Remembering Mets History (1986) Ron Darling Throws a Shut Out on Rusty Staub Day
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Rusty Staub came out from center field riding & waving to the fans in a fittingly orange convertible.
Mets broadcaster Bob Murphy was the opening MC for the on-field ceremonies, donning a pink jacket & blue pinstripe shirt with blue tie.
Rusty's Staub's family was on hand including his mother, two sisters & his brother.
Mets broadcaster Ralph Kiner also helped out with the on-field ceremonies, where Rusty was honored for his playing days, his restaurant business & charity work with the Rusty Staub Foundation.
Mets GM Frank Cashen then gave Rusty Staub a check for $25,000 for the Rusty Staub Foundation charity.
The Archbishop of New York, Cardinal John O'Connor a friend of the religious Catholic Staub, was on hand as well. Cardinal O'Conner made a speech, told a few jokes while referencing the Pope on Rusty's behalf.
The highlight of the event was when Keith Hernandez came out honoring Staub with a plaque from his friend & former Mets teammate.
Mets broadcaster Ralph Kiner also helped out with the on-field ceremonies, where Rusty was honored for his playing days, his restaurant business & charity work with the Rusty Staub Foundation. Mets GM Frank Cashen then gave Rusty Staub a check for $25,000 for the Rusty Staub Foundation charity.
The Archbishop of New York, Cardinal John O'Connor a friend of the religious Catholic Staub, was on hand as well. Cardinal O'Conner made a speech, told a few jokes while referencing the Pope on Rusty's behalf.
The highlight of the event was when Keith Hernandez came out honoring Staub with a plaque from his friend & former Mets teammate. Hernandez called for the team to join him & the 1986 Mets came out of the dugout donning long red wigs in Rusty's honor to congratulate him on his day.
Some of the players including Darryl Strawberry, Howard Johnson & Wall Backman also padded their bellies in honor of Rusty's growing waist size.
After the ceremonies, Davey Johnson's first place Mets (59-25) took on Chuck Tanner's fifth place Atlanta Braves (42-46). Ron Darling (8-2) went up against veteran Doyle Alexander (6-4).
After two no decisions in his last two starts, Darling got to 9-2 on the year with a 2.84 ERA. Since June 11th he was 3-0with four no decisions.
In Game #4 he made a leaping catch, robbing the Reds of an extra base hit but injured his shoulder while crashing into the right field wall. He missed the clinching Game #5 & his injury affected his throwing in the World Series.
Some of the players including Darryl Strawberry, Howard Johnson & Wall Backman also padded their bellies in honor of Rusty's growing waist size.
After the ceremonies, Davey Johnson's first place Mets (59-25) took on Chuck Tanner's fifth place Atlanta Braves (42-46). Ron Darling (8-2) went up against veteran Doyle Alexander (6-4).
In the top of the 1st inning, with one out, Ken Oberkfell singled to left field. Darling then walked slugger Dale Murphy. He struck out Bob Horner & got Ken Griffey to ground out to Keith Hernandez at first base.
In the home 1st inning, Lenny Dykstra led off with a triple. Next Wally Backman grounded out to first base, allowing Dykstra to score the first run.
In the top of the 4th, Bob Murphy & Bruce Benedict collected base hits. Ron Darling also walked Glen Hubbard to load the bases but got out of the inning as pitcher Doyle Alexander flew out to centerfield.
In the top of the 6th, Darling got out of another bases loaded jam when Alexander once again flew out to centerfield ending the inning.
In the bottom of the 6th inning, Dykstra hit his fourth HR of the season, a solo shot giving the Mets all they would need for the 2-0 win.
Ron Darling pitched one of his best games of the regular season, as he tossed a complete game shutout. Darling allowed nine hits, struck out seven & walked three. Darling would throw two shut outs in the month, the second on July 30th over the Cubs. These were his two shut outs of the season as well.
The Braves Doyle Alexander had only surrendered four hits in the game, but the two runs earned him the loss.
Rusty Staub Trivia: Rusty Staub played nine years with the Mets in two separate eras. In 1972 he came over from the Expos & played four seasons in New York, leading the Mets offensively in their 1973 NL Pennant season.
In the 1973 NLCS he hit just .200 but all three of his hits were HRs while driving in five runs. In the Mets Game #3 win, he hit two HRs & had four RBIs.
In Game #4 he made a leaping catch, robbing the Reds of an extra base hit but injured his shoulder while crashing into the right field wall. He missed the clinching Game #5 & his injury affected his throwing in the World Series.In the World Series even injured, he led all batters hitting .423 with a HR two doubles & six RBIs. In Game #4 he set a club record with a multi-five RBI post season game. He hit a three run HR & had a two-run double.
In 1975 Staub was the first Mets player to drive in 100 runs in a season with 105. After the season he was traded to Detroit. In 1981 Staub returned to the Mets in the twilight of his career (1981-1985) becoming one of the league's best pinch hitters, setting an MLB record with eight consecutive pinch hits & tying a record with 25 pinch hit RBIs in a season.
Rusty played in 942 Met games (14th most in team history) with 399 RBIs (15th) 709 hits (22nd) 130 doubles (22nd) 75 HRs 7 triples 296 runs scored batting .276 with a .358 on base %.