- Dick Rusteck
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Dick Rusteck Pitcher Born: July 12, 1941
Chicago, IllinoisBatted: Right Threw: Left MLB debut June 10, 1966 for the New York Mets Last MLB appearance October 2, 1966 for the New York Mets Career statistics Win-Loss 1-2 Strikeouts 9 Earned run average 3.00 Teams - New York Mets (1966)
Career highlights and awards - Pitched a shutout against the Cincinnati Reds in his major league debut
Richard Frank Rusteck (born July 12, 1941 in Chicago, Illinois) is a former American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Mets during the 1966 season. He is most widely known as one of the few pitchers to deliver a shutout in his first major league game in a match against the Cincinnati Reds on June 10, 1966.
Contents
Playing career
Early years
This 1963 Notre Dame graduate made three stops in 1965 en route to the New York Mets. All three contained a large measure of success. He began the year at Greenville, SC with a 2.14 ERA in 21 innings. Moving on to Auburn, NY, he fashioned a 3-0 record in 44 innings and a 1.64 ERA. His last stop was Williamsport (Eastern) where he completed the year throwing 50 innings with a 1.98 ERA although he won only one of six decisions. He was 6-4 at Jacksonville in 1966.
New York Mets
Rusteck was 24 years old when he broke into the big leagues on June 10, 1966, with the New York Mets. After his impressive debut, he gave up five runs in one inning against the St. Louis Cardinals in his second game for his first major league loss. He would pitch in six more games without a victory before returning to the minor leagues.
Back to the minors
He spent another eleven years in the minor leagues hoping to regain his initial success. His best season statistically was 1971, when he went 17-8 with a 2.40 ERA for the Charlotte Hornets, the Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. While it earned him a shot at Triple-A in the Philadelphia Phillies organization the following year, his ERA ballooned to 5.16. After sitting out the 1973 season, he played for four seasons in the independent Northwest League with the Portland Mavericks and Salem Senators before retiring.
References
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
External links
Categories:- 1941 births
- Living people
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- New York Mets players
- Baseball players from Illinois
- People from Chicago, Illinois
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish baseball players
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