Dave Giusti
Encyclopedia
David John Giusti, Jr., (born November 27, 1939, in Seneca Falls
, New York
) is a retired Major League Baseball
pitcher
who played from 1962 to 1977.
While attending and playing baseball for Syracuse University
, Giusti pitched in the 1961 College World Series
as a starting pitcher
. He signed out of a college as a free agent
with the Houston Colt .45s (later the Houston Astros
), and played in Houston from 1962-68. Shortly before the 1968 expansion draft
, Giusti was traded
to the St. Louis Cardinals
, who left him unprotected, and he was then drafted by the San Diego Padres
. Two months later, Giusti was then traded back to the Cardinals.
After the 1969 baseball season, Giusti was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates
. With the Pirates, he was converted into a relief pitcher
by manager
Danny Murtaugh
, and Giusti soon became one of the leading relief pitchers in the National League
. Using his sinking palmball
heavily, Giusti recorded 20 or more saves in each of the next four baseball seasons, and he led the National League with 30 saves in 1971 for the Pirates. Giusti appeared in three games for Pittsburgh in the 1971 World Series
, earning a save in Game Four. Giusti was awarded The Sporting News Reliever of the Year Award
in 1971.
In 1973, Giusti was selected for the National League
's All-Star Team
. Giusti pitched a one-two-three seventh inning as the National League won the game 7-1.
In an Esquire
magazine article in 1976, the sportswriter Harry Stein
published his personal "All Time All-Star Argument Starter", a list for which he chose five different ethnic baseball teams (one team composed of Irish players, one of Hispanic, etc.). Stein chose Giusti as the relief pitcher on his all-Italian
team.
Shortly before the beginning of the 1977 season, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics
as part of a ten-player trade - one that also sent outfielder
Tony Armas
to Oakland, and sent infielder
Phil Garner
to Pittsburgh. In August, the Athletics sold Giusti's contract to the Chicago Cubs
with whom Giusti finished the season, and after being released by the Cubs in November, Giusti retired from baseball.
Giusti's most valuable baseball pitch was his palmball.
After his baseball career, Giusti became a corporate sales manager for American Express
. As of 2002, he was retired and living in Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania
.
Seneca Falls (village), New York
Seneca Falls is a village in Seneca County, New York, United States. The population was 6,861 at the 2000 census. The village is in the Town of Seneca Falls, east of Geneva, New York. On March 16, 2010, village residents voted to dissolve the village, a move that would take effect at the end of 2011...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
) is a retired Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
who played from 1962 to 1977.
While attending and playing baseball for Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
, Giusti pitched in the 1961 College World Series
1961 College World Series
The 1961 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 9 to June 14. The fifteenth tournament's champion was the University of Southern California, coached by Rod Dedeaux...
as a starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
. He signed out of a college as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
with the Houston Colt .45s (later the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
), and played in Houston from 1962-68. Shortly before the 1968 expansion draft
1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft
The 1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft was conducted to stock up the rosters of four expansion teams in Major League Baseball which would begin play in the 1969 season....
, Giusti was traded
Trade (sports)
In professional sports, a trade is a sports league transaction involving an exchange of players' contracts or draft picks between teams. Cash is another commodity that may be packaged together with contracts or draft picks to complete a trade...
to the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, who left him unprotected, and he was then drafted by the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. Two months later, Giusti was then traded back to the Cardinals.
After the 1969 baseball season, Giusti was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. With the Pirates, he was converted into a relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
by manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Danny Murtaugh
Danny Murtaugh
Daniel Edward Murtaugh was an American second baseman, manager, front-office executive and coach in Major League Baseball best known for his 29-year association with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a player and manager...
, and Giusti soon became one of the leading relief pitchers in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. Using his sinking palmball
Palmball
In baseball, the palmball pitch is a type of changeup. It requires placing the baseball tightly in the palm or held between the thumb and ring finger and then throwing it as if throwing a fastball...
heavily, Giusti recorded 20 or more saves in each of the next four baseball seasons, and he led the National League with 30 saves in 1971 for the Pirates. Giusti appeared in three games for Pittsburgh in the 1971 World Series
1971 World Series
The 1971 World Series matched the defending champion Baltimore Orioles against the Pittsburgh Pirates, with the Pirates winning in seven games. Game 4, played in Pittsburgh, was the first-ever World Series game scheduled to be played at night....
, earning a save in Game Four. Giusti was awarded The Sporting News Reliever of the Year Award
The Sporting News Reliever of the Year Award
The Sporting News Reliever of the Year Award was established in 1960 by The Sporting News as TSN Fireman of the Year Award. The award originally recognized the best closer from each league, but in 2001 the award was broadened to include all relievers...
in 1971.
In 1973, Giusti was selected for the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
's All-Star Team
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
. Giusti pitched a one-two-three seventh inning as the National League won the game 7-1.
In an Esquire
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
magazine article in 1976, the sportswriter Harry Stein
Harry Stein
Harry Stein is a fictional police officer and secret agent featured in DC Comics. Stein first appeared in Vigilante series 1 #23, , and was created by Paul Kupperberg and Tod Smith.-Vigilante:...
published his personal "All Time All-Star Argument Starter", a list for which he chose five different ethnic baseball teams (one team composed of Irish players, one of Hispanic, etc.). Stein chose Giusti as the relief pitcher on his all-Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
team.
Shortly before the beginning of the 1977 season, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
as part of a ten-player trade - one that also sent outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Tony Armas
Tony Armas
Antonio Rafael Armas Machado is a former Venezuelan professional baseball player who played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball. He was one of the top sluggers in the American League in the early 1980s. Twice Armas led the league in home runs, and led all of Major League Baseball in RBIs in...
to Oakland, and sent infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
Phil Garner
Phil Garner
Philip Mason Garner is a former infielder in Major League Baseball for the Oakland Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Francisco Giants from 1973 to 1988...
to Pittsburgh. In August, the Athletics sold Giusti's contract to the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
with whom Giusti finished the season, and after being released by the Cubs in November, Giusti retired from baseball.
Giusti's most valuable baseball pitch was his palmball.
After his baseball career, Giusti became a corporate sales manager for American Express
American Express
American Express Company or AmEx, is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Three World Financial Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Founded in 1850, it is one of the 30 components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The company is best...
. As of 2002, he was retired and living in Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania
Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania
Upper St. Clair Township is a Home Rule Municipality and township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located about south of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,053 at the 2000 census.-History:...
.