The Better Left-Handed Hitter: Stan Musial vs. Carl Yastrzemski

Published: May 24, 2024

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Last Updated: May 24th, 2024 by Jake Cain

Stan Musial and Carl Yastrzemski are renowned for their talents on a baseball field. Both players left indelible marks on the game, and their careers are often compared for their longevity, consistency, and sheer excellence. Let’s take a closer look at these two legends and see how their Hall of Fame careers compare to each other.

Stan Musial vs Carl Yastrzemski — via Stathead

Early Career and Establishing Themselves

Stan Musial began his Major League Baseball career with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1941. He was initially signed as a pitcher but quickly transitioned into a star outfielder and first baseman. By his first full season in 1942, “Stan the Man” led the Cardinals to a World Series title and won the first of his three MVP awards. Musial’s consistency and unique batting stance made him a force to reckon with.

Carl Yastrzemski, on the other hand, debuted with the Boston Red Sox in 1961. Replacing the legendary Ted Williams was no small task, but “Yaz” rose to the occasion. While his first two seasons were solid, it was in 1963 that Yastrzemski truly began to shine, winning the American League batting title and proving his worth as a successor to Williams.

Musial’s Impact

Batting Average: .331
Hits: 3,630
Home Runs: 475
RBIs: 1,951
Awards: 3 MVPs, 24× All-Star, 3× World Series champion

Standard Batting
Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	Pos	Awards
1941	20	STL	NL	12	49	47	8	20	4	0	1	7	1	0	2	1	.426	.449	.574	1.023	179	27	0	0	0		0	/97H
1942	21	STL	NL	140	536	467	87	147	32	10	10	72	6	6	62	25	.315	.397	.490	.888	151	229	3	2	5		12	*7H/89	MVP-12
1943	22	STL	NL	*157*	*701*	617	108	*220*	48	20	13	81	9	6	72	18	.357	.425	.562	.988	177	*347*	17	2	10		14	*978/H	AS,MVP-1
1944	23	STL	NL	146	668	568	112	197	51	14	12	94	7	7	90	28	.347	.440	.549	.990	174	312	7	5	4		9	*98	AS,MVP-4
1945			Did not play in major or minor leagues (Military Service)
1946	25	STL	NL	*156*	702	*624*	124	*228*	50	20	16	103	7	9	73	31	.365	.434	.587	1.021	183	*366*	7	3	2		9	*37	AS,MVP-1
1947	26	STL	NL	149	678	587	113	183	30	13	19	95	4	4	80	24	.312	.398	.504	.902	134	296	18	4	6		3	*3	AS,MVP-20
1948	27	STL	NL	155	698	611	135	*230*	46	18	39	131	7	3	79	34	.376	.450	*.702*	1.152	200	*429*	18	3	1		6	*987/3	AS,MVP-1
1949	28	STL	NL	*157*	722	612	128	*207*	41	13	36	123	3	4	107	38	.338	.438	.624	1.062	177	*382*	12	2	0		15	*98/73	AS,MVP-2
1950	29	STL	NL	146	645	555	105	192	41	7	28	109	5	1	87	36	.346	.437	*.596*	*1.034*	*165*	331	11	3	0		13	3789/H	AS,MVP-2
1951	30	STL	NL	152	678	578	*124*	205	30	12	32	108	4	5	98	40	*.355*	.449	.614	1.063	183	*355*	6	1	1		24	738/H9	AS,MVP-2
1952	31	STL	NL	154	678	578	*105*	*194*	42	6	21	91	7	7	96	29	*.336*	.432	.538	*.970*	*167*	*311*	11	2	0		27	*837/91	AS,MVP-5
1953	32	STL	NL	157	698	593	127	200	53	9	30	113	3	4	105	32	.337	*.437*	.609	1.046	169	361	10	0	0		12	*79/8	AS,MVP-8
1954	33	STL	NL	153	705	591	120	195	41	9	35	126	1	7	103	39	.330	.428	.607	1.036	167	359	20	4	0	7	27	*937	AS,MVP-6
1955	34	STL	NL	*154*	656	562	97	179	30	5	33	108	5	4	80	39	.319	.408	.566	.974	157	318	12	8	2	4	19	*39/7	AS,MVP-8
1956	35	STL	NL	156	682	594	87	184	33	6	27	109	2	0	75	39	.310	.386	.522	.908	143	310	19	3	3	7	15	*39/7	AS,MVP-9
1957	36	STL	NL	134	579	502	82	176	38	3	29	102	1	1	66	34	.351	.422	.612	1.034	172	307	13	2	1	8	19	*3/H	AS,MVP-2
1958	37	STL	NL	135	549	472	64	159	35	2	17	62	0	0	72	26	.337	.423	.528	.950	145	249	19	1	0	4	26	*3H	AS,MVP-12
1959	38	STL	NL	115	404	341	37	87	13	2	14	44	0	2	60	25	.255	.364	.428	.792	106	146	12	0	0	3	11	3H/7	AS,AS
1960	39	STL	NL	116	378	331	49	91	17	1	17	63	1	1	41	34	.275	.354	.486	.841	121	161	5	2	0	4	7	7H3/9	AS,AS,MVP-16
1961	40	STL	NL	123	431	372	46	107	22	4	15	70	0	0	52	35	.288	.371	.489	.860	119	182	7	1	0	6	17	*7H	AS,AS
1962	41	STL	NL	135	505	433	57	143	18	1	19	82	3	0	64	46	.330	.416	.508	.924	137	220	13	3	0	5	4	*79H	AS,AS,MVP-10
1963	42	STL	NL	124	379	337	34	86	10	2	12	58	2	0	35	43	.255	.325	.404	.728	101	136	3	2	0	5	9	7H	AS
22 Yrs				3026	12721	10972	1949	3630	725	177	475	1951	78	71	1599	696	.331	.417	.559	.976	159	6134	243	53	35	53	298
162 Game Avg.				162	681	587	104	194	39	9	25	104	4	4	86	37	.331	.417	.559	.976	159	328	13	3	2		16
				G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	Pos	Awards

