Signed as a 17-year-old in 1961 for a whopping $110,000 bonus, Rusty Staub was the first big prospect in the Houston farm system. Barely 19 years old when he debuted in the majors, Staub struggled offensively until 1966. He developed into a tenacious hitter, batting .301 and average 45 extra-base hits from 1966 to 1968. His 44 doubles and .333 average in 1967 would both stand as team records for 27 years.

What came next was one of the worst and most controversial trades in baseball history. It started after Houston unwisely dealt Staub to the expansion Expos for Donn Clendenon and Jesus Alou. When Clendenon balked at the trade and refused to play for Houston, the Astros tried have the trade annulled. But commissioner Bowie Kuhn stepped in and forced a reconstructed trade onto Houston, with Montreal keeping both Staub and Clendenon. Naturally, Staub became a true hitting star in Montreal and finished his career with almost 300 homers.