Roger Dean Stadium in Florida invited me to sing the national anthem on opening day of St. Louis Cardinals Spring Training. Prior to the game, the staff escorted me to the field where I waited for about 20 minutes until game time. As they prepared for the pregame ceremonies, Hall of Famers streamed out of the dugout. First, Hall of Fame announcer Jack Buck stepped out and promptly introduced himself to me. As if that was necessary... He was followed by Lou Brock and Bob Gibson and Red Schoendienst. And finally, Stan Musial arrived. They were all so kind. And I stood in awe as they shook hands with one another and waved to the crowd. I am rarely star struck but I understood that I was in the presence of men who had made history.
The anthem was sung and as I exited the field, a sweet older woman grabbed my arm. "That was the most beautiful anthem I've ever heard," she said. I spoke to her for a moment, thanked her and headed on my way. Later that night, my friend Cindy and I ate dinner at my favorite Italian restaurant in West Palm Beach. As we were being seated, the same older woman came around the corner and recognized me. She was Lillian Musial, Stan's wife. Again, she stopped me and introduced me to her husband. He was a seemingly gentle man and very kind. He complimented me briefly but generously then collected his wife and left.
Today, I am standing up for Stan again just like the campaign that helped him get the Medal of Honor. Let us put our focus into recognizing moments like this that are honorable and worthy of praise and consideration. Let us not contribute to the energy that might make another man's quest for an obscene amount of money overshadow something great.
I often say that it is time for us as a country and a world and a people in general to return to the simpler things. The way to do that is to look back at what came before you and live your life in appreciation of it. Take note Albert. And all of you other baseball players too.
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