Time to
put the spotlight on my "missing" 1963 Fleer card for the great Rusty
Staub, which was part of my second "extension" set regarding the great
set that was forced to halt due to Topps' monopoly on the industry:
He started out as a 19 year old kid in Houston in 1963 and went on to
play for Montreal, Detroit, Texas and the New York Mets for two stints,
with whom he retired with after the 1985 season.
And for those last five seasons with the Mets, he became one of the top pinch-hitters in the game and endeared himself to the Met faithful, even opening up a couple of well-liked restaurants in NYC along the way.
A few little "extras" about his career: Staub is one of three players (along with Ty Cobb and Gary Sheffield) to hit home runs as a teenager and as a 40-year old, and he is also the only player to amass 500 hits with four different teams (Astros, Mets, Expos and Tigers).
He was also the first player to play all 162 games in a season strictly as a Designated Hitter, which was for Detroit in 1978.
And for those last five seasons with the Mets, he became one of the top pinch-hitters in the game and endeared himself to the Met faithful, even opening up a couple of well-liked restaurants in NYC along the way.
A few little "extras" about his career: Staub is one of three players (along with Ty Cobb and Gary Sheffield) to hit home runs as a teenager and as a 40-year old, and he is also the only player to amass 500 hits with four different teams (Astros, Mets, Expos and Tigers).
He was also the first player to play all 162 games in a season strictly as a Designated Hitter, which was for Detroit in 1978.
Lost in the crowd that was Rose, Bench, Jackson, Carew, etc. was this
player who built a 23 year career, finishing up with over 2700 hits, 292
homers, 1466 R.B.I.'s, and six all-star appearances.
