Stan Musial - a comparison to modern day players (c.1975 and up)?

Question

What players since 1975 are most like Stan Musial?

1. Hitting: Since 1975, what player or players compare best with Stan Musial?

Don Mattingly, in his prime, was often compared to Musial. George Brett, Garciaparra (prime), and Puckett (best years) might also be similar to Musial. Is this a fair assessement or are there better comparisons?

2: Defense (Outfield): Since '75, who played outfield defense similarly to Musial?

3: Defense (First Base): Who compares favorably with him at first base (since '75)?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Well here is a quick rundown on Musial, just to show you how truly amazing he was. Musial, a 1969 inductee into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, played his entire 22-year career with the Cardinals, recording a lifetime batting average of .331 with 475 home runs and 1,951 RBIs. A 20-time All-Star and three-time National League Most Valuable Player, Musial played in four World Series with the Cardinals, winning it three times -- in 1942, '44 and '46.

There aren't many people that you can compare to Musial. When you talk about hitting wise, a name like Albert Pujols or Derek Jeter may pop up. As you can see, not only did Musial drop bombs, but he also hit for a very high average, and knocked in a lot of runs, as do both Pujols and Jeter.

Outfield is kind of a tossup. You can throw in guys like Edmonds, Jones, being a Cardinal fan myself I like to compare him to Edmonds, which isn't an unfair comparison because in my minds they are both game changing outfielders.

At 1st base, I would say again an Albert Pujols. He could field and pick the ball cleanly at 1st, as can Pujols. You could also give a case for Olerud, LaRoche, Palmerio.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Stan the man was my favorite when I was a kid. At least as far as an unusual batting stance, I'd have to suggest Jeff Bagwell from Houston. I never could understand how either of them could hit anything all wound up like Musial, or squatting like Bags.

Until he was hurt, Bagwell played pretty good first base, but he was a catcher before he moved to first. Maybe I'm getting old, but I don't remember anything distinctive in Musial's fielding.

Answer 3

Jason Bay could resemble musial with his average ( .300-.340 potential) and his good, but not overwhelming amount of homers ( 20-30 HR)

Answer 4

If you go to baseball-reference.com they have a good comparison chart on every player ever. Basically he's Al Simmons of the Philly A's clone stat-wise in his prime years. Of course that's back to the future...since '75, hm, who knows? Probably Yaz.

Answer 5

one of the most underated players of all time. no one mentions musial anymore when they talk about the games greatest players.. frank robinson also.. i could give you his stats but someone else will..didnt he have the most nl hits when he retired and wasnt he in the top five in hrs also?

Answer 6

HITTING - NO ONE
FIRST BASE - HERNANDEZ
OUTFIELD - YAZ