‘Le Grand Orange,’ 1944-2018

As one of the finest hitters of his era, Rusty Staub provided thrills and enjoyment for his teams — including nine years with the Mets — and their fans.

But his greatest contribution came off the field: Staub, who died Thursday at 73, gave back to the cities where he played, especially New York.

In 24 seasons, he was a six-time All-Star, with 2,716 hits, including 292 home runs and 1,466 RBIs. And he helped power the Mets to their second pennant in 1973, hitting four homers in the postseason.

Always a crowd favorite, Staub took it on himself to learn French while playing for Montreal, saying he wasn’t doing his job if he couldn’t communicate with young fans.

That earned the lumbering redhead the sobriquet “Le Grand Orange,” which stuck with him even after he left the Expos.

But New York became his adopted hometown. A gourmet chef and wine expert, he opened two restaurants here.

And in 1984 he founded the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund, which provides lifelong financial and other assistance to the families of uniformed officers who’ve fallen in the line of duty.

That fund stepped up after 9/11, even as it was overwhelmed with the enormous numbers of police officers and firefighters slain that day.

The next year, he created the Rusty Staub Foundation, dedicated to helping children and the hungry. It has raised over $17 million, establishing food pantries and mobile feeding units in all five boroughs that serve hundreds of thousands of meals annually.

It has also helped set up centers that provide after-school homework help, nutritioneducation and cooking classes.

Rusty Staub was more than a star athlete; he was a caring and giving human being who defined the term “role model.” RIP.