Rusty Staub
Encyclopedia
Daniel Joseph "Rusty" Staub (born April 1, 1944) is an American
former Major League Baseball
right fielder
, designated hitter
, and first baseman
. He enjoyed a 23-year baseball career with 5 different teams. He was an original member
of the Montreal Expos
and that team's first star; though the Expos traded him after only 3 years, his enduring popularity led them to retire his number in 1993.
, and at season's end he was named one of the league's all-stars. Following that season, Staub was signed to a $
100,000 Major League contract under the Bonus Rule
. 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. He became only the second major league rookie
since 1900 to play 150 games as a teenager; the first had been Bob Kennedy
, also 19, with the Chicago White Sox
in 1940. The following season, he hit only .216 for the Colts and was sent down the minor leagues at one point. His numbers began to steadily improve in the season for the now-renamed Astros, and he had a breakout 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.
before the start of their inaugural season in 1969 as part of a trade for Donn Clendenon
and Jesus Alou
. The trade became a source of controversy as Clendenon refused to report to the Astros and attempted to retire; the deal had to be resolved by Commissioner of Baseball
Bowie Kuhn
who ruled that the deal was official, but that Clendenon was to stay with the Expos. Montreal eventually dealt Jack Billingham
, Skip Guinn
, and $100,000 as compensation.
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 learned 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 retired by the Montreal Expos organization. He is also the franchise's career leader in on-base percentage (.402), among players with 2,000 or more plate appearance
s with the franchise.
in in exchange for first baseman-outfielder Mike Jorgensen
, shortstop
Tim Foli
, and outfielder Ken Singleton
. In the Mets' victory over the Cincinnati Reds
in the National League Championship Series
, Staub hit three home runs and drove in five runs. He made an outstanding play 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 six RBIs.
In , he set a Mets record with 105 runs batted in—the first Met player ever to surpass 100 RBIs—that would not be matched until , when it was tied by Gary Carter
, and not surpassed until when Darryl Strawberry
recorded 108.
with pitcher
Bill Laxton
for pitcher Mickey Lolich
and outfielder Billy Baldwin
.
In his three plus seasons with the Tigers, Staub hit .277 with 70 home runs. He was voted to start the All-Star Game
, where he went 2-for-2.
In , 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 and finished fifth in American League
Most Valuable Player voting. He was selected to the Sporting News American League
All-Star team at the end of the season as the designated hitter.
Staub held out to start the season, and eventually he was dealt to the Montreal Expos in July of that same season.
, Staub returned to the Mets in as a free agent and served as a player-coach in . In , 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
. In his last at bat in the season Staub hit a three-run home run off the LHP Dave Roberts to push his average to .300 for the season.
, and Gary Sheffield
share the distinction of being the only players to hit home run
s before turning 20 years old, and after turning 40 years old.
Staub was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame
in . In 2004, he received an honorary
Doctor of Humane Letters
degree from Niagara University
. Jesuit High School
, where Rusty graduated, annually gives the Rusty Staub Award to the leader of the varsity
baseball team. In 2006, Staub was inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame.
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 attack. Staub went on to work as a television announcer for Mets ball games.
He owned and ran two well-received restaurants in Manhattan, New York City. Rusty Staub's opened in 1977, and Rusty Staub's on Fifth in 1989. Both have since closed. In July 2006, Staub teamed with Mascot Books
to publish his first children's book, Hello, Mr. Met.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
, designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
, and first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
. He enjoyed a 23-year baseball career with 5 different teams. He was an original member
Expansion team
An expansion team is a brand new team in a sports league. The term is most commonly used in reference to the North American major professional sports leagues, but is applied to sports leagues worldwide that use a closed franchise system of league membership. The term comes from the expansion of the...
of the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
and that team's first star; though the Expos traded him after only 3 years, his enduring popularity led them to retire his number in 1993.
Houston Colt .45s/Astros
Staub signed his first professional contract with the expansion team Houston Colt .45s organization in 1961. He spent the 1962 season in the Class B Carolina LeagueCarolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
, and at season's end he was named one of the league's all-stars. Following that season, Staub was signed to a $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
100,000 Major League contract under the Bonus Rule
Bonus Rule
The Bonus Rule was a rule instituted by Major League Baseball in 1947 that prevented teams from assigning certain players to farm clubs. The rule stipulated that when a Major league team signed a player to a contract in excess of $4,000 , the Major League team was required to keep that player on...
. In his first season, at only 19 years of age, Staub played regularly, splitting time between first base and the outfield, but hit
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
only .220. He became only the second major league rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
since 1900 to play 150 games as a teenager; the first had been Bob Kennedy
Bob Kennedy
Robert Daniel Kennedy was a right fielder/third baseman, manager and executive in Major League Baseball.From 1939-1957, Kennedy played for the Chicago White Sox , Cleveland Indians , Baltimore Orioles , Detroit Tigers and Brooklyn Dodgers . He batted and threw right-handed...
