Beloved slugger Staub dies

Rusty Staub, the orangehaired outfielder who became a huge hit with baseball fans in two countries during an All-Star career that spanned 23major league seasons, died Thursday. He was 73. Staub died after an illness in a hospital in West Palm Beach, Florida, hours before the start of the baseball season, the New York Mets said in a statement.

Affectionately dubbed “Le Grand Orange,” Staub was a six-time All-Star and the only player in major league history to have at least 500 hits with four teams. Popular with fans and teammates all over theU nited States and Canada, he was most adored in New York and Montreal.

A savvy, reliable slugger with left-handed power and a discerning eye, Staub played from 1963 to 1985 and finished 284 hits shy of 3,000. He had three great seasons with the Detroit Tigers and batted .300 for Texas in 1980.

TULOWITZKI ON 60-DAY DL » Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki has been put on the 60-day disabled list because of bone spurs in his right heel, retroactive to March 28. The Sunnvale native suffered a season-ending ankle injury last July 28 and has not played since. AS TR OS’ GU RR I EL START SON

RESTRICTED LIST » Houston first baseman Yuli Gurriel started the season on baseball’s restricted list to serve his five-game suspension from the World Series rather than on the disabled list after hand surgery lastmonth. Gurriel was suspended after making an inappropriate gesture during Game 3 of the World Series. CARDINALS SIGN HOLLAND

TO BE CLOSER » Pitcher Greg Holland and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed to a $14 million, one-year contract, according to a person familiar with the deal. Holland was a free agent after leading the NL with 41 saves last year for Colorado.