Rusty Staub
Rusty Staub's great batting stroke kept him in the big leagues for more than two decades. He was a non-typical ballplayer, preferring fine cuisine and the theater to ballpark food and strip joints. Staub almost carried the 1973 Mets to a World Series championship, hitting .423 with 11 hits in the seven-game loss. An accomplished chef, after his playing career Staub devoted his time to a successful New York restaurant before entering the Mets' front office.
Played For
Houston Astros (1963-1968)
Montreal Expos (1969-1971)
New York Mets (1972-1975)
Detroit Tigers (1976-1979)
Montreal Expos (1979)
Texas Rangers (1980)
New York Mets (1981-1985)
All-Time Rankings
Rusty Staub ranks #34 among the Top 50 all-time at RF. Rankings ⇒
Best Season: 1967
He led the NL in doubles (44), and finished in the top ten in hits, OPS, OBP, and slugging. Staub batted .333, 5th in the league.
Factoids
Rusty Staub is the only player to collect at least 500 hits with four different teams (Houston, Montreal, New York Mets, and Detroit).
In 1984, Rusty Staub became the second player to hit a home run in the major leagues as a teenager and a 40-year-old. The other player is Ty Cobb.
Born
Daniel Joseph Staub was born on April 1, 1944, in New Orleans, LA.
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
Primary Position: OF
Primary Team: HOU
Major League Debut
April 9, 1963
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1963
Pete Rose
Rusty Staub
Joe Morgan
Willie Horton
Jose Cardenal
Jimmy Wynn
Dick Allen
Tommy John
Mickey Lolich
Nicknames
Le Grand Orange
Similar Players
None
Related Players
Donn Clendenon, Ken Singleton, Tim Foli, Mickey Lolich
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1991 |
BBWAA |
28 |
6.3% |
1992 |
BBWAA |
26 |
6.0% |
1993 |
BBWAA |
32 |
7.6% |
1994 |
BBWAA |
36 |
7.9% |
1995 |
BBWAA |
23 |
5.0% |
1996 |
BBWAA |
24 |
5.1% |
1997 |
BBWAA |
18 |
3.8% |
|
Post-Season Appearances
1973 National League Championship Series
1973 World Series
Post-Season Notes
Rusty was normally a very durable ballplayer, but in 1973 he separated his shoulder in Game Four of the playoffs against the Reds as he smashed against the Shea Stadium outfield wall in pursuit of Dan Driessen's 11th-inning fly. Despite cortisone shots, Staub was forced to throw underhand in the World Series against Oakland. Though unable to pull the ball, he socked an opposite field homer off Ken Holtzman to win Game Four.
Notes
Staub was known as one of the slowest runners of his era, especially after he turned 30. In his last 1,268 games Rusty attempted just 16 steals, but was successful 12 times... On September 27, 1963 Houston fielded a lineup of nine rookies. In the lineup that day was Joe Morgan at second base and Rusty Staub at first. The Colt 54s lost 10-3 to the Mets.
Hitting Streaks
20 games (1967)
17 games (1966)
16 games (1971)
Transactions
In the '82 off-season Staub nearly signed with the Baltimore Orioles as a free agent, but declined at the last minute and returned to the Mets.
All-Star Selections
1967 NL
1968 NL
1969 NL
1970 NL
1971 NL
1976 AL
Learn More about Rusty Staub
Search Amazon.com for Books about Rusty Staub ⇒
Search for Rusty Staub at Google ⇒
View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒
