1 thing in common with ‘Stan the Man’

1 thing in common with ‘Stan the Man’

Walt Zlotow’s note on the late Stan Musial brings back memories. Musial was one of my idols. I always dreamed of making the majors and like “The Man.” I was left handed all the way. Unfortunately, the similarity ends except for one thing.

Musial and I got “milestone” hits off former Cub, the late Moe Drabowsky. In Musial’s case it happened in May, 1958 at Wrigley Field where he got his 3,000th base hit off Drabowsky going the opposite way with a line drive double down the left field.

Fast forward to July, 1986 at Cubs Fantasy Camp, again at Wrigley Field, where I, too, hit against Drabowsky. This time it was the final game between the campers and Cub legends such as Santo, Hundley, Jenkins, as well as Drabowsky.

I took a strike then lined a pitch down the left field line for a run-scoring double, just like Stan the Man. Musial made the Hall of Fame, and Drabowsky starred in the World Series as a Baltimore Oriole.

As for me, I’ve been in “seventh heaven” ever since pulling into second base that one Saturday afternoon at Wrigley.

Dean Dranias

Aurora