Former MLB reliever Dave Giusti, who helped the Pittsburgh Pirates win the 1971 World Series, has died at age 86, with the team confirming the death through his family.

Giusti led the National League with 30 saves during the Pirates’ 1971 championship run and was a key part of five NL East titles from 1970 to 1975.

This memorial note appears as part of a broad snapshot of recent news coverage rather than a single in-depth article.

Giusti broke into the majors in 1962, spent most of 1963 in the minors, and returned to the majors in 1964 to begin a long, productive career.

The piece emphasizes Giusti’s enduring legacy as a Syracuse baseball figure, with additional Syracuse context woven into the story.

Early in his career, he learned palm-ball pitching techniques from Syracuse coach Ted Kleinhans, a hallmark of his repertoire.

Giusti was an All-Star in 1973 and ranked high in Cy Young voting in 1970, with saves being officially tracked starting in 1969.

A New York native from Seneca Falls, Giusti played at Syracuse University, signed with Houston (the Colt .45s) as an amateur free agent, and debuted in 1962.

His late career included stints with Oakland and the Chicago Cubs in 1977 before retiring from baseball.

Funeral arrangements had not been announced as of Monday.

The article notes Giusti’s connections with teammates like Steve Blass and mentions family details, including his wife Ginny and daughters Laura and Cynthia.

Giusti earned one All-Star selection in 1973 and finished his Pirates career with 133 saves, ranking third in the franchise’s history for a reliever.