What do you think when you hear the word ten? some people think of their fingers or their toes, some think of decades and decathlons. Others might think of who was the tenth woman to sleep with Tiger Woods ?Well seeing that there are only ten days until the Mets open the season at Citi Field against the Florida Marlins, I figured that I would profile the Man who made number 10 his own, and like another Mets icon – Keith Hernandez has to watch inferior players wear his number ! Yes that man is my namesake – LA GRANDE L’ORANGE himself – RUSTY STAUB !!!
Daniel Joseph “Rusty” Staub was born April 1, 1944 in New Orleans Louisiana. When he was 17 years old , Staub signed his first professional contract with the Houston Colt .45s organization in 1961. He was assigned to the Class B Carolina League, and at the end of the season he was named one of the league’s all-stars. In 1963, Staub signed to a $100,000 Major League contract under the Bonus Rule, and at the age of nineteen he played his first season in the majors.Staub split time between first base and the outfield, but hit only .220. The next season, he hit only .216 for the Colts and was sent down the minor leagues. The 1965 season saw his numbers to steadily improve , and in 1967 he had a breakout season. He led the league with 44 doubles ,and was selected to the All-Star team.
In 1969 , Staub was traded to the then expansion Montreal Expos as part of a trade for Donn Clendenon and Jesus Alou.This was a controversial trade at the time because Clendenon refused to report to the Astros and threatened to retire. Then Commissioner, Bowie Kuhn resolved the dispute by ruling that the deal was official, but that Clendenon was to stay with the Expos.
Rusty was embraced as the Expos first star, and became one of the most popular players in their history. It is there that he earned the nickname La Grande L’Orange, which like his other more popular nickname , Rusty would be his trademark for the rest of his career.
In 1972, after three seasons with the Expos
, Staub was traded to the New York Mets in exchange for first baseman-outfielder Mike Jorgensen, shortstop Tim Foli, and outfielder Ken Singleton. Staub quickly ingratiated himself to the Mets and to their fans, and he was instrumental in the Mets’ 1973 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the National League Championship Series. He hit 3 home runs and drove in 5 RBIs in that series. He would go on to bat .423 against the Oakland Athletics including a home run and 6 RBIs during the ’73 World Series.
In 1975, Rusty set a Mets record with 105 runs batted in. He was the first Met player ever to surpass 100 RBIs. That record would stand until 1986 when Gary Carter would tie it and in 1990 when Darryl Strawberry would break it with 108.
Unfortunately just before the 1976 season, Rusty traded to the Detroit Tigers with pitcher Bill Laxton for pitcher Mickey Lolich and outfielder Billy Baldwin. Mets fans everywhere were angered, especially when Loilich turned out to be a bust.
Rusty would spend the next five seasons with the Tigers Expos, and the Texas Rangers before coming back to the Mets as a free agent in ’81, where he was utilized as a player-coach . 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. In 1985, Rusty retired from baseball at the age of 41. I remember being at ” Thanks Rusty Day in ’85 and I along with most of the Shea Faithful were bawling like babies after Rusty’s heartfelt speech.
He has the distinction, along with Ty Cobb, and Gary Sheffield of being the only players to hit home runs before turning 20 years old, and after turning 40 years old.
Rusty will also always be known for his Cajun restaurant “Rusty’s,”which was located on the upper east side of Manhattan, at 73rd Street and Third Avenue, and was best known for its annual rib-eating contest. Rusty closed in the 1980s due to rising rents and Rusty’s inability to control costs while not overseeing the day to day operations of the restaurant. Rusty was also an analyst for Mets ball games during the ’80′s and early ’90′s.
In 1986,he established the “Rusty Staub Foundation” which raised money for deserving causes, in 1986, founded the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund.
