Stan Musial. UPI/Bill Greenblatt FILES

Former St. Louis Cardinals slugger and member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Stan Musial, received word from the White House that he will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom in January 2011.

Musial, who will be 90 later this week, is one of 14 awarded the Medal of Freedom today. Others include former President George H.W. Bush; Maya Angelou, poet; Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel; U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga.; John H. Adams, co-founder of the Natural Resources Defense Council; Warren Buffet, investor and philanthropist; Jasper Johns, artist; Dr. Tom Little, U.S. ophthalmologist murdered in Afghanistan; Yo-Yo Ma, musician; Sylvia Mendez, civil rights activist; Bill Russell, former NBA player; Jean Kennedy Smith, former ambassador; and John Sweeney, former AFL-CIO president.

Baseball’s Commissioner released this statement following the news. “On behalf of all of Major League Baseball, I am truly thrilled that The White House has honored Stan Musial with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, joining other legends of our game like the great Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Buck O’Neil, Henry Aaron and Frank Robinson. Stan Musial is an extraordinary human being, a great American and one of the best players in the history of the game. He has long been a treasure of St. Louis, but he represents all the best of our national pastime. Today, our game salutes Stan Musial on this highest honor from our country.”

Several members within the Cardinals’ organization and political figures commented on the news of Musial’s achievement. Click here for more coverage.