Rusty Staub: (Part One) The First Mets Years- from the World Series to the Trade (1972 - 1975)
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The Mets Perusing Rusty Staub: It was no secret the Mets had one of the best if not the best pitching staff in baseball but they needed more hitting. The team lacked an All Star quality bat in the line up. After the 1971 season Mets manager Gil Hodges wanted Staub on his team & would be open about in early Spring Training that season. During a Spring Training game with the Expos Hodges mentioned his wishes with Staub himself. The Montreal Expos needed to fill some position players with young solid talent. Prior to the 1972 season, the two teams got together & started working out details of what was to be a blockbuster trade at the time, just before the start of the season. Toward the end of Spring Training MLB suffered its first Players strike, it was brief but delayed the season. Then shockingly, Mets manager Gil Hodges suffered a fatal heart attack while still in Florida. The players & the organization was devastated. With a quick decision needing to be made, upper m...