Rusty Staub
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| Rusty Staub | ||
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| Outfielder | ||
| Born: April 1, 1944 New Orleans, Louisiana |
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| Batted: Left | Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | ||
| April 9, 1963 for the Houston Colt .45's |
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| Final game | ||
| October 6, 1985 for the New York Mets |
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| Career statistics | ||
| Batting average | .279 | |
| Home runs | 292 | |
| Runs batted in | 1,466 | |
| Teams | ||
| Career highlights and awards | ||
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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. He primarily played right field, first base, and designated hitter.
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[edit] Early career
After being named the Carolina League's "Most Valuable Player" for 1962,[citation needed] Rusty Staub received a $100,000 bonus from the Houston Colt .45s,[citation needed] who later became the Astros, 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 Canadian team's inaugural season 1969, he was embraced as the expansion team's first star, and became one of the most popular players in their history. Embraced by French-Canadians because he made the effort to learn their language, he was nicknamed "Le Grand Orange" for his red hair (his more common nickname of "Rusty" has the same origin). Staub's #10 uniform 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).[1]
[edit] New York Mets
Moving on to the Mets in 1972 (he was traded to New York in exchange for first baseman-outfielder Mike Jorgensen, infielder Tim Foli, and outfielder Ken Singleton), Staub was instrumental in the Mets' 1973 upset 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 underhanded and rather weakly in the World Series. Despite the injury, he batted .423 against the Oakland Athletics.
In 1975, he set a Mets record with 105 Runs batted in -- the first Met player ever to surpass 100 RBIs -- that would not be reached again until Gary Carter tied it in 1986, and not surpassed until 1990 by Darryl Strawberry.[1]
[edit] Detroit Tigers
After the 1975 season, Staub 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.[citation needed] 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.
Staub 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.[citation needed]
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, which was best known for its annual rib-eating contest. He also worked as a television 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.[citation needed] Since September 11, 2001, Staub's organization has received contributions in excess of $112 million,[citation needed] and has played a vital role in helping many families affected by the disaster.
[edit] Honors
Staub's number 10 jersey was retired by the Expos, and 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. Jesuit High School, New Orleans, where Rusty graduated, annually gives the Rusty Staub Award to the leader of the varsity baseball team.
In 2006, Rusty Staub was inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame.[citation needed]
[edit] See also
- Top 500 home run hitters of all time
- List of major league players with 2,000 hits
- List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
- List of Major League Baseball doubles champions
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI
- Montreal Expos all-time roster
| Preceded by Roman Mejias |
Houston Astros Longest Hitting Streak 1967-1973 |
Succeeded by Lee May |
[edit] References
- ^ Washington Nationals Batting Leaders Baseball-Reference.com. URL Accessed May 17, 2007.
[edit] External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
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