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After being named the Carolina League's Player of the Year in 1962, Staub was signed by the Houston Colt .45's. His numbers began to steadily improve in the 1965 season for the renamed Astros, and he had a breakout 1967 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. Traded to the Expos before the start of the Canadian team's inaugural season in 1969, 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 made the effort to learn their language, he was nicknamed "Le Grand Orange" for his red hair. Moving on to the Mets in 1972 , Staub was instrumental in the Mets' 1973 upset over the Cincinnati Reds in the National League Championship Series where he socked 3 home runs and drove in 5 RBIs. In 1975, he set a Mets record with 105 runs batted in -- the first Met player ever to surpass 100 RBIs -- that would not be reached again until Gary Carter tied it in 1986, and not surpassed until 1990 by Darryl Strawberry. In 1978, with the Tigers, 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. He had the honor of being named as the Designated Hitter on The Sporting News 1978 AL All-Star team. Staub returned to the Mets in 1981 as a free agent after spending the 1980 season with the Texas Rangers and served as a player-coach in 1982. 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. Staub's number 10 jersey was retired by the Expos, and Staub was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame in 1986.
This uncracked, 34-inch professional model 500T bat has Worth labeling consistent with the early 1980s and is specific to Rusty's years with the New York Mets between 1981 and 1983 (sourced from one of Staub's teammates during those two years.) Displaying Staub's uniform number 10 on both ends, this bat shows very light use, consisting of rack marks and several hit marks. This bat retains the Worth "Swing Weight C-4" sticker, and weighs 38 ounces, This heavy weight is documented in Staub's H & B records in comparison, where he had orders of bats weighing between 36 and 40 ounces throughout his career. Worth labeling on the knob is consistent with the period, with the initials R S and the number 4 stamped in, representing the player's name and the bat length.
This is a great bat from one of the fans' favorite players wherever he played. For team collectors of first-year franchises, this bat fills a need in the Houston Colt .45 collection and the Montreal Expo collection. For Mets collectors, it doesn't get much better.
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This uncracked, 34-inch professional model 500T bat has Worth labeling consistent with the early 1980s and is specific to Rusty's years with the New York Mets between 1981 and 1983 (sourced from one of Staub's teammates during those two years.) Displaying Staub's uniform number 10 on both ends, this bat shows very light use, consisting of rack marks and several hit marks. This bat retains the Worth "Swing Weight C-4" sticker, and weighs 38 ounces, This heavy weight is documented in Staub's H & B records in comparison, where he had orders of bats weighing between 36 and 40 ounces throughout his career. Worth labeling on the knob is consistent with the period, with the initials R S and the number 4 stamped in, representing the player's name and the bat length.
This is a great bat from one of the fans' favorite players wherever he played. For team collectors of first-year franchises, this bat fills a need in the Houston Colt .45 collection and the Montreal Expo collection. For Mets collectors, it doesn't get much better.
View Lot Detail page