Baseball: At Twice 21

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A couple of 42-year-old greats made news in the young man's game of baseball last week, one by bowing to the years, the other by defying them.

> St. Louis Cardinals Outfielder Stan Musial announced with a catch in his voice that he will retire at season's end, thus closing one of the greatest careers in baseball. In 22 seasons, all with the Cards, Stan the Man has broken or tied 56 records, setting a National League high of 3,610 hits, a major-league high of 1,371 extra base hits. He has reached the point where every time he gets a hit, or even appears in a game, he adds to some record or other. Batting only .256 this season, 77 points below his lifetime average, Musial will have his last chance to fill out his records on Sept. 29, unless the surging Cardinals wind up in the World Series. By that time, it is expected, his son will have made him a grandfather.

> Milwaukee Braves Pitcher Warren Spahn, slipping a fast ball past Los Angeles Relief Pitcher Bob Miller, got his 2,382nd strikeout, setting a new major-league record for a lefthander. The old record, held by Rube Waddell, had stood since 1910. Spahn went on to post his 14th win of the season, against only five losses. "You always think about records being set with a big, dramatic act," he said afterward. "Instead, I get the pitcher on a called strike. But I'll take it." Other records he has taken: more wins (341), more shutouts (56), more 20-game winning seasons (12) than any other lefthander in history. Retire? "I'll never quit," said Spahn. "They'll have to tear off my uniform."