Sixty-three years ago this month Stanley Frank Musial entered spring training to prepare for what would be his greatest season in baseball. That year, his seventh (he missed 1945 when he was in the Navy), he hit .376, had 131 RBI and a slugging percentage of .702. He was selected to the 1948 All Star squad and won MVP honors for the third time in his career. It was a performance that most pros only dream about.

Legend has it that Musial’s prowess on the field was matched by his modesty off it. In 1969 his baseball exploits were honored in Cooperstown. And earlier this week, the actions and demeanor of the simple kid from the Pennsylvania coal country were rewarded at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue when the President presented him with the Medal of Freedom. The remarks made about Musial, who was wearing his trademark Cardinal-red sports jacket, noted that he was receiving the award because his “humility and decency remain a model for all Americans to this day.” With apologies to Leo Durocher, it seems that sometimes nice guys do finish first.

Which brings me to Mr. Pujols — who’s greatest season was 60 years after Musial’s. In 2008 Albert hit .357 with 116 RBI and slugged .653, receiving an All Star and MVP nod as well.  The comparison of the two seasons provides some awesome numbers: in 1948 Musial hit .376, slugged 39 home runs and drove in 131. Pujols numbers are nearly identical: .357, 37 HRs, 116 RBIs. You can claim that Musial’s 1948 numbers showed he outperformed Pujols’ 2008 numbers, but Pujols was walked more, and outdistanced Musial on OBP. But the two are itchy close — and both deserved the plaudets they gained. And they were nearly identical in age: Musial was 27 in 1948, Pujols was 28 in 2008. There’s a squeaky difference in the numbers, and sixty years of baseball history in between.

There are other comparisons. Pujols, like Musial, is known for his lunch box attitude toward the game. He prepares, puts on the spikes and plays hard but clean. No show-boating, no bragging, no bull. Perhaps in 60 years or so Albert will also be in the White House receiving medals for what seems to be an outdated idea: sportsmanship.

Yesterday, on “Mike and Mike in the Morning,” the question was raised: for what possible reason would the Cardinals even consider giving Pujols a 10-year deal for A-Rod money ( given that he’s 31 years old)? “Aren’t his best years behind him?” Mike Greenberg asked, incredulous at both the idea of the length of contract and amount of money being discussed. Well, probably. And I thought he had a point until I looked at what Musial did from age 32 to 41. During that span he averaged .313 at the plate (he hit .330 when he was 41), 88 RBIs per season and his OPS was .937.

Can Pujols do that? No one knows. But don’t forget, Albert’s got some fresh legs from playing first base all these years and he doesn’t get hurt. Are Musial’s numbers worth A-Rod’s salary? Maybe not. But they’re worth one hell of a lot. Add to that Pujol’s work ethic, leadership qualities and demeanor and those deserve, in my opinion, a premium. I don’t know what Pujols should get in terms of years or money, but the Cards would be absolutely crazy to let him get away. Don’t they know they have Stan Musial playing for them?

It’s possible to pitch to Albert Pujols — but you do so at your peril. Scott Olsen knew this of course (every major league pitcher knows it), but that didn’t keep him from missing an up-and-in pitch to the St. Louis powerhouse, who promptly deposited it in the left field seats. That was home run number 35 in the slugger’s season, a plus-30 total that he has now reached in each of the last ten seasons. The Pujols’ dinger (number 401 of his career, after he hit number 400 on Thursday) was not the difference in the Cardinals’ 4-2 victory on Friday night, but on a day that saw Washington’s top pitching prospect announce that he would undergo Tommy John surgery, the appearance of Prince Albert at Nationals Park might prove reason enough for Nats fans to make the trek to Half Street.

How good is Pujols? A 2008 manager’s survey named him as the most feared hitter in baseball — and for good reason. The slugger’s numbers draw comparisons to Willie Mays, Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Mel Ott, Frank Robinson, Babe Ruth — and Lou Gehrig. The Gehrig comparison seems appropriate: both Pujols and Gehrig won one batting title when they were under 30, and Gehrig stroked thirty home runs and hit over .300 for nine consecutive seasons — a mark broken by Pujols last year. In truth, Prince Albert has already matched Gehrig’s greatness (a claim that is heresy in New York), for while Gehrig was an RBI machine (175 in 1927, 184 in 1931), Pujols is arguably the better slugger: Gehrig stroked over 40 home runs five times in his 17 year career, while Pujols has hit over 40 six times in ten years. If Pujols stays health, he’ll add to that record next year and quite possibly for many years after. Additionally, Pujols’ slugging numbers are breathtaking: he has led the league four times in ten seasons, Gehrig did it twice.

Stan “The Man” Musial remains the most iconic Cardinal (as Pujols readily admits), but he never had Pujols’ power (Musial stroked 475 home runs in 22 seasons, Pujols has hit 401 in ten), or his RBI potential — Musial had ten seasons of plus-100 RBIs, which Pujols has already equaled. But what Musial lacked in power he made up for in hits: he led the N.L. in hits in six seasons, Pujols has led his league once. Pujols’ power is Willie Mays’ power: Mays hit 40-plus home runs six times in 22 years, Pujols has done it five times in ten. Pujols’ strike out rate compares favorably with Henry Aaron’s and his power is similar. Aaron hit 30-plus home runs in 15 of his 22 seasons, a mark that Pujols could equal (with that important caveat — if he stays healthy) in five years. And Pujols hits for a higher average.

While feeding a comparison compulsion is a pastime for baseball fanatics, it has its rewards — it compels us to understand just how great the truly great were: Ted Williams led the majors in walks six times, Pujols has never done it once, though Pujols will undoubtedly eclipse Williams’ RBI totals. Then too, while pitchers fear Pujols, they were petrified by Williams (who led the A.L in walks eight times); that, or Williams had the better eye (or both). But Pujols (on the other hand) has a much better eye than Frank Robinson, who sported high OBPs — but absolutely hated to walk. Robinson won the MVP twice, Pujols has done it three times. Mel Ott (underrated and below-the-radar Mel Ott) was a horse, playing and playing and playing without injury year after year. Pujols will outhit Ott, but he’ll have to stay healthy to equal his total games mark. Oh, and Ott knew how to walk and (arguably) had a better eye at the plate. But just barely. And while Pujols does not have the power of Barry Bonds, he could add something (and this year) that Bonds never had — a Triple Crown.

So while Nats fans justly mourn the loss of a potentially great pitcher (and a pitcher for the Washington Nationals, no less), they might take modest solace that — at least when the St. Louis Cardinals visit D.C. — they can watch one of the very greatest players who ever played the game. Pujols is so good that he is not only drawing comparisons to Ruth and Gehrig and Musial and Williams (and maybe half-a-dozen others), he has already equaled or surpassed many of their more celebrated stats. Albert Pujols is already the Lou Gehrig of St. Louis and he already has Hall of Fame numbers — and he’s only getting started.