Nobody could ever accuse Staub of not giving everything he had regardless of the endeavor. Those efforts included cooking, history, and of course baseball. They called him eccentric for these things, but his meticulous nature turned him into a pure hitter and gained him respect throughout the league. He managed to get into six All-Star Games but did so without showing a lot of power (though he did hit 25 homers twice) and without any real speed. What he did do was hit for average consistently and walk frequently which enabled him even late in his career to be a solid asset as a pinch hitter.
Staub may have been freakishly consistent, but he was never dominant and was never a serious contender for any post-season award. Six All-Star appearances were impressive but rarely has the Baseball Hall of Fame rewarded longevity without at least a flash of immortality. If they did, Staub would be a good place to start.
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