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Steve F Not etched in stone... Your Stan came from a grouping of mainly '30s/40's M114s. Worst case, Your Beauty is a trimmed '54 but who the heck knows. Wish I could be more helpful, but M114s are a bear to figure out.
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LE; There is no arm patch, good work Mark.
Stan started with St Louis in late 1941, It appears no patch was worn at 1942 Spring Training. Also, the shoulder piping was last sewn on for the 1950 season. I believe your M114 is a rookie image from early '42, taken in St Pete. As were these others.
Same sequence, different angle.,
Wire service photo; "3/2/1942-St. Petersburg, FL: Gus Mancuso, veteran catcher, looks over young Stanley Musial (r) as the Donora, PA, batsman shows his grip. Musial started as a pitcher but a sore arm put him in the outfield for Rochester. Nothing feazed (?) when he entered the big leagues for St. Louis for a few weeks. He stacked up a 426. batting average in 12 games and captivated St. Louis fandom."
This article and your image on the '43 season may or may not mean a thing.http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/1943-baseball-season.htm
Does any of this answer your question?.. Not even close. M114 issue dates are a mystery wrapped in a riddle