Advertisement

Rusty Staub throws out first pitch at NLDS two weeks after heart attack

Mark Townsend
·Yahoo Sports Contributor
(AP)
(AP)

Former Mets star Rusty Staub has thrown out the first pitch at Citi Field before. However, his journey to the hill before Monday's NLDS Game 3 was nothing short of miraculous or extraordinary, and likely made the moment more meaningful than any other he's experienced on a baseball field.

[Elsewhere: Mets wallop Dodgers, put L.A. on the brink of elimination]

Just two weeks ago, Staub was fighting for his life after suffering a heart attack on an international flight from Ireland to New York. According to reports, two doctors on board were able to revive Staub and keep him stable until the plane could return to Ireland. Staub was taken into emergency surgery upon his arrival and spent several days recovering in the hospital before returning to New York last week. 

Obviously, Staub's health has been on the minds of fans ever since. In fact, in the immediate aftermath of his health scare, fans came together and attempted to raise money to have Staub flown home by medical plane. Staub declined as his health began to improve, and to the delight of fans everywhere, he was well enough to not only attend Monday's Game 3 in New York, but well enough to deliver the first pitch.

“I’m feeling a whole lot better than I was feeling two Thursdays ago,” Staub told the New York Daily News before the game. “I came back late last week with a special nurse on the flight, so they’d let me go. And I’m here. I feel fine. I’ll throw out the pitch and we’ll go from there.

"But I’m very happy to be here, in more ways than one."

Staub received a warm reception for his appearance. It was part of an already emotional pregame ceremony as the Mets and their fans celebrated their return to the postseason. Staub's presence took the emotion up another notch though, as those same fans celebrated the healthy returns of one of their favorites.

[Related: Ruben Tejada gets a rousing ovation from hometown fans]

As SNY Mets color commentator and TBS broacaster Ron Darling said when greeting Staub before the game: “I really mean this so much. It’s so great to see you here, Rusty.”

We couldn't agree more.

More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:

Grandstanding: A Yahoo Sports podcast
Subscribe via iTunes or via RSS feed

- - - - - - -

Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!