" He deserves it !!!"
This afternoon as I was dropping off the last patient that attends a out patient program for the hospital I work for here in Staten Island , I heard one a sentence that I have never thought I would ever hear. No it wasn’t Megan Fox begging me to sleep with her ( someday Megan … someday !!).No it was something bigger than that , something that I waited for part of my childhood as well as most of my adult life. Rusty Staub is up for consideration to be elected into the Baseball Hall Of Fame by the Old Timers Committee !!! I couldn’t believe it !! Could this be true??!!?? Okay so the list is littered with such retreads like George Steinbrenner, Pat Gillick, Billy Martin and Marvin Miller . But these guys aren’t RUSTY STAUB !!!! Rusty Staub the best goodwill ambassador the Mets have ever had !! Rusty Staub – the man synonymous with the ’73 N.L Championship Team as well as one of the best pinch hitters that have ever lived !! Rusty Staub- The man who made the best ribs in all of New York back in the ’80′s ( take that Blue Smoke !!!) . Rusty Staub one of the few players that didn’t start his career with the Mets but who should be enshrined with the orange and blue if and when he gets inducted in Cooperstown this July !!
If my namesake is elected, he would become the only 12th Mets player to reach Cooperstown If he did he possibly would be only the second player to do it with a Mets cap ( Tom Terrific is the only player with that distinction) In his 23 year long career, Daniel “Rusty” Staub, finished his career with a .279 batting average, with 292 homers for five different teams. In his two stints with the Mets, he hit .276 with 75 homers . Staub is very prolific with many charities especially his foundation that assists the widows and children of fallen police and firefighters.
In order for Rusty to gain entry into the Hall of Fame, he must receive at least 75 percent of the vote from a committee that includes eight Hall of Fame players, four team executives and four members of the media. the committee will announce its results on Dec. 6 at MLB’s Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. ( so let us keeps our fingers crossed – THAT MEANS YOU TOO SALTY GARY !!!)
And with that said… HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Today’s Mets alumni celebrating birthdays are :
The original homegrown Mets superstar, Ed Kranepool (1944) .
Utility infielder from the ’05 season,José Offerman is 42(1968) .
Reserve outfielder from the ’99 team, Shane Halter is 41 (1969) .
Possibly the best hitting second baseman the Mets have ever had, Edgardo Alfonzo is 37 (1973) . I was so sad to see the Mets let him sign with the San Francisco Giants.
The New York Mets traded infielder, Bob Johnson to the Cincinnati Reds for outfielder, Art Shamsky on November 8, 1967.
Catcher, John Stearns granted free agency on November 8, 1984. All the years of abuse from protecting the dish did John in. He would in later years be the Mets third base coach.
On a sad note, today marks the twentieth anniverseary of beloved Mets outfielder, Darryl Strawberry signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers. A generation of young Mets fans cried that day.
The California Angels signed outfielder, David Lamb of the New York Mets as a free agent on November 8, 2000.
New York Mets released middle reliever, José Parra on November 8, 2004.
The St Louis Cardinals signed outfielder, Prentice Redman of the New York Mets as a free agent on November 8, 2005.
Mo Vaughn always wished he was Rusty Staub !!!
13 comments
rustyjr
11/8/2010-11:09pm at 11:09 pm (UTC -4)
Btw happy b-day prismo !
Prismo
11/8/2010-11:29pm at 11:29 pm (UTC -4)
thanks ed!!
metsfan4decades
11/9/2010-7:47am at 7:47 am (UTC -4)
Missed this last night so Belated Happy B’Day, Prismo!
(Nov 8 happens to be my Dad’s B’day as well. Think he has a half century on you, at least as he just turned 76).
kistics
11/9/2010-8:43am at 8:43 am (UTC -4)
Happy B-Day Prismo! Hope you enjoyed your 23rd birthday!
GravediggerHebner
11/8/2010-11:24pm at 11:24 pm (UTC -4)
I like to stay out of HOF debates but good luck Rusty! I remember hearing the list today and thinking “well the discussions of Steinbrenner and Marvin Miller are sure to be heated.”
Happy birthday Eddie the K, and also to the guy who I recall fondly as “Jose Awfulman.”
Prismo
11/8/2010-11:30pm at 11:30 pm (UTC -4)
Regarding HOF debates…I think we can all agree that Mike Piazza should go in as a Met.
metsfan4decades
11/9/2010-7:51am at 7:51 am (UTC -4)
Nice…
The one thing I always thing of with Rusty Staub – if it wasn’t for him, I’m not sure Keith would have been the Keith we all remember on those mid 80s team. Keith hated the thought of being traded to the Mets to the point of asking his agent if he could afford to retire.
Rusty took him aside and told him, him other things I’m sure, that NY was a great place to play and a great place to live. It would be up to him what he did with this opportunity.
TRS86
11/9/2010-8:13am at 8:13 am (UTC -4)
I love me some Rusty, however I am assuming that his induction would be based more on off the field achievements than on the field. His production on the field while being a great pinch hitter and bench guy just is not HOF worthy in my opinion. I don’t mean to hate or bring someone down.
rustyjr
11/9/2010-8:30am at 8:30 am (UTC -4)
INFIDEL !!!!
TRS86
11/9/2010-8:31am at 8:31 am (UTC -4)
Sorry man, I tried to be gentle. LOL.
rustyjr
11/9/2010-8:39am at 8:39 am (UTC -4)
Actually I think he’s a borderline candidate – but he had almost 300 homers over 2000 hits over 1200 rbi
rustyjr
11/9/2010-8:39am at 8:39 am (UTC -4)
Actually I think he’s a borderline candidate – but he had almost 300 homers over 2000 hits over 1200 rbiS I feel he should go in before Georgie boy
oleosmirf
11/9/2010-9:07am at 9:07 am (UTC -4)
there should be 2 # 31s in the Mets HOF. John Franco must be a Mets HOF member too…