Farewell Le Grande Orange [by Greg Pattenaude]

Today's opening day of the 2018 baseball season, usually a day of eternal optimism, had a shadow of melancholy with the passing of the great Rusty Staub.  Rusty is the only player to have achieved 500 hits with four different teams - Houston, Montreal, Detroit and the Mets.  I'll talk about his time with my team and my favorite memories.  He played for the Mets from 1972 through 1975, when he wore number four, and 1981 through 1985, when he wore number ten. 

 I attended my first Opening Day in 1974.  My friend had secured front row tickets along the right field line on the field level at Shea Stadium. I was bundled in a parka, gloves and a knit hat that day. The game time temperature was thirty-seven degrees. It was the day the Mets raised their pennant for winning the 1973 National League championship series.  Rusty was playing right field, and we hollered at him most of the game as he trotted in and out between innings.  He never acknowledged us; ballplayers usually don't.  But it was nice to be that close to him as he traversed the field.  I have a blurry black and white photo of number 4 passing by.

I'll jump ahead to his final year, 1985.  When the Mets reacquired Rusty, he was older, somewhat heavier, and mostly used for pinch hitting.  He was really good at it.  In 1983, he set a season record for runs batted in as a pinch hitter.  On this night in 1985, the Mets were trailing in the bottom of the 9th inning. Rusty was sent up to pinch hit.  The crowd buzzed with excitement as Rusty connected with a pitch and the ball was heading for the stands in right field, where we were sitting.  At the last second, the ball curved foul, just to our left and the crowd let out a collective groan.  However, on the very next pitch, the ball didn't hook foul, landing in the Mets bullpen.  Tie game!  Shea erupted in jubilation as Rusty rounded the bases.  The Mets would go on to lose that game in extra innings, but that moment - Rusty's moment - is one of my favorite memories at Shea.  I often thought that if I ever met Rusty, I would share that memory.  There are other memories. I remember when they acquired him in April 1972 for four minor league players, his World Series heroics in 1973 while playing in the frigid October New York City night air in short sleeves and a bum shoulder, the absurdity of trading him to Detroit for Mickey Lolich after the 1975 season, and his return in 1981, immortalized in one line of the song Talkin' Baseball by Terry Cashman.

After baseball, Rusty had restaurants - two in Manhattan at one time, and his BBQ ribs were excellent.  And he spent a few years in the Mets' broadcast booth calling games. His charitable work for the families of fallen police and firefighters was exemplary.

So we sadly bid farewell to Le Grande Orange. May Rusty rest in peace.

-- Greg Pattenaude

Comments

[The Best American Poetry]

Thank you for the good piece. I, too, remember his post-season heroics in 1973 -- especially against the Cincinnati Reds. I believe he homered 5wice in one game and made a great catch. Later, he advertised a clothing store for "big and tall" men. Rusty would pat his belly and identify it as "experience." -- DL