Ollie Vanek

Ollie Charles Vanek (August 23, 1908 — June 29, 2000) was an American professional baseball player, manager and scout.

The following season, Musial began his professional career in the Cardinal system as a southpaw pitcher and part-time outfielder.

When a sore shoulder (suffered making a catch in the field) derailed Musial's mound career, Vanek, in 1941, made him a full-time outfielder for his Class C Springfield Cardinals of the Western Association, and Musial responded by hitting .379 with 26 home runs in little more than half a season.

"Ollie was an excellent hitter and a good player," Musial said upon Vanek's death in St. Louis at age 91 in 2000. "

"[1] Vanek managed Cardinal farm teams for 12 seasons, 1937–48, then became a scout for St. Louis, and, later, the New York Mets, where he won the Gil Hodges Award for Meritorious Service.