, also 19, with the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in 1940. The following season, he hit only .216 for the Colts and was sent down the minor leagues at one point. His numbers began to steadily improve in the season for the now-renamed Astros, and he had a breakout 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
Staub was traded to the ExposMontreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
before the start of their inaugural season in 1969 as part of a trade for Donn Clendenon
Donn Clendenon
Donn Alvin Clendenon was a Major League Baseball first baseman. He is best remembered as the World Series MVP for the Amazin' Mets.-Early life:...
and Jesus Alou
Jesús Alou
Jesús María Rojas Alou is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. During a 17-year baseball career, he played for the San Francisco Giants , Houston Astros , Oakland Athletics , and New York Mets...
. The trade became a source of controversy as Clendenon refused to report to the Astros and attempted to retire; the deal had to be resolved by Commissioner of Baseball
Commissioner of Baseball
The Commissioner of Baseball is the chief executive of Major League Baseball and its associated minor leagues. Under the direction of the Commissioner, the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball hires and maintains the sport's umpiring crews, and negotiates marketing, labor, and television contracts...
Bowie Kuhn
Bowie Kuhn
Bowie Kent Kuhn was an American lawyer and sports administrator who served as the fifth Commissioner of Major League Baseball from February 4, , to September 30,...
who ruled that the deal was official, but that Clendenon was to stay with the Expos. Montreal eventually dealt Jack Billingham
Jack Billingham
John Eugene Billingham is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , Houston Astros , Cincinnati Reds , Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox...
, Skip Guinn
Skip Guinn
Drannon Eugene "Skip" Guinn is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played parts of three seasons in the majors, between and , for the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros.-Sources:...
, and $100,000 as compensation.
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 learned their language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, he was nicknamed "Le Grand Orange" for his red hair
Red hair
Red hair occurs on approximately 1–2% of the human population. It occurs more frequently in people of northern or western European ancestry, and less frequently in other populations...
(his more common nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
of "Rusty" has the same origin). The #10 worn by Staub during his first stint in Montreal was the first number retired by the Montreal Expos organization. He is also the franchise's career leader in on-base percentage (.402), among players with 2,000 or more plate appearance
Plate appearance
In baseball statistics, a player is credited with a plate appearance each time he completes a turn batting. A player completes a turn batting when: He strikes out or is declared out before reaching first base; or He reaches first base safely or is awarded first base ; or He hits a fair ball which...
s with the franchise.
New York Mets
After three seasons in Montreal, Staub was traded to the New York MetsNew York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in in exchange for first baseman-outfielder Mike Jorgensen
Mike Jorgensen
Michael Jorgensen is a former Major League Baseball player drafted by the New York Mets in the fourth round of the 1966 Major League Baseball Draft...
, shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
Tim Foli
Tim Foli
Timothy John Foli , nicknamed Crazy Horse, is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Mets, Montreal Expos, San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, California Angels and New York Yankees from to...
, and outfielder Ken Singleton
Ken Singleton
Kenneth Wayne Singleton is an American former professional baseball player and current television sports commentator. He played as an outfielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets, Montreal Expos, and Baltimore Orioles.-Baseball career:Born in Manhattan, New York...
. In the Mets' victory over the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
in the National League Championship Series
1973 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 6, 1973 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, OhioThe starting pitchers, New York's Tom Seaver and Cincinnati's Jack Billingham, produced a classic pitcher's duel in Game 1. The Mets threatened in the first, loading the bases with one out, but Cleon Jones grounded into a...
, Staub hit three home runs and drove in five runs. He made an outstanding play defensively, when he robbed Dan Driessen
Dan Driessen
Daniel Driessen is a former Major League Baseball infielder who played for five teams in his eighteen year career, and is best known as a member of the Cincinnati Reds "Big Red Machine" of the 1970s....
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
1973 World Series
The 1973 World Series matched the defending champion Oakland Athletics against the New York Mets, with the A's winning in seven games to repeat as World Champions....
. Despite the injury, he batted .423 against the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
including a home run and six RBIs.
In , he set a Mets record with 105 runs batted in—the first Met player ever to surpass 100 RBIs—that would not be matched until , when it was tied by Gary Carter
Gary Carter
Gary Edmund Carter , nicknamed "Kid" and "Kid Carter", is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 19-year baseball career, mostly with the Montreal Expos and the New York Mets, Carter established himself as one of the premier catchers in the National League, winning three Gold...
