Fun facts about Dave Giusti:
-Seneca Falls, NY native Giusti pitched for Syracuse University before signing with the Colt .45s in 1961.
-He made Houston's major league roster in 1962 at age 22, and earned his first career win on May 30 with nine innings of three-hit, no-run relief. He entered the game in the sixth with the Cubs leading 6-5 and kept Chicago off of the scoreboard while the Colts tied the game and finally won the thing in the 14th!
-The highlight of his Houston years was a 15-win season in 1966 (15-14, 4.20 ERA), but he was actually better in 1968 (11-14, 3.19 ERA, career-high 12 complete games and 186 strikeouts).
-The aforementioned 1966 season included a three-hit shutout of Cincinnati, a one-hitter against the Giants, and an 11-0 win in which he six-hit the Reds and helped his cause with a pair of bases-loaded doubles for six RBI!
-After one season in St. Louis, Dave joined the Pirates in 1970 and was converted to relief by manager Danny Murtaugh. He took to it well, going 9-3 with a 3.06 ERA and team-high 26 saves, the first of four straight 20-save seasons for him.
-Was selected as the league's top reliever in 1971, when he paired a 2.93 ERA with a National League-high 30 saves.
-Continued his mastery in the 1971 postseason, shutting out the opposition in four NLCS appearances and three World Series games. His totals: 10.2 IP, 4 H, 4 BB, 7 K, 0.75 WHIP, and of course a World Series Champion's ring.
-Was a relief ace for Pittsburgh for six straight seasons, highlighted by a 1.93 ERA in 1972 and his lone All-Star appearance in 1973 (9-2, 20 SV, 2.37 ERA). Though his performance slipped in his seventh and final season with the Pirates, his record in black and gold included a 47-28 record, a 2.94 ERA, and 133 saves (still fourth-most in franchise history).
-Split his farewell 1977 season between the Cubs and Athletics, finishing with a 100-93 record, 3.60 cumulative ERA, and 145 saves in parts of 15 seasons.
-Dave worked as a corporate sales manager for American Express, and has since retired to Upper St. Clair, PA.
Despite the good 68 season, Giusti was left unprotected in 69 expansion draft. Taken by San Diego it's too bad the franchise didn't keep him for the St. Louis deal didn't do much for either team. Kudos to Pirates and Murtaugh for finding the right role for him.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how multiple teams can underestimate a player like that. In 1997, the Astros left Bobby Abreu exposed and the Devil Rays took him in the expansion draft just so they could trade him to the Phillies for shortstop Kevin Stocker.
ReplyDeleteHe gave up that huge 9th inn. Johnny Bench hr in the deciding game of the '72 playoffs that tied the game as the Reds went on to win in what was Clemente's final.
ReplyDeleteHow many players as good as Gusti today would end up being a sales manager for American Express? (I believe the answer is 0.)
ReplyDeleteToday's players should drop to their knees and thank Marvin Miller every night.
Brox - That he did.
ReplyDeleteMarc - But heaven forbid Miller make it into the Hall of Fame as long as the owners have any say in it. What a joke.