Staub was putting in some solid years for the New York Mets when this card would have come out, though he’d find himself soon traded to the Detroit Tigers in part of the Mickey Lolich trade, a terrible move for the Mets.
A six-time All-Star, he would finish his great career as the premier pinch-hitter in the game, the last five of which were back at Shea Stadium with the Mets, beloved by so many, even Yankee fans like me.
By the time he retired he finished with 2716 hits, 292 homers, 1466 runs batted in and 1189 runs scored, becoming one of the few players to homer as both a teenager and a 40-year old. At the time he achieved the feat Ty Cobb was the only other player to do it as well.
“Le Grand Orange” Rusty Staub, fan-favorite.