, and not surpassed until when Darryl Strawberry
Darryl Strawberry
Darryl Eugene Strawberry is a former American Major League Baseball outfielder who is well-known both for his play on the field and for his controversial behavior off it...
recorded 108.
Detroit Tigers
Before the season, he was traded to the Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
with pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Bill Laxton
Bill Laxton
William Harry Laxton is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Laxton pitched in all or part of five seasons in the majors between and .- Early career :...
for pitcher Mickey Lolich
Mickey Lolich
Michael Stephen Lolich is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1962 until 1979 who played the majority of his career with the Detroit Tigers.-Baseball career:...
and outfielder Billy Baldwin
Billy Baldwin (baseball)
Robert Harvey Baldwin was a backup outfielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1975 through 1976 for the 1975 Detroit Tigers and the 1976 New York Mets. Listed at 6'0", 175 lb., he batted and threw left handed....
.
In his three plus seasons with the Tigers, Staub hit .277 with 70 home runs. He was voted to start the All-Star Game
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
, where he went 2-for-2.
In , Staub became the first player to play in all 162 regular-season games exclusively as a designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
. Not playing the field at all proved beneficial, as Staub finished second in the Major Leagues with 121 RBI and finished fifth in American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
Most Valuable Player voting. He was selected to the Sporting News American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
All-Star team at the end of the season as the designated hitter.
Staub held out to start the season, and eventually he was dealt to the Montreal Expos in July of that same season.
Later career
After spending the season with the Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, Staub returned to the Mets in as a free agent and served as a player-coach in . In , he tied a National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
record with eight straight pinch-hits and that same season also tied the Major League record of 25 RBIs by a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
. In his last at bat in the season Staub hit a three-run home run off the LHP Dave Roberts to push his average to .300 for the season.
Retirement and Honors
Staub's career ended at the age of 41 in . He was only 284 hits shy of the 3000 hit milestone. He was the only major league player to have 500 hits with four different teams. He, Ty CobbTy Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
, and Gary Sheffield
Gary Sheffield
Gary Antonian Sheffield , nicknamed "Sheff", is an American retired Major League Baseball outfielder. He played for eight major league ball clubs from 1988 to 2009, primarily as an outfielder.-Biography:...
share the distinction of being the only players to hit home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s before turning 20 years old, and after turning 40 years old.
Staub was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame
New York Mets Hall of Fame
The New York Mets Hall of Fame was created in 1981 to recognize the careers of former New York Mets players, managers, broadcasters and executives. There are presently 25 members...
in . In 2004, he received an honorary
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
Doctor of Humane Letters
Doctor of Humane Letters
The degree of Doctor of Humane Letters is always conferred as an honorary degree, usually to those who have distinguished themselves in areas other than science, government, literature or religion, which are awarded degrees of Doctor of Science, Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Letters, or Doctor of...
degree from Niagara University
Niagara University
Niagara University is a Catholic university in the Vincentian tradition, located in the Town of Lewiston in Niagara County, New York. Originally founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 1856 as Our Lady of Angels Seminary, it became Niagara University in 1883. The University is still run by...
. Jesuit High School
Jesuit High School (New Orleans)
Jesuit High School is an all-male Catholic high school in New Orleans, Louisiana. The school was founded in 1847. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans....
, where Rusty graduated, annually gives the Rusty Staub Award to the leader of the varsity
Varsity team
In the United States and Canada, varsity sports teams are the principal athletic teams representing a college, university, high school or other secondary school. Such teams compete against the principal athletic teams at other colleges/universities, or in the case of secondary schools, against...
baseball team. In 2006, Staub was inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame.
Career outside baseball
Staub established the "Rusty Staub Foundation" to do charitableCharity (practice)
The practice of charity means the voluntary giving of help to those in need who are not related to the giver.- Etymology :The word "charity" entered the English language through the Old French word "charité" which was derived from the Latin "caritas".Originally in Latin the word caritas meant...
works, and in 1986, founded the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund
New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund
The New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund was created in 1985 by former New York Mets player Rusty Staub and Paddy Burns, who was then the Vice President of the New York Patrolmen's Benevolent Association...
. 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
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, Staub's organization has received contributions in excess of $112 million, and has played a vital role in helping many families affected by the attack. Staub went on to work as a television announcer for Mets ball games.
He owned and ran two well-received restaurants in Manhattan, New York City. Rusty Staub's opened in 1977, and Rusty Staub's on Fifth in 1989. Both have since closed. In July 2006, Staub teamed with Mascot Books
Mascot Books
Mascot Books is the largest publisher of licensed children’s sports books in America. Based in Herndon, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C., Mascot Books creates children’s books for professional teams, colleges, and even elementary schools...
to publish his first children's book, Hello, Mr. Met.
See also
- List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters
- 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