Rusty Staub

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Staub arrived in New York via a trade for Mike Jorgensen, Tim Foli, and Ken Singleton. His early years were marred by pain; on June 3, 1972, he was hit by a pitch from George Stone of the Atlanta Braves, fracturing his right wrist. He played through it until X-rays confirmed the break, costing him 90 games. The following year, May 11, 1973, brought more trauma when Ramón Hernández of the Pittsburgh Pirates hit him again, fracturing a forearm. Yet, Staub led the team in RBIs that season. His most defining moment came during the National League Championship Series against the Cincinnati Reds. In Game 4, he robbed Dan Driessen of an extra-base hit in the 11th inning but crashed into the outfield wall, separating his right shoulder. This injury forced him out of Game 5, though it sparked a league-wide change to add padding on outfield walls.

In Their Own Story

The 1973 postseason remains a testament to Staub's resilience. Although the Mets defeated the heavily favored Reds in five games to win the National League Pennant, Staub played through his separated shoulder. In the World Series against the Oakland Athletics, he missed Game 1 but returned for Game 2 as a decoy, waiting on deck to pinch hit. Unable to throw overhand due to his injury, he threw weakly and underhanded for the remainder of the series. Despite these physical limitations, he batted .423 against the A's, including a home run and six RBIs. For the entire 1973 postseason, Staub compiled a .341 average with four home runs and 11 RBIs. In 1975, he set a Mets record with 105 RBIs, becoming the first Met to surpass 100 in a season—a mark not tied until 1986 or surpassed until Darryl Strawberry's 108 in 1990.

Reader's Guide

Rusty Staub's statistical contributions to the Mets are highlighted by his consistency and clutch performance. In 1974, he enjoyed an injury-free season leading the team in hits (145), RBIs (78), and at-bats while batting .258 with a .347 OBP. He played 151 games that year, primarily in right field. His 1975 campaign was historic; setting the franchise record for RBIs with 105. His defensive reliability was also notable, maintaining solid fielding percentages throughout his tenure. While he missed significant time due to injuries in 1972 and 1973, his ability to produce offensively when healthy made him a cornerstone of the lineup. The Mets honored this dedication by inducting him into their Hall of Fame in 1986, recognizing his value beyond just the box score.

Did You Know?

• Staub crashed into the outfield wall during Game 4 of the 1973 NLCS, an incident that led to Major League teams adding padding to all outfield walls.
• Despite a separated shoulder, Staub batted .423 with four home runs and 11 RBIs in the 1973 postseason.
• Staub was hit by pitches from both George Stone (fracturing his wrist) and Ramón Hernández (fracturing his forearm) during his first two seasons with the Mets.
• His 105 RBIs in 1975 stood as a Mets record until it was tied by Gary Carter in 1986.
• The Mets inducted Staub into their team Hall of Fame in 1986, seven years before they retired his number.