A poem to recall career of Rusty Staub

Baseball fans my age grew up with Rusty Staub, "Le Grand Orange." That moniker was attached when he went to Montreal to star with the first-year Expos. This was the second expansion team for which he was an inaugural "darling." He was a fuzzy-cheeked "bonus baby" when starting out with the Houston "Colt .45s." The Colt .45s? Yes, that was the name that launched the franchise destined to become the Astros.
Staub should be a Hall of Famer considering his distinctions. He had over 500 hits with four different teams. He is one of only three players to homer both as a teen and at over-40. I recently wrote a reflective post about Staub for my companion website, "Morris of Course." Here's the link:
http://morrisofcourse.blogspot.com/2015/11/500-hits-w-four-different-teams-great.html
  

I have written poetry to honor the career of "Le Grand Orange." Actually it's song lyrics with the verse portion to be performed narration-style, no melody. A man would perform the verse and a female voice would sing the chorus. So, the song would have the exact same structure as the 1970s hit "Convoy" (C.W. McCall).
I don't know if I'll have the song recorded. I develop song or poetry ideas all the time, and sometimes I'll have a song recorded.
I invite you to read the words I penned about Rusty Staub, in "The Ballad of Rusty Staub."
 

Rusty Staub just did the job

With that wooden tool

Baseball was his stock in trade

With his bat he ruled

 

Houston gave him his first chance

When that team was young

Not yet in the Astrodome

Far below top-rung

 

Rusty had to pay some dues

But his talent wowed

All he needed was some time

Then his bat grew loud

 

Astros weren't his destiny

Just a stepping stone

He would play for four more teams

Always in the zone

 

He arrived in Montreal

As a new day dawned

All the fans would christen him

As "Le Grand Orange"

 

CHORUS:

Rusty played the game he loved

With his bat he rose above

Even in the Great White North

Rusty sold his favorite sport

 

 

Learning French to mix with fans

Just for friendship's sake

Would his Expo days grow long

Or would he pull up stakes?

 

Baseball has a heartless air

It can make fans sob

Expos got three decent guys

In exchange for Staub

 

Now it's on to NYC

Once again he fit

Hitting frozen ropes once more

Showing fans his gift

 

Then the Motor City called

Tigers in the wings

With that A.L. team he starred

Making his bat sing

 

Two hits in the All-Star Game

Upped his stock once more

Now he's in the DH role

Sizzling like before

 

(repeat chorus)

 

Texas was a short detour

Then he went on back

To the Mets where he displayed

Pop in that old bat

 

He would pinch-hit like a god

What a specialty

Stepping from the dugout strong

Slugging for his team

 

He had homered as a teen

And at 40-plus

We could count on his big frame

Never gaining rust

 
He departed from the game

In nineteen eighty-five

Stats would show his bat was gold

All along that ride

 

Maybe he could make the Hall

He had quite the brand

Even if he came up short

Fans would love that man

 

(repeat chorus)

 

He was in the boxscore

All throughout the years

Booomers came to see his name

Standing out so clear

 

Even in the agate type

We could feel that pulse

Coming from his potent bat

Rusty wielded much

 

Astros, Mets or Tigers

And in Montreal

Rusty showed his prowess

There to see for all

 

No he was no Mantle

With his pedigree

He was just a steady force

Making history

 

(repeat chorus)

 

(repeat chorus - modulate)