1966 Topps, Dave Giusti

#258 Dave Giusti

Here is the fourth and final '66 Topps card that I have to post for now. This card was unlocked in the Topps Diamond Giveaway last year. I sent it to Dave to get signed a year ago and it took only ten days to get it back.

Dave pitched in the Majors for fifteen seasons with the Colt .45s/Astros, Cardinals, Pirates, A's, and Cubs. He broke in with Houston in 1962 and he both started and relieved until becoming a full-time starter in '66. That year, he won a career-high 15 games and he had double digit wins the following two seasons as well (through he had a losing record over those three seasons). He was traded to the Cardinals after the '68 season and he appeared in only 22 games with them and went 3-7 with a 3.61 ERA.

After his lone season in St. Louis, Dave was dealt to the Pirates where he became the Bucs closer. He racked up 20 or more saves in his first four years with Pittsburgh including a career-high and league-leading 30 in 1971. In 1973, he made his lone All Star team..

He pitched in Pittsburgh into the 1976 season before he was sent to Oakland halfway through that season. He was then sold to the Cubs after the season and he finished his career with the Cubbies in '77.

For his career, Dave was 100-93 with 145 saves, a 3.60 ERA and 1,103 strikeouts.