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And we look at me now to the program senior baseball writer for Fox Sports Net com and fox sports contributor Ken Rosenthal can thank you so much for taking the time to join us tonight we wanna get your thoughts first of all. I'm more of a national perspective. As as a baseball writer. What's in the news of stand usual was first of all when you heard on Saturday night. Well I would. Actually at the New York baseball writers' dinner and it happened released to news happened during the dinner. And Jeff files and the hall of fame announced it to this ballroom packed with people I'm guessing or 60800 people there and you could hear an audible gasp when that news was announced and people were stunned and his meeting. Obviously is greatest in Saint Louis in the midwest and parts of the south but. He is a national figure was a national figure and at that moment he certainly could sense the in Pakistan musing on a whole lot of people. Can't birdie necklace and it's great to have you -- this job. Do you think it's that -- in terms of baseball history got the appreciation. That he deserved do you think that maybe later in life. Some of that came back to him do you think in death. Will he be fully appreciated the way he should be. -- it's funny you mention that I was thinking about that today and certainly. In death. The appreciation should only grow I'm not sure it was there the way it should have been the way it was for Ted Williams and DiMaggio. To the greats from his era. But when people now see the statistics they see the 1850. Hits at home the 1815. On the road. They can appreciate better what state news -- was as a player. Any and all that is written by yourself by George Best in New York Times by Joseph has nasty all these people who had a real feel for Stan. You certainly get the impression or the sense that there is a greater amount of attention being paid right now and a greater appreciation. Right now perhaps a little people who did not know. What's their usual was as a player and what he meant not just his city but really to all baseball and the country. The kid I think that's one thing that this is 2621 thing. But that type of person he was the individual and how no one can say a bad word about him. It's true and it's funny I was reading George Best in the New York Times today and he of course wrote a book about Stan. He made the comparison with Williams and DiMaggio saying they were mysterious guys they were moody. There was a sexiness to them that. There wasn't the stand because that was. Basically a regular guy someone that you can be in the street and it would be like talking to your best friend. And that aspect made him very special especially in today's era when we deal with -- all the things that we deal with. I -- bases in the sports world. That quade about him really stands out even greater than perhaps it did back then. -- one thing we get to see from what. Or his immediate reaction and from a lot of the players obviously the Cardinals so players were devastated because they got to know him at least on on all level on opening day for so many years but. You start to see some of these baseball players around the country. Who recognize that the stats and recognize that what what are your reaction to it to what you've heard from from players about the death of Stan the man. Well I was most struck by -- reaction because. It sounded very much like it was from the heart and could certainly. I really his words understand what stands -- meant to Albert Pujols and Albert pools. Was a is a great player and he's from a completely different culture completely different world completely different generation. In yet. Stand usual touched him in a way that probably no other former players touched him. And the other players too there is an appreciation there especially for guys who played for the Cardinals I don't know that same appreciation exists for your average player. Who has played in another town but. In Saint Louis stands presence was so strong and so important to that franchise. That it really hit the Cardinals and it made a strong impression on all of them certainly the Russa. And many of the players as well. Can I wanted to tell a quick story and ask your question it I thought it was almost mystical. That it's instead of the usual mysteriously showed up in Denver at Coors Field. The day of Albert Pujols Major League debut I mean no one expected him to be there he was there on business he just wandered and it was almost like he was transferring greatness say OK now it's going to be your turn to take this -- I just love that all of a sudden he's the man out of the blue walks in that happens in people's first game in the majors. But I ask you this if it's great baseball discussion stand left behind an unbelievable resonate in terms of stats. What do you think he ranks as he in terms of position players -- is he in the top ten -- how do you assess his career. It's really hard for -- of course comparing players across generations but. I don't know that you can have any discussion like this about the best players of all time without including -- usually at some level. And you can make the case detail if he had played all those years you just during the war and to match you you can make a case for any number of guys but. Appointees. Usual belongs in that conversation. And of course when he got left off the greatest all time 25 or whatever was and the commissioner put him on. That was the right thing for the commissioner do and it spoke again of what this guy was who he was as a player so. I'm not great at. Ranking them by a war or any other statistic Bernie because they're all different and New Zealand. Williams and DiMaggio amazed these guys they're all different players all great players and again I would just say I put it right there at the top of the. Class for the all. I think we all felt that stand was either good. The greatest living hall of Famer or maybe the greatest Olympian left handed hitter. And so his passing but I was struck by Stephen Strasburg such a young pitcher and young major leaguer got a great promising career. But he said some unbelievable things acknowledging the depth has been usual. He did it speaks well not just the span of course but also Strasburg that here's a young player who gets it. And often we get on these guys and we kind of shake our heads in baffle me. That young players don't understand who came before them with the great players were put -- great people work in this sport. And you're right the fact that stands reach extended to guys like Strasburg who really. In many ways would have no feel for -- news you know that again speaks to who he was and what are have been more famous if he can play don't want of the coasts perhaps but. Part of his magic in my view is that he did not play -- the coast and that has brought a road today. He was a perfect fit for his town in his region. And remember the Cardinals are yes the team of Saint Louis but when Stan played they -- the team of the south team of the midwest. The only team -- in those areas so. He really had an impact all his own and quite unique impact in baseball history. That the furthest team due west of the minute the only team west of the Mississippi for so long is exactly right can't the fact that stand usual. Developed into. The cardinal way we talk about that here as you know weigh in Saint Louis can that the cardinal way William minimize it because he was the guy that really invented the cardinal way and all players. Since then have kind of been. But compared to stand mutual I guess that's a huge part of his legacy as well. No question and it's not just the way they played baseball and the way you play baseball now because that kind of comes and goes and -- the team but. It also speaks to his character and the way he went about it and my favorite stat of the weekend. Is the comparison with Earl Weaver and of course that much different people and here's how we know that much different people Stan played over 3000 games in his career. Zero projections are all. 94 career rejections including three times both ends of a double -- I'm not criticizing growing love girlfriend's place is but. It speaks to me a lot about -- used -- he never was rejected and again all of this kind of was passed down and it does very team to team and listen I. Worked in Baltimore a long time as the birdie and we heard about the -- -- for many years and and the Orioles stunk for a few years and there was no more real way. So. There is. Kind of winning tradition but the same time -- has been around forever -- was part of those things and part of those years. So with the Cardinals there has been perhaps a greater transference in the would be perhaps for the other teams. Can it get one of these things we all love to do is talk about. The greatest living players and and with stands passing. He's being celebrated. There still are you just alluded to -- chains are still some great Cardinals. Fortunately with us. What about what sort of picks up. The torch now I mean does the greatest living cardinal isn't Bob Gibson is it red Shane needs is -- Ozzie Smith -- it. And we there's a lot of candidates it your -- pitchers are your thoughts on that. -- I don't know that I'm qualified to answer that but. All those players just mention would be in the conversation. To me gifts and holds -- really special place because of what the team accomplished. During his time there and just who he was and made it a little bit biased toward it because they were with Tim McCarver. Every Saturday during the season and I hear from -- these great stories about Gibson but it just seemed that he stood for something and was something that was really special. Liverpool's belongs in the conversation and really the same reasons very much. The team guy and they accomplished quite a bit while he was there. And I taken out of this conversation without rock without -- and some of the other great Cardinals so. It's a tough one but I would -- personally toward gifted and not look at the stats say that I'm just an adult without my hand and based on -- -- now. Because I don't thinking go wrong either way or any of the ways that can we really appreciate -- appreciate you taking the time. To join us tonight on this special as we. We celebrate really stand usual and and what he was able to accomplish and not only in his career but his life as well thanks -- Things happening guys.