Staub was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame in 1986. But something very special happened one day in 1974 when my father took me to see the Mets when I was a two year old. You see Rusty was signing autographs for his clamoring fans, and when he was about to depart to the clubhouse my father yelled out – HEY RUSTY !! HOWZ ABOUT A A AUTOGRAPH FOR YOUR ILLEGITIMATE SON!?! Well Rusty looked at me – a chubby tyke laughed and signed my yearbook – where it is now I have no clue but I from that day on was known as Rustyjr.
Â
Â
                                                                      
                                                                            ” Hi Dad !!”
And on that note … HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!!
Â
 Happy Birthday wishes go out to reserve outfielder from the ’93 team , Mickey Weston.(1961)
Reserve outfielder from the ’94 team , Shawn Hare is 43. (1967) He played in 22 games that year but I can’t remember him !
One of the better Mets from the mid ’90′s – second baseman, Jose Vizcaino is 42. (1968)
New York Mets sold reliever Buzz Capra to the Atlanta Braves on March 26, 1974.
New York Mets sold one time rookie phenom – Mike Vail to the Cleveland Indians on March 26, 1978.
New York Mets released future Mets manager, Bobby Valentine on March 26, 1979. As the story goes Bobby was so upset with then manager Joe Torre that he allegedly vowed to get even. Bobby got his chance in 2000 – unfortunately we know how that ended.
New York Mets traded prospects , Randy Milligan and Scott Henion to the Pittsburgh Pirates for catcher Mackey ” Tap Tap” Sasser and pitching prospect Tim Drummond on March 26, 1988.
New York Mets signed free agent outfielder D.J. Dozier on March 26, 1990.
New York Metspurchased pitcher Joe Crawford from the Boston Red Sox on March 26, 1996.
New York Mets released utility infielder Alvaro Espinoza on March 26, 1997.
Sadly on this date in 1997 , Howard Johnson announced his retirement from baseball after a failed comeback attempt with the Mets.Â
New York Mets released pitcher Hideo Nomo on March 26, 1999. Hideo was pretty much washed up at this stage of his career , although he would go on to pitch a couple of more seasons elsewhere.
And guys on a more serious note please keep Dwight Gooden in your thoughts after his latest possible relapse. Remember that he is innocent until proven guilty and lets remember him not for his slip ups but for his accomplishments, including bringing us a World Series Trophy in ’86
51 comments
GravediggerHebner
3/26/2010-7:49pm at 7:49 pm (UTC -4)
I think of Bo Derek
rustyjr
3/26/2010-7:52pm at 7:52 pm (UTC -4)
You mean a ditzy blonde republican who liked getting naked in front of the camera ? I can see that
GravediggerHebner
3/26/2010-7:55pm at 7:55 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t think you have to put “ditzy” in front of blonde, it’s implied. Or is that in front of Republican? Whatever
In the context of the Mets, 10 will always be Rusty. I love it during the game telecasts when Keith tells a “riding around in Rusty’s meat van” story.
rustyjr
3/26/2010-7:58pm at 7:58 pm (UTC -4)
Makes you think that there might be a hidden meaning lol
trs86
3/26/2010-7:53pm at 7:53 pm (UTC -4)
Yes she was.
asod75
3/26/2010-8:02pm at 8:02 pm (UTC -4)
When I think of “Ten,” I think of the debut album by Pearl Jam. Many say it’s their best. I disagree (I prefer Vs., Vitalogy and one of their more recent albums, the self-titled Pearl Jam).
rustyjr
3/26/2010-8:05pm at 8:05 pm (UTC -4)
I was never a pearl jam fan although I respect them – Chicago 10 was a great lp
Kingman 26
3/26/2010-8:47pm at 8:47 pm (UTC -4)
Great job Rusty–I was wondering where this piece was! And good call on Doc…following him in the minors in his incredible 1983 season was the most exciting Met-related thing I did with my Dad since the 1973 team lost the Series.
And I am on the anti-Pearl Jam bandwagon too.
