Rusty Staub
The Houston rookie who led the league in doubles before becoming Montreal's first star.
Daniel Joseph "Rusty" Staub began his Major League career with the Houston Colt .45s, later known as the Astros, signing his first professional contract in 1961. A native of New Orleans with red hair that earned him his lifelong nickname from a hospital nurse, Staub joined the expansion team at age 19. He became only the second rookie since 1900 to play 150 games as a teenager.
- Role
- Outfielder / First Baseman
- Status
- Traded to Montreal in 1968
- Nickname
- Rusty
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Staub's time in Houston was defined by rapid growth and historic milestones. In 1962, while playing for the Class B Carolina League team (the Bulls), he was named an all-star and Most Valuable Player. He signed a $100,000 bonus contract under the Bonus Rule following that season. Roommates with pitcher Rich Aird on the '62 Bulls, Staub split time between first base and the outfield in his 19-year-old debut season. His hitting streak from June 30 to July 21, 1967, marked a twenty-game run where he collected at least one hit every game, making him the first-ever Astro to achieve such a feat. This record stood until Lee May surpassed it in 1973. Staub repeated as an All-Star in 1968 before a trade dispute involving manager Harry Walker and general manager H.B. "Spec" Richardson sent him to Montreal.
In Their Own Story
The turning point for Rusty Staub in Houston arrived on June 17, 1968, when new manager Harry Walker clashed with the star outfielder. Walker and GM Spec Richardson decided to trade Staub to the Montreal Expos before their inaugural season as part of a deal for Donn Clendenon and Jesús Alou. The transaction sparked immediate controversy; Clendenon, believing Walker was racist from their Pittsburgh days, refused to report to Houston and attempted to retire. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn ruled the deal official but mandated that Clendenon stay with Montreal, while Houston received Jack Billingham, Skip Guinn, and $100,000 as compensation. This departure ended a tenure where Staub had led the league in doubles and established himself as a 20-game hitting streak pioneer for the franchise.
Reader's Guide
His career high in games as a teenager set a benchmark for longevity early on. Fans should note that while he was traded to Montreal, his Houston roots remained significant; he played 150 games as a 19-year-old and later returned briefly in 1973 before moving on.
Did You Know?
- Staub was only the second major league rookie since 1900 to play 150 games as a teenager.
- He held the record for the first-ever Houston Astro with a twenty-game hitting streak until Lee May surpassed it in 1973.
- His trade from Houston involved a dispute where trade partner Donn Clendenon refused to report, requiring Commissioner Bowie Kuhn to intervene.
- Staub was named Most Valuable Player of the Class B Carolina League in 1962 before signing his $100,000 bonus contract.
- He led the league with 44 doubles during his breakout 1967 season.