NEW YORK — Rusty Staub, the orange-haired outfielder who became a huge hit with baseball fans in two countries during an All-Star career that spanned 23 major league seasons, died Thursday. He was 73.

As several ballparks around the majors buzzed with playoff preparations Monday, from Yankee Stadium to Wrigley Field, the one standing at 41 Seaver Way in Queens sat conspicuously empty.