Take Nirvana without the sincere angst, add Alice in Chains without the classic rock/metal, throw in Mudhoney without the punk, and a touch of the Screaming Trees without Mark Lanegan’s charisma and their great guitar work, and voila! Pearl Jam!
It is funny, before they were huge, they were mocked relentlessly as contrived sellouts in Seattle in the early 90s…oh well….
If Andy Wood had just not done heroin that one night! Mother Love Bone would be as big as Guns N Roses and Eddie Vedder would be blathering to fellow aging surfers on a beach in San Diego…..
rustyjr
3/26/2010-8:50pm at 8:50 pm (UTC -4)
So true and there were so many more deserving bands from that area such as tad screaming trees mentors coven forced entry moving targets etc andy wood rip
Kingman 26
3/26/2010-8:53pm at 8:53 pm (UTC -4)
You are so right my friend, as usual!
Screaming Trees were so great….Nearly Lost You—the second best song of that era after Smells Like teen Spirit!
Andy Wood was great; hard to believe that he, Cobain, and Layne Staley are all dead for years. Along with Chris Cornell the four best voices of that incredible scene.
Forced Entry ROCKED!! And Tad, despite his sound and appearance, is a tremendously sweet guy.
rustyjr
3/26/2010-8:56pm at 8:56 pm (UTC -4)
Willard and grunttruckvwere great guys
Kingman 26
3/26/2010-8:59pm at 8:59 pm (UTC -4)
Yes! I remember we have talked about this—Ben McMillan, RIP, was a GREAT guy.
The Willard guys were weird, but definitely down to earth and cool.
But Ben was the greatest; I knew him better than any of the other almost-big-stars. He used to brag about how he puked in the hallway during commercial breaks when Gruntruck hosted Headbanger’s Ball on MTV in the early 90s; one of his proudest moments…thinking about him always makes me smile. He sure could party.
gategem
3/26/2010-10:20pm at 10:20 pm (UTC -4)
Why are they all dead? Is there some correlation, in your business, between greatness and being dead? You guys must really rock at your séances.
Hazmet
3/26/2010-8:05pm at 8:05 pm (UTC -4)
Great story. I alway’s think of Rusty in #4. You caught me off guard as I was expecting a Duffy Dyer sighting today. But Rusty being my second fav Met growing up after Seaver alway’s strikes a chord. The man could just flat out hit. For kicks I just visited his facebook page and someone raised an interesting point. He stated, “if Rusty had gone over to the AL and became a DH he probably would have had 3000 hits and possibly HOF candidacy with that threshold”.
I never really thought of that but it was an interesting thought, I thought.
rustyjr
3/26/2010-8:07pm at 8:07 pm (UTC -4)
I know I’m biased but I feel he is deserving of the honor
Hazmet
3/26/2010-8:11pm at 8:11 pm (UTC -4)
Only player in history with 500 hits with 4 different teams.
rustyjr
3/26/2010-8:13pm at 8:13 pm (UTC -4)
Very overlooked
Hazmet
3/26/2010-8:15pm at 8:15 pm (UTC -4)
Was this you two?
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2880980&op=1&o=global&view=global&subj=282452985397&id=547249628
Sorry, couldn’t hyperlink it.
rustyjr
3/26/2010-8:21pm at 8:21 pm (UTC -4)
Lol he was a met at the time
Hazmet
3/26/2010-8:23pm at 8:23 pm (UTC -4)
I know but the picture was totally worthy I thought. If it was in a Mets uni we would have to start a petition to make it your avatar.
rustyjr
3/26/2010-8:26pm at 8:26 pm (UTC -4)
I tried – can’t get a avatar done – pc problem
Hazmet
3/26/2010-9:07pm at 9:07 pm (UTC -4)
Gotta ask the obvious, tried to reset on Gravatar? I was having trouble till I realized I had to reset on Gravatar.
rustyjr
3/26/2010-9:20pm at 9:20 pm (UTC -4)
I am pc illiterate lol if one of the guys here wanna put one on for me feel free lol
Hazmet
3/26/2010-9:40pm at 9:40 pm (UTC -4)
I’m not sure if they can since it references back to your e-mail account and such for ID. Should check with the crew though.
