, when Post-Dispatch sports writer Bob Broeg heard Ebbets Field fans welcome Musial, the plate with the words: "Behold the Man."

Musial was the CEO from 1964 Cardinals won the World Series in seven games over the Yankees in New York. The win comes a year after his retirement from the game.

He remained a beloved figure in St. Louis. In fact, it was a grassroots campaign that helped persuade the White House in honor of the Medal of Freedom Musial "Stan Stand". The Cardinals have promoted the idea to Facebook, Twitter and other social media and politicians quickly came to letter campaigns.

Musial is in such high esteem by the team and his players want to extend the current Cardinals star Albert Pujols, the deadline of Wednesday to a contract extension or agency free trial agreed to sign the 2011 season. The previous deadline was Tuesday, but Pujols and the Cardinals did not want to undermine the honor Musial.

The Medal of Freedom is for those who have made significant contributions to U.S. national security, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private efforts. Other winners on Tuesday included former President George HW Bush, the cellist Yo-Yo Ma, basketball Bill Russell and businessman Warren Buffett.

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