Rusty Staub

Infobox MLB retired
name=Rusty Staub


caption=
position=Outfielder
bats=Left
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1944|4|1
city-state|New Orleans|Louisiana
debutdate=April 9
debutyear=by|1963
debutteam=Houston Colt .45's
finaldate=October 6
finalyear=by|1985
finalteam=New York Mets
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.279
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=292
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=1,466
teams=
*Houston Colt .45's / Astros (by|1963-by|1968)
*Montreal Expos (by|1969-by|1971, by|1979)
*New York Mets (by|1972-by|1975, by|1981-by|1985)
*Detroit Tigers (by|1976-by|1979)
*Texas Rangers (by|1980)
highlights=
*6x All-Star selection (1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1976)
*Montreal Expos #10 retired

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.

Houston Colt .45's/Astros

After being named the Carolina League's Player of the Year in by|1962, [http://news.google.com/archivesearch?q=rusty+staub+carolina+league+%22player+of+the+year%22&hl=en&ned=us&sa=N&sugg=d&as_user_hdate=1965] Staub was signed by the Houston Colt .45's in by|1963 for $100,000 under the Bonus Rule. [cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,899585,00.html?promoid=googlep|title=Wynn of the Losers|date=2007-07-07|accessdate=2008-09-26|publisher=Time magazine] In his first season, at only 19 years of age, Staub played regularly, splitting time between first base and the outfield, but hit only .220. The following season, he hit only .216 for the Colts and was sent down the minor leagues at one point. [cite web|url=http://minors.sabrwebs.com/cgi-bin/person.php?milbID=staub-001dan|title=SABR Minor Leagues Database: Rusty Staub|accessdate=2008-09-26|publisher=Society for American Baseball Research] His numbers began to steadily improve in the by|1965 season for the now-renamed Astros, and he had a breakout by|1967 season, where he led the league in doubles with 44 and was selected to the All-Star team. He was also an All-Star for the Astros in 1968.

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). The #10 worn by Staub during his first stint in Montreal was the first number ever retired by the Montreal Expos organization. He is also the franchise's career leader in on-base percentage (.402). [http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/WSN/leaders_bat.shtml Washington Nationals Batting Leaders] "Baseball-Reference.com". URL Accessed May 17, 2007.]

New York Mets

Moving on to the Mets in by|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' by|1973 upset over the Cincinnati Reds in the National League Championship Series where he socked 3 home runs and drove in 5 RBIs. He was outstanding defensively, 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 and separated his right shoulder. The resulting injury to his shoulder forced him to throw underhanded and rather weakly in the World Series. Despite the injury, he batted .423 against the Oakland Athletics including a home run and 6 RBIs.

In by|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 by|1986, and not surpassed until by|1990 by Darryl Strawberry. [http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070916&content_id=2211657&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym]

Detroit Tigers

After the by|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 by|1976 All-Star Game, in which he went 2-for-2.

In by|1978, Staub became the first player to play in all 162 regular-season games exclusively as a designated hitter. [cite web|url=http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1138731/index.htm|title=Swinging for the Record Books|date=1993-04-05|accessdate=2008-09-30|publisher=Sports Illustrated] 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 by|1979 season, and this resulted in his being dealt to the Montreal Expos in July of that same season.

Later career

Staub returned to the Mets in by|1981 as a free agent after spending the by|1980 season with the Texas Rangers and served as a player-coach in by|1982. In by|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.

Retirement

Rusty Staub retired from baseball at the age of 41 in by|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.cite web|url=http://www.tbhof.org/bio/2006/biostaub.htm|title=Texas Baseball Hall of Fame - Rusty Staub Bio|accessdate=2008-09-30|publisher=Texas Baseball Hall of Fame]

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.cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa5278/is_200506/ai_n24300884|title=New Mets are a hit with Rusty Staub|date=2005-06-20|accessdate=2008-09-30|publisher=Westchester County Business Journal] 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 disaster.

Honors

Staub's number 10 jersey was retired by the Expos, and Staub was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame in by|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.

ee 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

References

External links

*baseballstats |mlb= |espn= |br=s/staubru01 |fangraphs=1012440 |cube=S/rusty-staub