Hazmet
3/26/2010-8:38pm at 8:38 pm (UTC -4)
They’re replaying Game 6 1886 vs. the Taco Bells. What a freakin team, still bugs the crap out of me they only got 1 title. Even the simple things like a run down play with Carter and Knight. One throw, out. Fundies, Fundies, Fundies….
rustyjr
3/26/2010-8:42pm at 8:42 pm (UTC -4)
1886 ? Were they called the mets stockings ? Lol
Hazmet
3/26/2010-8:46pm at 8:46 pm (UTC -4)
OMG.oops. LOL. Moises Alou was on that 1886 squad I believe. Well you know who I meant.
Kingman 26
3/26/2010-8:49pm at 8:49 pm (UTC -4)
El Duque and Luis Tiant and Satchell Paige were all rookie stars for that team….
rustyjr
3/26/2010-8:58pm at 8:58 pm (UTC -4)
Don’t forget Warren Spahn and aronn sele Orel hershiser too
Kingman 26
3/26/2010-9:01pm at 9:01 pm (UTC -4)
Julio Franco was one of the older guys on that team….
Hazmet
3/26/2010-9:05pm at 9:05 pm (UTC -4)
Some guys were just born old. That’s how I think of Julio. But what a career.
rustyjr
3/26/2010-9:06pm at 9:06 pm (UTC -4)
Also lenny Harris frank tananna and a very young Casey Stengel
Kingman 26
3/26/2010-9:12pm at 9:12 pm (UTC -4)
Haha, I thought of Harris too!
Kingman 26
3/26/2010-8:50pm at 8:50 pm (UTC -4)
If Pendleton had just not hit that homer off McDowell in 1987, they would have won 2 titles in a row. I will go to my grave believing that.
But still, it was just one, but how special was it?
We have won two titles in 40 years, but in all seriousness, they are two of the most special and memorable teams in the last 40 years of sports.
Hazmet
3/26/2010-8:53pm at 8:53 pm (UTC -4)
Ditto that on ’87. 1987 that is.
Kingman 26
3/26/2010-9:19pm at 9:19 pm (UTC -4)
LOL!
Have a great night Haz.
Again, I am really and truly glad you made it over here.
You are one of the folks who truly make this a better place.
rustyjr
3/26/2010-8:53pm at 8:53 pm (UTC -4)
I was devestared that game you could feel he momentum and life get sucked out the season at that point
Kingman 26
3/26/2010-8:57pm at 8:57 pm (UTC -4)
Me too. I was blown away. They had been 10 games back, and that win would have been the stepping stone to a sweep that weekend, and another title, as everyone was getting healthy and their confidence was growing every day.
The team was never the same after that loss.
To me, the single worst loss in my history as a Met fan. Games 5 (and 7) of the 88 playoffs and game 7 in 2006 were awful, as were the last days of 2007 and 2008, but that Pendleton homer—that was the worst Met game for me ever.
rustyjr
3/26/2010-9:09pm at 9:09 pm (UTC -4)
Not the mike scocia hr or the game 1 of the 2000 ws or Kenny Rogers game 7 of the 99 nlcs ? Lol
Kingman 26
3/26/2010-9:17pm at 9:17 pm (UTC -4)
Yes sir, you have added some excellent candidates for Worst Met Nightmare!
The Kenny Rogers game may have been the second worst for me, tied with the Scioscia game.
The whole 2000 Series was a nightmare; I think I am subconsciously still trying to block it out!
Guys, this was a GREAT flashback to some fun old nights a couple of years ago on Metsblog, the three of us going on about the Mets and music!