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/24/2024.

Yastrzemski’s Impact

Batting Average: .285
Hits: 3,419
Home Runs: 452
RBIs: 1,844
Awards: 1 MVP, 18× All-Star, Triple Crown winner

The Pinnacle of Their Careers

Musial’s career was marked by his incredible consistency. He batted over .300 in 17 seasons and won seven batting titles. His performance in 1948 was particularly noteworthy, as he nearly won the Triple Crown, leading the league in batting average, RBIs, and falling just one home run short.

Yastrzemski’s peak came in the “Impossible Dream” season of 1967. That year, he won the Triple Crown with a .326 batting average, 44 home runs, and 121 RBIs. Yaz’s timely hitting and leadership were instrumental in the Red Sox’s first pennant in over two decades. His 12.4 WAR that year remains one of the highest in MLB history.

Awards and Accolades

Stan Musial

MVP Awards: 3 (1943, 1946, 1948)
All-Star Appearances: 24
World Series Championships: 3 (1942, 1944, 1946)
Batting Titles: 7
National League Records: Most career hits, RBIs, games played, and doubles at the time of his retirement

Carl Yastrzemski

MVP Award: 1 (1967)
All-Star Appearances: 18
Gold Glove Awards: 7
Batting Titles: 3
Triple Crown: 1967
Boston Red Sox Records: All-time leader in RBIs, runs, hits, singles, doubles, total bases, and games played

Standard Batting
Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	Pos	Awards
1961	21	BOS	AL	148	643	583	71	155	31	6	11	80	6	5	50	96	.266	.324	.396	.721	91	231	19	3	2	5	3	*7/H
1962	22	BOS	AL	160	719	646	99	191	43	6	19	94	7	4	66	82	.296	.363	.469	.832	120	303	27	3	2	2	7	*7	MVP-18
1963	23	BOS	AL	151	668	570	91	183	40	3	14	68	8	5	95	72	.321	*.418*	.475	.894	148	271	12	1	1	1	6	*7/8	AS,MVP-6,GG
1964	24	BOS	AL	151	646	567	77	164	29	9	15	67	6	5	75	90	.289	.374	.451	.825	124	256	30	2	1	1	6	*87/5H
1965	25	BOS	AL	133	571	494	78	154	45	3	20	72	7	6	70	58	.312	.395	.536	.932	156	265	16	1	2	4	8	*7/8H9	AS,MVP-10,GG
1966	26	BOS	AL	160	680	594	81	165	39	2	16	80	8	9	84	60	.278	.368	.431	.799	119	256	17	1	0	1	10	*7/H8	AS,MVP-28
1967	27	BOS	AL	161	680	579	112	189	31	4	44	*121*	10	8	91	69	.326	*.418*	*.622*	*1.040*	*193*	*360*	5	4	1	5	11	*7/8H	AS,MVP-1,GG
1968	28	BOS	AL	157	664	539	90	162	32	2	23	74	13	6	*119*	90	.301	*.426*	.495	.922	171	267	12	2	0	4	13	*7/38H	AS,MVP-9,GG
1969	29	BOS	AL	162	707	603	96	154	28	2	40	111	15	7	101	91	.255	.362	.507	.870	136	306	14	1	0	2	9	*73/8	AS,MVP-18,GG
1970	30	BOS	AL	161	698	566	125	186	29	0	40	102	23	13	128	66	.329	.452	.592	1.044	177	335	12	1	0	2	12	37/8H	AS,MVP-4
1971	31	BOS	AL	148	620	508	75	129	21	2	15	70	8	7	106	60	.254	.381	.392	.772	113	199	14	1	0	5	12	*7/H	AS,GG
1972	32	BOS	AL	125	535	455	70	120	18	2	12	68	5	4	67	44	.264	.357	.391	.748	118	178	13	4	0	9	3	73/8H	AS
1973	33	BOS	AL	152	652	540	82	160	25	4	19	95	9	7	105	58	.296	.407	.463	.870	139	250	19	0	1	6	13	357/H	AS,MVP-19
1974	34	BOS	AL	148	633	515	93	155	25	2	15	79	12	7	104	48	.301	.414	.445	.859	140	229	12	3	0	11	16	37/D	AS,MVP-18
1975	35	BOS	AL	149	634	543	91	146	30	1	14	60	8	4	87	67	.269	.371	.405	.776	112	220	14	2	0	2	12	*3/7DH	AS,MVP-30
1976	36	BOS	AL	155	636	546	71	146	23	2	21	102	5	6	80	67	.267	.357	.432	.790	120	236	12	1	1	8	6	37D/H	AS,MVP-14
1977	37	BOS	AL	150	643	558	99	165	27	3	28	102	11	1	73	40	.296	.372	.505	.877	125	282	10	1	0	11	6	*7/3D9	AS,MVP-17,GG
1978	38	BOS	AL	144	611	523	70	145	21	2	17	81	4	5	76	44	.277	.367	.423	.790	112	221	9	3	1	8	8	73D/8H	AS,MVP-18
1979	39	BOS	AL	147	590	518	69	140	28	1	21	87	3	3	62	46	.270	.346	.450	.796	108	233	12	2	0	8	8	D37/H8	AS
1980	40	BOS	AL	105	412	364	49	100	21	1	15	50	0	2	44	38	.275	.350	.462	.812	116	168	9	0	1	3	5	D73/H98
1981	41	BOS	AL	91	390	338	36	83	14	1	7	53	0	1	49	28	.246	.338	.355	.693	96	120	10	0	0	3	4	D3/H
1982	42	BOS	AL	131	523	459	53	126	22	1	16	72	0	1	59	50	.275	.358	.431	.789	111	198	12	2	0	3	1	DH3/8	AS
1983	43	BOS	AL	119	437	380	38	101	24	0	10	56	0	0	54	29	.266	.359	.408	.767	106	155	13	2	0	1	11	DH/37	AS
23 Yrs				3308	13992	11988	1816	3419	646	59	452	1844	168	116	1845	1393	.285	.379	.462	.841	130	5539	323	40	13	105	190
162 Game Avg.				162	685	587	89	167	32	3	22	90	8	6	90	68	.285	.379	.462	.841	130	271	16	2	1	5	9
				G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	Pos	Awards

