Many years ago, I knew Stan Bahnsen, whose name may now be familiar mostly to the Bahnsen family, old sportswriters like me and a diminishing number of baseball addicts who remember him. By the time I met Stan, he was a journeyman righthander near the end of a career that had some high moments, like being American League Rookie-of-the-Year with the Yankees, and 21 wins for the Chicago White Sox.
He was soft-spoken, a nice man and a good competitor, but I had no idea his name would cross my radar almost 30 years later. It did, several times actually, while I was doing some research on some MSC cruises. Stan, it seems, is now the host and emcee on all “Baseball Greats Cruises” on the Poesia when it sails five 7-night eastern and western Caribbean itineraries this winter.
It’s the second time around for the baseball-themed cruises on MSC’s third Musica class ship. 
Bahnsen’s been this way before, too, and undoubtedly has a hand in attracting fellow ex-major leaguers Glenn Beckert, Bob Feller, Tommy Davis, Amos Otis, Graig Nettles, Jim Fregosi and others. The players host trivia games, do Q-and-A sessions with passengers, run a pitching contest and share stories about some of the characters they have known.
They also sign autographs, of course, all of which is easier on the arm than throwing curve balls and sinkers.
There’s one sailing in November and December, two in January and one in February. On all of them, Stan’s the Man.
That’s it, I’m done.