I am out, but have a GREAT night, and I cannot believe it is only ten Rusty Jr Mike Jorgensen Duffy Dyer Butch Huskey Endy Chavez days till opening day!!!
rustyjr
3/26/2010-9:26pm at 9:26 pm (UTC -4)
Nite my friend
Hazmet
3/26/2010-9:31pm at 9:31 pm (UTC -4)
I must admit I was having flashbacks, all the best kind. Have a great evening. You’re guy’s music knowledge base is scary good.
ceetar
3/26/2010-9:20pm at 9:20 pm (UTC -4)
aha.
Hazmet
3/26/2010-10:06pm at 10:06 pm (UTC -4)
Note to SNY: If your going to show a Mets classic like the 1986 Game 6 in Houston it would be advisable to show the end of the game as part of the replay! They got up to the 15th and then it was 10pm and went to Sports Nite. Our Flagship station at work. Bad job, Cerrone must have gotten a promotion.
ceetar
3/26/2010-10:21pm at 10:21 pm (UTC -4)
lol. cut the beginning of the game if necessary, not the end!
metsfan4decades
3/26/2010-10:52pm at 10:52 pm (UTC -4)
wow – wasn’t watching but that’s just poor…..
gategem
3/26/2010-10:33pm at 10:33 pm (UTC -4)
“In 1969 , Staub was traded to the then expansion Montreal Expos as part of a trade for Donn Clendenon and Jesus Alou.This was a controversial trade at the time because Clendenon refused to report to the Astros and threatened to retire. Then Commissioner, Bowie Kuhn resolved the dispute by ruling that the deal was official, but that Clendenon was to stay with the Expos.â€
Because Clendenon refused to report to the Astros the following trade was able to take place:
“June 15, 1969: Traded by the Montreal Expos to the New York Mets for Bill Carden (minors), Dave Colon (minors), Kevin Collins and Steve Renko.â€
Without Clendenon coming to the Mets there would be no 1969 championship. So there is, in an indirect way, linkage between Rusty and the 1969 Mets.
metsfan4decades
3/26/2010-10:56pm at 10:56 pm (UTC -4)
The 5 degrees of seperation….
Can you see the Commissioner ruling like that in favor of a player today? Never happen….
metsfan4decades
3/26/2010-10:54pm at 10:54 pm (UTC -4)
What a great story. I was always wondering the connection between you, Rusty and La Grande L’Orange. Now I know.
metsfan4decades
3/26/2010-11:15pm at 11:15 pm (UTC -4)
On another note, Omar’s quotes today regarding Mejia leave me feeling like I’m holding on to the last car of a roller coaster as it goes up and down, up and down.
This from Brian Costa Star Ledger: Mets still mulling whether to put Jenrry Mejia on opening day roster:
With just over a week left in spring training, Mets general manager Omar Minaya said Friday the team still hasn’t decided whether its top pitching prospect will be on the Opening Day roster.
Even if the Mets had made a decision already, they probably wouldn’t announce it quite yet. But Minaya said even internally, the Mets aren’t sure whether Mejia will begin the season at Double A or in the majors.
“I mean that,†Minaya said. “I don’t have a decision. I think the quality of that lineup that you’re facing can really make a difference. … I’ve always said that in spring training, you have to keep an even keel — not too high, not too low. At the end, take a step back and evaluate.â€
***********************************
This is an exact opposite of what he said not 24 hours during the game with the Cardinals.
I realize they have until just a few days before opening day to make a decision. But his comments just make it sound like he goes back and forth with his opinion more than MC on metsblog.
LOL – this on the same blog from Figgy after today’s outing:
“It was unfortunate timing of events, but — shocker — I’m human,†Figueroa said.
Mr North Jersey
3/26/2010-11:18pm at 11:18 pm (UTC -4)
a roller coaster ride is a good description. When Camp breaks and we look back what will Spring Training 2010 be remembered as?