Thursday, March 29, 2018

RIP - Rusty Staub


Rusty Staub - "Le Grande Orange" - has passed away today (Opening Day) March 29, 2018 at age 73.


Staub had been in failing health in recent months.

Rusty played for the Astros (1963-68), Expos (1969-71), Mets (1972-75), Tigers (1976-79), the Expos again (1979), Rangers (1980), and the Mets again (1981-85).

He was a 6-time All-Star (1967-71, 76), and led the NL with 44 doubles in 1967. He was the first star for the Montreal Expos, and remained popular there, even though he only played 3 seasons for Montreal. Staub was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame in 1986.


In 2009, I posted about the Expos' Jarry Park on this blog, and one commenter offered the following story about Rusty Staub:

"Not only was the lighting bad, but the fences were deteriorating. During a foggy night game against the Cubs, Ernie Banks tagged what appeared to be a home run over the right-field fence, but the umpires could not see it due to the fog. 

So they went to Expo right-fielder Rusty Staub, who, knowing what was about to happen, resourcfully kicked a hole in the bottom of the fence. Upon inquiry, Staub said he saw the ball bounce into the hole. With only Staub's word to go on, the umps waved off Banks' homer, and ruled it a ground-rule double. 

Talk about knowing your position!" 


WABC (New York) obituary

New York Daily News obituary

RIP - Jerry Moses


Former Red Sox catcher Jerry Moses passed away on March 27, 2018 at age 71.


Moses played for the Red Sox in 1969 and 1970. He was the team's starting catcher in 1970, and made his only All-Star team that year.

Traded to the Angels (along with Tony Conigliaro) after the 1970 season, he played for 6 teams over the next 5 seasons.

Boston Patriot-Ledger obituary
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Saturday, March 17, 2018

RIP - Ed Charles


Former Athletics' and Mets' 3rd baseman Ed Charles passed away on March 15, 2018 at age 84.


Charles was signed by the Boston Braves in 1952, but didn't make it to the majors until 1962. Ed was the regular 3rd baseman for Kansas City from 1962-1966. When Sal Bando joined the team at the start of 1967, Charles was traded to the Mets in mid-May.

He shared the Mets' 3rd base job until Ken Boyer was traded away in mid-season, then was the every day 3rd sacker for the rest of 1967, and just over half on 1968.

In the Miracle Mets season of 1969, Ed shared the job with various youngsters, and appeared in the 1969 World Series.

He was released after the season, and later scouted for the Mets.

New York Times obituary

New York Newsday obituary

SABR story