Bad Met Trades: Rusty Staub

Detroit Tigers pitcher Mickey Lolich and New York Mets' outfielder Rusty Staub. (AP)

Are the Mets famous for trading unproven young talent for fading superstars? Or does management order the General Manager give up a star player just because he has hit his prime and wants to unload a big contract and build for the future? See how some teams and players have fared from some the most lopsided trades in baseball history.

Mickey Lolich for Rusty Staub

December 12, 1975

The Mets traded outfielder Rusty Staub and pitcher Bill Laxton to the Tigers for pitcher Mickey Lolich and outfielder Billy Baldwin.

Lolich left Detroit after 13 years and 207 wins and remains the Tiger career leader in games started, strikeouts, and shutouts.

Staub would become the premiere designated hitter of the American League driving in 318 runs in the next three seasons with the Tigers.

The hefty lefty, Mickey went 8-13 in his lone season with the Mets before retiring after the 1976 season.

After sitting out one season, Lolich would come out of retirement in 1978 and play two seasons with the Padres.

Baldwin would played nine games hitting Lolich’s weight (.273) for the Mets in 1976 before being released before the 1979 season.

Rusty would rejoin the Mets after the 1980 season and became the best pinch hitter in baseball before hanging up his cleats after the 1985 season.

About the Author

MeetTheMess
Lifetime Met fan who hates his parents for making him become a Mets fan as a child. No amount of therapy has helped and cannot switch teams now. Quitting smoking was easier. What a joke this organization really is, how much pain and suffering it has brought us through the years. Bad enough to be in Big Apple with Yankees fans.

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