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/24/2024.

Musial’s accolades are a testament to his sustained excellence over a 22-year career, while Yastrzemski’s honors highlight his defensive prowess and his remarkable 1967 season, as well as his place as one of the best Red Sox hitters ever.

Durability and Longevity

Both players showcased remarkable durability throughout their careers.

Musial

Musial played in 3,026 games, all with the Cardinals, and retired as the National League’s all-time hits leader. His career spanned over two decades, emphasizing his ability to maintain elite performance levels.

Yastrzemski

Yaz played an incredible 23 seasons, all with the Red Sox, which is tied for the longest tenure with a single team in MLB history. Despite injuries, he remained a consistent performer and a key figure for the Red Sox throughout his career.

Signature Moments

Musial

One of Musial’s signature moments came in 1954 when he hit five home runs in a doubleheader, a feat that has only been matched once in MLB history. His ability to deliver in clutch situations was legendary, making him a fan favorite and a feared opponent.

Yastrzemski

Yastrzemski’s defining moment was the 1967 season finale. With the Red Sox’s pennant hopes hanging in the balance, Yaz went 7-for-8 with six RBIs in the final two games, almost single-handedly lifting Boston to the World Series. His performance in the 1975 World Series, in which he hit .310 in a losing effort, further cemented his legacy as a clutch performer.

Legacy and Influence

Musial’s Legacy

Stan Musial’s legacy is one of unparalleled consistency and professionalism. He was a 24-time All-Star, a testament to his dominance and popularity. Musial’s contributions to the Cardinals’ three World Series titles and his numerous records make him one of the greatest hitters in baseball history. He was also known for his sportsmanship, never being ejected from a game in his entire career.

Yastrzemski’s Legacy

Carl Yastrzemski’s influence extends beyond his Triple Crown season. His work ethic, defensive skills, and leadership left a lasting impact on the Red Sox organization. Yaz’s numbers are impressive, but his role in reinvigorating baseball in New England and his involvement with the team post-retirement showcase his enduring legacy.

Conclusion

Comparing Stan Musial and Carl Yastrzemski is like comparing two masterpieces; each has its unique qualities and contributions to the art of baseball. Musial’s career was defined by his consistency, remarkable batting skills, and significant impact in the National League. Yastrzemski, with his unforgettable 1967 season and long-standing career with the Red Sox, left an indelible mark on the American League.

In terms of career statistics, Musial holds the edge in batting average, hits, and RBIs, while Yaz’s defensive accolades and his Triple Crown season highlight his all-around abilities. Both players exhibited exceptional durability, leadership, and excellence that continue to inspire baseball fans and players alike.

So, whether you’re reminiscing about Musial’s perfect swing or Yastrzemski’s game-saving plays, it’s clear that both players are legends who will forever be remembered as two of the greatest to ever play the game.

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