New York Mets set to honor Rusty Staub with special patch

The New York Mets are set to honor one of their fan favorites with a special patch, one that pays homage to his nickname.

New York Mets fan favorite Rusty Staub had been in failing health over the past few weeks, battling kidney failure in a hospital in West Palm Beach. Sadly, on Opening Day, Staub lost his battle, passing away just three days before his 74th birthday.

The tributes and memorials for Staub have been pouring forth since, as fans and writers looked back not only at his career, but his charitable work as well. On Saturday, the Mets announced how they would honor their fallen fan favorite, wearing a black patch featuring Staub’ autograph in orange.

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It is a fitting tribute for the player known as Le Grande Orange. Staub was a solid player over his career, a part of the All Rookie Team for the 1963 Colt .45s, and the focal point for the Montreal Expos. He collected at least 500 hits for four different teams, the only player in baseball history to achieve that feat. Only two other players, Ty Cobb and Gary Sheffield, hit a homer in the teens and in their 40s.

Over the course of his career, Staub was a six time All Star, a solid power threat despite playing during the second Dead Ball Era. He produced a .279/.362/.431 batting line, hitting 499 doubles and 292 homers in his 23 year career. Staub was also an excellent contact hitter with a great eye, drawing 1255 walks and striking out only 888 times in his 11,229 plate appearances.

However, his performance on the field was only part of Staub’s tale. He was quite the philanthropist, heading the Rusty Staub Foundation, which operated as an emergency food pantry in the five boroughs of New York City, serving upwards of 600,000 meals a year. Staub also started the New York Police and Fire Widow’s and Children’s Benefit Fund Foundation, which has raised over $150 million for the families of fallen first responders. He was determined to be a part of the community wherever he played, even learning French to communicate with fans during his time in Montreal.

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The New York Mets are set to honor one of their fan favorites this year with a memorial patch for Rusty Staub. As great of a player as he was, Staub was an even better person.