Who will carry the torch?

After seeing how frail Stan Musial has become and figuring that we may have seen him for the last time at the ballpark, it really makes me wonder who is going to try to fill his considerable shoes.

Click here to see Stan's swing

Sadly, Lou Brock and Bob Gibson seem to be the only two Cardinals stars besides The Man who seem interested in supporting the Redbirds' legacy. And both of them are senior citizens, too...

Click here to hear Jack Buck talk about Musial.

I guess the era of free agency hasn't been too kind to the Cardinals in a lot of ways. Besides Ozzie Smith, who is too busy feuding with manager Tony La Russa to come to the ballpark to make appearances on a consistent basis, most of the St. Louis greats from the 1970s, 80s and 90s seem to have replaced their ties to the Cardinals with loyalties to other franchises.

Joe Torre is better known as the manager of the Yankees than the NL MVP as a Cardinal. Terry Pendleton is coach with the Braves where he signed after leaving St. Louis. Keith Hernandez was traded to the Mets and now works with that team as a broadcaster. Ken Oberkfell is a manager in the Mets farm system. Willie Mc Gee has shuffled off to his San Francisco home. With all the great players who have worn the birds on the bat, it's hard to believe we don't see more of them at the ballpark.

Greatest Cardinals by decade:

2000s: Albert Pujols

1990s: Ray Lankford

1980s: Ozzie Smith

1970s: Lou Brock

1960s: Bob Gibson

1950s: Stan Musial

1940s: Stan Musial

1930s: Frank Frisch

1920s: Rogers Hornsby

1910s: Ed Konetchy

1900s:Homer Smoot

1890s: Roger Connor

Comments

[Jesse]

Unfortunatly I think Pujols will be linked to steroids before he concludes his career. I have hoped and hoped that it doesn't happen but I'm very suspicious that he might have used. You all will backlash against me, but in a few years it'll probably be seen. The speculation of him possibly being included in the Mitchell Report is part of it, and I think the Mitchell Report forgot his, and A-Rod's names. Pujols was not a big guy at all until he was in the minor leagues where he grew more than what Bonds did.

[adam hahs]

I understand your ideas I used to be with you...however think your fogetting a couple of things:

a) albert's growth could very well be due to age...he was a youngster when he grew; were as all the other juiced guys were a bit older ala, bonds!

b) alberts faith in God is anchored by a STRONG moral foundation...he's not one of those "christian" guys who merely believes in God...but rather his faith is that which is beyond beilf...and he would be better described as a "christian" who has serious convictions that serve as the foundation for his faith and therefore drive his actions...therefore I find it hard to beilive that he would do them in the first place...but more than that to continue to deny his usage if indeed he did use. That would seem out of character.

Now I realize nobodys perfect and even the highest of charachter people fail...but it would really shock me if that was the case!

[Jesse]

Pujols's trainer was listed in the Grimsley report. Pretty incriminating considering the names that are included with his. Pujols I think has a sanctuary in St. Louis where people even like me support him(most of the time) regardless. Even Bud Selig and Tony LaRussa have turned a blind eye as that would completly tarnish baseball.

However, guess what my view on steriods is. People since the begining of time always pursue a way to gain an advantage in competition. Babe Ruth for example, if he ate some hot dogs before a baseball game and he hit two home runs, he would continue to eat hot dogs before games.

Not trying to reason that steroids should be legalized, but trying to ruin people's lives of past users such as possibly Bonds, or McGwire is terrible. Sure taking steroids makes you hit the ball further, but come on you still have to have talent to hit a home run. Who in baseball cared about if Bonds used or not when he hit 71? Who cared when baseball made a popularity comeback in 1998 thanks to the homerun chase? Definatly not the extra fans. Think steroids ruins the games integrity? What ruins its integrity, is prosecuting people that we once loved.

[View From the Cheap Seats]

I hope Albert's clean. And we don't have any evidence to prove that he isn't. But if it ever turned out that someone of his stature and importance to the Cardinals, I would find it very, very difficult to continue on as a baseball fan.

[cardsboy]

He is a strong believer in religon and loves the game. Albert wouldn't cheat and if you think he does you are not a cardinals fan.

[Jesse]

Wow, that is like saying I hate America if I don't support the war in Iraq. I love the Cardinals, but I don't like hypocrites, liars, etc. This is an example of the St. Louis sanctuary Pujols is in. Because you know, if you think Pujols used, you aren't a Cardinals fan. Yeah right.

If Pujols ever gets investigated, I really hope he is honest about what he did(If he is guilty). Remember how quickly Pettitte simply said that he used HGH, but yet he condemed it and said he was doing it to try to get back into the game easier. And within days the story ended. People respected his honesty, and the witch hunt was over before it began.

Think as you want, but I am still a Cardinals fan.

[cardsboy]

What I was trying to say is that the way pujols reacted when he was falsely accused shows how much passion he has for the game. So if you don't believe in Albert how can you be a fan of the team he is on.

P.S I don't support the Iraq war and I never have.