Dave Giusti
1939 - 2025
Dave Giusti, a veteran of fifteen major league seasons spent with five different teams, died yesterday at the age of 86. Giusti was one of a breed that is becoming increasingly rare: A living member of a Pittsburgh Pirates World Series winning team. By my own unofficial count, there are now only 31 such people still with us on this earth.
Giusti came to Pittsburgh from St. Louis in 1970 in one of these amazing trades that GM Joe L. Brown always seemed to pull off with regularity. A starting pitcher, Danny Murtaugh was forced to use Giusti in an emergency relief appearance early in the season when starting pitcher Dock Ellis was injured in a game, and the fortunes of both Giusti and the Pirates were changed for good.
Dave Giusti went on to be one of the best relievers in major league baseball during the seasons that he played and certainly one of the best in all of Pirates history. In his years with the Pirates, 1970-76, Giusti appeared in 410 games and compiled a record of 47-28 with 133 saves and an ERA of 2.94. More importantly, in the 1971 post season, both NLCS and World Series, Giusti pitched in 7 games, had three saves (including the LCS clincher against the Giants) and an ERA of 0.00. In that 1970 championship season, he led the National League with 30 saves.
Would any team in the majors be interested in guy like that for their bullpen here in 2026?
He left the Pirates prior to the 1977 season as part of a nine player trade that brought Phil Garner, who became a key member of the 1979 World Series winning team, to the Pirates. So, even when he left the team, one could say that he served the Pirates well.
On a personal note, I had two encounters with Dave Giusti over the years. One was at a charity dinner and another time at a golf outing. Everyone will tell you what a great guy he was, so I guess that in my interactions with him, I must have caught him on two times when he was having a bad day, so my memories of him will be as a terrific Pirates pitcher.
RIP Dave Giusti.
With the Death of Dave Giusti, only 13 member of that 1971 World Series roster are still with us:
1971 | ||
Pitchers | Steve Blass | |
Nelson Briles | ||
Dock Ellis | ||
Dave Guisti | ||
Bob Johnson | ||
Bruce Kison | ||
Bob Miller | ||
Bob Moose | ||
Bob Veale | ||
Luke Walker | ||
Catchers | Manny Sanguillen | |
Milt May | ||
Charlie Sands | ||
Infielders | Gene Alley | |
Dave Cash | ||
Jackie Hernandez | ||
Bill Mazeroski | ||
Jose Pagan | ||
Richie Hebner | ||
Bob Robertson | ||
Outfielders | Roberto Clemente | |
Gene Clines | ||
Vic Davalillo | ||
Al Oliver | ||
Willie Stargell | ||
Manager | Danny Murtaugh | |
Deceased | 13 | |
Still With Us | 13 |
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