Up for auction the "Pittsburgh Pirates" Dave Giusti Hand Signed 3X5 Card. This item is certified authentic by Todd
Mueller Autographs and comes with their Certificate of Authenticity. ES-8143 David John Giusti, Jr. (born November
27, 1939) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as
a right-handed pitcher from 1962 to 1977, most
notably as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates teams
that won five National League Eastern Division titles
in six years between 1970 and 1975 and,
won the World Series in 1971. 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. 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 Tony Armas, Rick Langford, Doug Bair, Doc Medich and Mitchell Page to the Oakland Athletics and sent Phil Garner, Chris Batton, and Tommy Helms 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 is retired and living in Mt.Lebanon,
Pennsylvania. |