Saturday began with news of Earl Weaver's death at age 82. By the end of the night, 92-year-old Stan Musial had died, too, leaving baseball to reflect on two distinguished careers rich in contrasts.
One was born in St. Louis, the other became a star there. Aside from that, Weaver and Musial were about as different as two Hall of Famers could be.
A three-time MVP and seven-time National League batting champion, Musial helped the Cardinals win three World Series championships in the 1940s. His popularity in St. Louis can be measured by the not one, but two statues that stand in his honor outside Busch Stadium. Weaver was born in St. Louis, but his greatest success came as a manager in Baltimore. He took the Orioles to the World Series four times, winning one title in 1970.
Weaver, who won 1,480 Major League games, was the Aberdeen Pheasants manager in 1959.