Angels to wear Musial patch at Pujols' behest

OAKLAND -- The Angels, at the urging of former Cardinals player Albert Pujols, will be honoring the late Stan Musial by wearing a No. 6 patch on their batting-practice jerseys during a three-game series against St. Louis next week. Musial died in January at the age of 92.

The patch will be identical to the one the Cardinals are wearing on their uniforms for the entire 2013 season. The Angels are not able to wear the patch on their game jerseys because players and uniformed staff already have one with the initials of Dr. Lewis Yocum, the organization's longtime orthopedist who died in May after battling cancer.

Other clubs have recognized Musial's legacy and life this season with a video tribute and/or moment of silence, but the Angels will be the first to wear a patch in his honor.

Pujols, who signed with the Angels after the 2011 season, formed a close friendship with Musial during his 11 seasons with the Cardinals. His respect for Musial was enough for him to ask to stop being referred to as "El Hombre," Spanish for "The Man," which was Musial's nickname. Pujols attended Musial's funeral in St. Louis during the offseason.