July 4, 1963 - Stan Musial was named to the National League All-Star team for a record 24th time today by Manager Alvin Dark of the San Francisco Giants. Passed over by his fellow players in the original balloting, the 42-year-old St. Louis Cardinal slugger was among 18 players selected by Dark to complete the squad that will meet the American League at Cleveland Tuesday. Musial, who has appeared in more All-Star Games than any other major leaguer, was chosen despite his .273 batting average, which is considerably below his .330 mark of last year. Duke Snider of the New York Mets, with a .227 average, also was picked as an extra outfielder. Each team in the league must be represented by one player, and Dark undoubtedly took that into consideration in selecting Snider. Duke, 36, has played in 6 All-Star games, all as a Brooklyn Dodger. His last game was in 1956. Musial, who said today he was “flattered” at being chosen, was asked if he’d like to make it to 25 All-Star Games — leading to the question of whether he will play another year. “I can’t figure that far ahead,” said Musial, “but it would be nice. It’s a good game to be around.” Dark named 42-year-old Warren Spahn of the Milwaukee Braves among the 8 pitchers he selected. Spahn has won 11 games and lost only 4 this season, with his most recent defeat coming last Tuesday in a 16-inning 1-0 heartbreaker against Juan Marichal of San Francisco. Marichal was also picked for the pitching staff by Dark along with Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax of the Dodgers, Ray Culp of the Phillies, Jim O’Toole of the Reds, Hal Woodeshick of the Colts, and Larry Jackson of the Cubs. Dark said today: “I feel this is the strongest squad, and we’re going to Cleveland to win.”
