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Topic: Stan the Man vs Frank Baumholz

Topic: Stan the Man vs Frank Baumholz

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stub
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 994

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Stan the Man vs Frank Baumholz

Posted: 10/6/2024 12:17:56 PM

I've posted this story years ago, and got positive reaction to it, so here it is again:

On September 28, 1952, the last game of the year, Stan ‘The Man’ Musial, eventual Hall of Fame outfielder for the St Louis Cardinals and one of the greatest hitters ever in major league baseball, took the mound and pitched for the only time in his career, and he did so to only one batter, Ohio alumnus Frank Baumholtz, in a confrontation agreed upon before the game.
After beating Baumholtz of the Chicago Cubs to win his sixth batting title, Musial faced his adversary from the mound. Frankie was a left-handed hitter, but that day he batted right handed, the only time he ever did, ‘to even the playing field’. On the first pitch from Musial, Baumholtz hit a ball so hard that it ricocheted off the shin of third baseman Solly Hemus ending up in the left field corner. Baumholtz reached base on what was ruled an error. A gracious Musial maintained that it was as clean a hit as he ever saw.
Musial won the batting title that year with a .336 average. Baumholtz came in second with an average of .325.

Last Edited: 10/6/2024 12:20:25 PM by stub

OhioCatFan
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 14,163

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RE: Stan the Man vs Frank Baumholz

Posted: 10/7/2024 11:11:14 AM

Very interesting story. I believe I do remember when you posted this earlier, but it was long enough ago that I had forgotten it until being reminded. Thanks for reposting!

Since this is the basketball forum, I'll add that in my youth I talked with older gentlemen who had seen Baumholtz play for Ohio. They said he routinely made shots from just over the half court line. I'm not sure if the court was regulation size at Ohio at that point. When the rules were adopted setting the required size of a basketball court, all of the existing arenas were grandfathered in. The last non-regulation size court in the MAC was old Withrow Court in Oxford, which was in use until 1968. Whatever the size of the court, these shots would have clearly been behind the current three point line. Just imagine what his scoring average would look like today if the three-point shot rule had been in effect in his day.

The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org

MonroeClassmate
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Member Since: 8/31/2010
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RE: Stan the Man vs Frank Baumholz

Posted: 10/7/2024 10:08:39 PM

OhioCatFan wrote:

Since this is the basketball forum, I'll add that in my youth I talked with older gentlemen who had seen Baumholtz play for Ohio. They said he routinely made shots from just over the half court line.

Probably the old two-handed set shot from the OU star, those guys were deadly accurate.

From watching films of great shooters using that form they were not Steph Curry quick at getting shots off and with no fade away or step-back capability either so an Eddie Hicks type defender would have likely given that type of shooter a "Spaulding Orange Juice".

stub
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 994

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RE: Stan the Man vs Frank Baumholz

Posted: 10/8/2024 11:46:58 AM

Indeed, Frank excelled in basketbsll too, the only 1st team Bobcat All American. He played in the pre-NBA years (2nd team All Star), and one of very few who have played both sports professionally. I believe Frank is the only player to win the MVP award for a losing team in a national championship game, in an era when the NIT and NCAA were considered comparable championships. However, his major professionl career was 10 years in MLB. And in his first year, in 1947, he came in 2nd to Jackie Robinson in in voting for the Rookie of the Year, the first time this award was given, now named for Jackie Robinson.

Last Edited: 10/8/2024 11:51:08 AM by stub

OhioCatFan
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 14,163

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RE: Stan the Man vs Frank Baumholz

Posted: 10/9/2024 2:40:32 PM

There's a poster on this board you used to shoot a two handed set shot. It was a thing of beauty. I won't call him out, but he might want to self identify.

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