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Expos great, Rusty Staub, dead at 73 | Globalnews.ca

Posted March 29, 2018 8:43 am

Updated March 29, 2018 9:40 am

1 min read

This article is more than 6 years old and some information may not be up to date.

In this May 1, 1984, file photo, Rusty Staub, pinch hitting for the New York Mets, watches his sixth inning hit to right field against the Chicago Cubs at Shea Stadium in New York. Staub, who became a huge hit with baseball fans in two countries during an All-Star career that spanned 23 major league seasons, died Thursday, March 29, 2018, in Florida. He was 73.

In this May 1, 1984, file photo, Rusty Staub, pinch hitting for the New York Mets, watches his sixth inning hit to right field against the Chicago Cubs at Shea Stadium in New York. Staub, who became a huge hit with baseball fans in two countries during an All-Star career that spanned 23 major league seasons, died Thursday, March 29, 2018, in Florida. He was 73. Ron Frehm/AP Photo

Expos legend, Rusty Staub or le “Grand Orange” as he was affectionately known in Montreal, has died. He was 73.

Staub passed away Thursday morning at a hospital in Florida — the first day of baseball season.

The New York Mets confirmed his death in a tweet Thursday morning.

The #Mets family suffered a loss earlier today when Daniel “Rusty” Staub passed away. The entire organization sends its deepest sympathy to his family. He will be missed by everyone. #RIPRusty pic.twitter.com/fFymLOAqhr

— New York Mets (@Mets) March 29, 2018

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Born Daniel Joseph Staub, the Montreal baseball icon would have turned 74 on Sunday.

Staub first came to play for the Expos in their inaugural season in 1969 and quickly became a fan favourite not only for his brilliant plays but his willingness to learn French.

WATCH: Expos great Rusty Staub suffers heart attack on trans-Atlantic flight

He was nicknamed “Le Grand Orange” for his red hair and is remembered as the team’s first hero.

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He was the team’s first player to receive the Expos Player of the Year award, and his #10 jersey was the first number to be retired by the organization.

He spent only three seasons with Montreal before being traded to the Mets but is the franchise’s career leader in on-base percentage (.402), among players with 2,000 or more plate appearances with the franchise.

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As news of his Rusty’s passing spread, tributes for the baseball great began pouring in on social media.

There would be no @ExposNation without le Grand Orange. He will be missed but never forgotten.

Live on, Rusty. pic.twitter.com/Ti0dUVKOCw

— Annakin Slayd (@AnnakinSlayd) March 29, 2018

RIP my dear friend Rusty Staub. Lived a blessed life. Humanitarian to tens of thousands New Yorkers. Iconic Met. Loved him like a brother

— billmadden1954 (@bmadden1954) March 29, 2018

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Au revoir Le Grand Orange. The first great Expo. pic.twitter.com/kxsrtggkmG

— Chris Cuthbert (@CCpxpSN) March 29, 2018

Rusty Staub was the first baseball player in Canada so many of us cared about. The first who mattered across the country. He was the Montreal Expos of our youth. RIP Le Grand Orange.

— Steve Simmons (@simmonssteve) March 29, 2018

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A bit of my childhood disappeared today with the passing of Rusty Staub.
Le Grand Orange at Jarry Park made those early Expos’ years memorable.
I love the way he trotted out to right field. I loved the way he swung the bat.

He was good. And he was ours.

— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) March 29, 2018

— With files from The Canadian Press

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