Pittsburgh Pirates Legend Dave Giusti Passes Away at 86
Dave Giusti, a stalwart reliever who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1969 to 1977, has passed away at the age of 86. The news was confirmed by the club, which cited Giusti's family as the source.
Giusti's impressive career spanned over a decade and a half, with 100 wins and 93 losses to his name, along with a respectable 3.60 ERA in 668 career appearances across five clubs. However, it was during his time with the Pirates that he truly made an impact, leading the National League with 30 saves in 1971 and contributing 10 scoreless innings in the playoffs as the team clinched the World Series title.
Giusti's time in Pittsburgh is still remembered fondly by fans, who recall him as a crucial member of the team's successful bullpen during the early 1970s. His accomplishments with the Pirates earned him a spot on the All-Star list in 1973, and he remains the franchise's third all-time leader in saves.
Born in Seneca Falls, New York, Giusti played college ball at Syracuse before being drafted by the Houston Colt .45s as an amateur free agent. He made his professional debut with the team in 1962 but struggled to find consistency early on, spending a year and a half in the minors before being called up to the majors full-time.
After being traded to the Pirates in 1969, Giusti quickly established himself as one of the club's top relief pitchers. His ability to deliver clutch performances made him a fan favorite, and his impact on the team was felt throughout the decade.
Giusti is survived by his wife, two daughters, and four grandchildren.
Dave Giusti, a stalwart reliever who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1969 to 1977, has passed away at the age of 86. The news was confirmed by the club, which cited Giusti's family as the source.
Giusti's impressive career spanned over a decade and a half, with 100 wins and 93 losses to his name, along with a respectable 3.60 ERA in 668 career appearances across five clubs. However, it was during his time with the Pirates that he truly made an impact, leading the National League with 30 saves in 1971 and contributing 10 scoreless innings in the playoffs as the team clinched the World Series title.
Giusti's time in Pittsburgh is still remembered fondly by fans, who recall him as a crucial member of the team's successful bullpen during the early 1970s. His accomplishments with the Pirates earned him a spot on the All-Star list in 1973, and he remains the franchise's third all-time leader in saves.
Born in Seneca Falls, New York, Giusti played college ball at Syracuse before being drafted by the Houston Colt .45s as an amateur free agent. He made his professional debut with the team in 1962 but struggled to find consistency early on, spending a year and a half in the minors before being called up to the majors full-time.
After being traded to the Pirates in 1969, Giusti quickly established himself as one of the club's top relief pitchers. His ability to deliver clutch performances made him a fan favorite, and his impact on the team was felt throughout the decade.
Giusti is survived by his wife, two daughters, and four grandchildren.
sad news about Dave Giusti... 86 years old is still young when you think about it! He had an amazing career, 100 wins and all that saves stuff... I remember people talkin' 'bout him in Pittsburgh back in the day. He was a big part of their success in the 70s, especially that World Series win 
. You know, I was just thinkin' about the good ol' days when sports legends like Giusti made it cool to be a fan 
.
I don't know how he managed 100 wins but 93 losses is insane for someone who pitched for like 15 years! 
His time with the Pirates was definitely special, I mean who can forget that 30 save season? That's some legendary stuff right there. 
what an amazing career he had! I mean, 100 wins in 15+ years is no joke 
. He was like the rock of the Pirates bullpen back in the day 
that's serious business. The fact that he earned an All-Star spot in 1973 just shows how respected he was by his peers 
. He may not be with us anymore, but his legacy lives on through his family and the Pirates fans who still remember him fondly 
.
I just had the craziest thought... have you ever noticed how some people's faces just get softer as they age? Like, I was watching an old video of a famous comedian from when I was a kid, and he looked like he was made of clay back then... now his face is all wrinkly and saggy 
. He's definitely one of those legends who left an indelible mark on the team's history 
. I mean, 30 saves in 1971? That's some serious mojo 
! Anyway, my condolences to his family and all the fans who grew up watching him play 
️. It's not often we get to see folks from that era still making waves after all these years 
. RIP Dave Giusti 
it's crazy how some people can just fade away but their legacy stays with us forever 
anyway rest in peace dave giusti your impact will be felt for generations to come 
It's just another thing to clutter up our thread and make me scroll even further down. Can't we focus on something more relevant or interesting for once? And what's with the format, anyway? A million words about his stats and accomplishments... can't we get to the good stuff sooner? 
. I mean, I'm glad he lived a long life and all, but it's crazy how fast time flies when you're having fun. Anyway, I was thinking, what if Giusti had pitched for the Pirates in today's game? Would he be a closer? I think so! He seemed like the type of guy who could bring home wins in tight situations. And his ERA is pretty impressive, 3.60 or whatever... not bad at all 
. But you know what they say, "the game's changed, but guys like Giusti still have it". Sorta kidding, sorta 
. Seriously though, it's cool to see the Pirates paying tribute to him and all, especially since he was a part of that World Series-winning team back in the day 
. You know, the kind of player you wanted on your team when it mattered most 
. he had some amazing moments, like those 30 saves in '71, and his performance in the playoffs was clutch 
. 86 years young, that's even older than some of the old computers I used to tinker with 
. I'm sure his family is gonna miss him a ton 
. 30 saves in 1971? That's straight fire 
, they must be so proud of what he accomplished 
to me!
100 wins and 93 losses ain't bad for someone who spent some time in the minors 
now we can appreciate his contributions more 
still awesome that he made it to the All-Star list in 73 
just saw that Dave Giusti passed away at 86 thats crazy he was like my grandpa's teammate lol 
. Anyway, gotta give it up for this dude - 100 wins and 93 losses ain't bad at all 