Rusty Staub

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Daniel Joseph "Rusty" Staub (born April 1, 1944 in New Orleans, Louisiana) was a Major League Baseball player for 23 seasons (1963-1985), for the Houston Colt .45s and Astros, Montreal Expos, New York Mets, Detroit Tigers, and Texas Rangers. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. In his career, he played, primarily, right field, first base, and designated hitter.

Contents 1 Early career 2 Montreal Expos 3 New York Mets 4 Detroit Tigers 5 Later career 6 Retirement 6.1 Honors 7 See also 8 External link

[edit] Early career

After being named the Carolina League's "Most Valuable Player" for 1962, Rusty Staub received a $100,000 bonus from the Astros (then known as the Colt .45s), and debuted as a 19-year-old rookie in 1963. By 1967, when he led the league in doubles with 44, his compact left-handed stroke and line drive hitting ability had made him an all-star. He would also make All-Star teams in 1968-1970 and 1976.

[edit] Montreal Expos

Traded to the Expos before the start of the Expos' inaugural season 1969, he was embraced as the expansion team's first star, and became one of the most popular players in that franchise's history. Embraced by French-Canadians because he made the effort to learn their language, he was nicknamed "Le Grande Orange" for his red hair (his more common nickname of "Rusty" has the same origin). Staub's #10 jersey (he later wore #6) was the first number ever retired by the Montreal Expos organization. He is also the franchise's career leader in on-base percentage (.402).^{[citation needed]}

[edit] New York Mets

Moving on to the Mets in 1972, Staub was instrumental in the Mets' upset 1973 over the Cincinnati Reds in the National League Championship Series when he robbed Dan Driessen of an extra-base hit in the 11th inning. However, while making the play in right field, he crashed into the fence extremely hard. The resulting injury to his arm forced him to throw underhand in that year's World Series. Despite the injury, he batted .423 against the Oakland Athletics. In 1975, he set a Mets record with 105 RBIs that would stand until 1987.

[edit] Detroit Tigers

After the 1975 season, Rusty was traded to the Detroit Tigers with pitcher Bill Laxton for pitcher Mickey Lolich and outfielder Billy Baldwin.

In his three plus seasons with the Tigers, Staub had 36 sacrifice flies and was voted to start the 1976 All-Star Game, in which he went 2-for-2.

In 1978, Staub became the first player to play in all 162 regular-season games exclusively as a designated hitter. Not playing the field at all proved beneficial, as Staub finished second in the Major Leagues with 121 RBI. He had the honor of being named as the Designated Hitter on The Sporting News 1978 AL All-Star team.

Rusty held out to start the 1979 season, and this resulted in his being dealt to the Montreal Expos in July of that same season.

[edit] Later career

Staub returned to the Mets in 1981 as a free agent after spending the 1980 season with the Texas Rangers and served as a player-coach in 1982. In 1983, he tied a National League record with eight straight pinch-hits and that same season also tied the Major League record of 25 RBIs by a pinch hitter.

[edit] Retirement

Rusty Staub retired from baseball at the age of 41 in 1985. He ended his career as the only major league player to have 500 hits with four different teams. He and Ty Cobb share the distinction of being the only players to hit home runs before turning 20 years old, and after turning 40 years old.

Shortly after his arrival in New York City in the 1970s, he opened "Rusty's," a cajun-style restaurant on the upper east side of Manhattan best known for its annual rib-eating contest. He also worked as an announcer for Mets ball games.

A humanitarian, he established the "Rusty Staub Foundation" to do charitable works, and in 1986 founded the "New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund." During its first 15 years of existence, the Fund raised and distributed $11 million for families of policemen and firefighters killed in the line of duty. Since September 11, 2001, Staub's organization has received contributions in excess of $112 million, and has played a vital role in helping many families affected by the tragedy.

[edit] Honors

Staub was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame in 1986. In 2004, he received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from Niagara University.

[edit] See also

• Top 500 home run hitters of all time

[edit] External link

• Baseball-Reference.com - career statistics and analysis