Rusty Staub

Daniel Joseph "Rusty" Staub (April 1, 1944 – March 29, 2018) was an American professional baseball player and television color commentator who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball as a right fielder, designated hitter, and first baseman. Born in New Orleans to Raymond and Alma Staub, he was given the nickname "Rusty" by a hospital nurse shortly after birth because of his red hair; his father, Ray, had been a minor league catcher in the Class D Florida State League.

A six-time All-Star known for his hitting, Staub collected 2,716 hits over his career, finishing 284 short of the 3,000-hit mark. He was an original member of the Montreal Expos and the franchise's first star, earning the nickname "le Grand Orange" from Expos fans. Although he played only 518 of his 2,951 games in Montreal, his enduring popularity led the Expos to retire his number in 1993. The New York Mets inducted him into their team Hall of Fame in 1986.

Beyond the field, Staub was known for his charitable work through the Rusty Staub Foundation, which supported emergency food pantries in New York, and for establishing the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund. He died on March 29, 2018, three days before his 74th birthday.