PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – Rusty Staub won't get a chance to see how his former team performs this season.
The former New York Mets slugger died Thursday after an illness at a West Palm Beach hospital, hours before the start of the Major League Baseball season. He was 73.
A team spokesman said the Mets learned of the death from friends of Straub who were with him at the time.
The New York Daily News reported that Staub became woozy while playing golf near his home in Palm Beach Gardens in late January and was later discovered to be suffering from cellulitis.
He reportedly died early in the morning Thursday at Good Samaritan Medical Center.
The New York Daily News said Staub was initially admitted eight weeks ago with pneumonia, dehydration and an infection. He would have turned 74 on Sunday.
Staub was a six-time All-Star and the only player in major league history to have at least 500 hits with four different teams. The orange-haired outfielder became a huge hit with fans in the U.S. and Canada during a career spanning 23 seasons.
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The French-born prince is breaking a centuries-long tradition by refusing to be buried next to Queen Margrethe, who refused to elevate his status to king during their reign.Feb. 12: Country music singer Daryle Singletary died at the age of 46. He is survived by his wife Holly and their four children.Jhann Jhannsson, a Golden Globe winning composer, died Friday in Berlin, his manager confirmed to CNN. A native of Iceland, Jhannsson was 48. The cause of death is unknown.Feb. 9: Reg E. Cathey, known for his roles in "House of Cards" and "The Wire" died at age 59. Cathey won an Emmy in 2015 for his role in "House of Cards" as Freddy Hayes, the owner of a barbecue restaurant. The cause of death was not immediately available. Variety reported he had been battling cancer.Feb. 5: John Mahoney, a veteran character actor best known for playing the curmudgeonly dog-loving father of the title character in TV's "Frasier" died in Chicago following a short illness. 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Monson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died at his home in Salt Lake City, Utah, according to a statement from the organization. He was 90.
Dec. 28: Israeli author Amos Oz died of cancer at age 79. One of Israel's most prominent and prolific authors of both fiction and nonfiction, he was best known for his novel "Black Box," for his collection of essays "In the Land of Israel" and his autobiographical novel "A Tale of Love and Darkness." He was a longtime candidate for the Nobel Prize for literature.
In addition to his two stints with the Mets (1972-75, 1981-85) and Montreal Expos (1969-71, 1979), Staub also played for the Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers.
His final at-bat came with the Mets in October 1985. He finished 284 hits shy of 3,000.
Affectionately dubbed "Le Grand Orange" in Montreal, he broke into the majors as a teenager with Houston, lasted into his 40s with the Mets and spent decades doing charity work in the New York area.
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. #RIPRustypic.twitter.com/fFymLOAqhr
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