George Foster
| Birthdate | 12/1/1948 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1969 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Giants, Mets, Reds, White Sox |
| Position | Left Field |
The only man to hit 50 or more homers in a season during the 1970s & 80s, George Foster is a 5-time All Star who slugged 348 career home runs.
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MVP and two-time World Series champ George Foster was a prodigious slugger in the late 70s
MVP and two-time World Series champ George Foster was a prodigious slugger in the late 70s
When the 1970s began, George Foster was struggling to become a big league player. By the time they ended he was one of the game’s biggest stars.
A third-round selection of the Giants in 1968, Foster played 54 games with San Francisco before a trade to the Reds in May of ’71.
The move to Cincinnati changed everything.
In 1972 Foster helped the Reds reach the NLCS against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In the Game 5 decider Cincinnati was down 3-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth.
Johnny Bench led off the inning with a solo shot to tie the game. Tony Perez followed with a single to center. Skipper Sparky Anderson summoned Foster to pinch run for Perez.
Three batters later Foster was on third with two out. Pirates hurler Bob Moose uncorked a wild pitch and Foster scored the winning run to push the Reds in the World Series.
Cincinnati dropped in the Fall Classic to Charlie Finley’s dynastic Oakland A’s who won the first of their three-straight titles.
Foster had a breakout season in 1975 when he hit .300 with 23 homers with 78 RBI. The Reds reached the World Series again. This time they won it all in a 7-game thriller against the Red Sox.
From ’76 through the end of the decade, Foster was an offensive force. His first of five All Star appearances came in the nation’s bicentennial year. That season he hit .306 with a league-leading 121 RBI. He finished second in MVP voting. The Reds won the Series for the second straight year.
In ’77 he was even better. Foster hit .320 and led the league in home runs, runs, RBI, slugging percentage, and total bases. His 52 homers were the most by any hitter in both the 70s and 80s.
He was an All Star again in ’78 and ’79 when he combined to slug 70 homers and drive in 218 runners.
Though his numbers began to decline in 1980, Foster had five more 20-homer seasons. He retired after the ’86 season. The two-time World Series champion’s career statistics include 348 homers, 307 doubles, and 1,239 RBI.
In the collection is this note handwritten and signed by Foster. He writes, “Good luck always especially in pursuing your hobby of collecting autographs. World Champion Cincinnati Reds 1975”.
Foster and the Reds won back-to-back World Series titles starting in 1975
Foster and the Reds won back-to-back World Series titles starting in 1975
George Foster’s breakout season in 1975 helped compel the Cincinnati Reds to their third World Series championship. The outfielder established new highs in runs, hits, doubles, homers, RBI, batting average and on-base percentage.
The Reds won a still-standing franchise-record 108 games to finish 20 games ahead of the second-place Dodgers. After sweeping Pittsburgh in the NLCS, Cincinnati beat Boston in a thrilling seven-game tilt.
After their Fall Classic triumph, Cunard Cruise Lines offered an all-expenses-paid voyage to the Reds. GM Bob Howsam, skipper Sparky Anderson, announcer Marty Brennaman and players Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, Tony Perez accepted the proposition.
In return the cruise line used the Cincinnati men for advertising purposes on their sold-out cruise. Above is the baseball itinerary for the cruise line signed by the six participating members of the organization. The itinerary makes for a fun read.
Foster's 1977 campaign marked MLB's first 50-homer season since Willie Mays in 1965
Foster's 1977 campaign marked MLB's first 50-homer season since Willie Mays in 1965
When George Foster slugged 52 home runs in 1977 he became the first 50-homer hitter since Giants legend Willie Mays in 1965. The two men each put up career-bests in their memorable seasons.
In addition to his home run output, Mays his .317, and slugged .645. His performance earned him the Most Valuable Player Award. NL MVP award. He hit .317, slugging .645 and notched 21 doubles and 112 RBIs.
In the collection is this image of Mays’ magical catch in the 1954 World Series. The centerfielder has added his signature to the photo. Notice the hologram from Mays’ “Say Hey Foundation” in the bottom right of the image. More about the catch and Mays can be found by clicking here.
After Foster hit 52 homers in 1977, MLB waited more than a decade for another 50-homer hitter
After Foster hit 52 homers in 1977, MLB waited more than a decade for another 50-homer hitter
George Foster was the only slugger with 50+ homers in the 1970s and 80s. After he slammed 52 long balls in 1977, baseball waited another 13 years until another player broke the barrier. That man was Cecil Fielder.
Fielder’s offensive outburst was surprising. A part-time player in four previous MLB seasons with the Blue Jays, Feidler had little big league success. Unable to find an everyday job, Fielder left the US for Japan in 1989 to become the starting first baseman for the Hanshin Tigers. The increased playing time resulted in 38 home runs in just 106 games.
The performance pushed the Tigers to gamble that Fielder’s overseas production would translate to baseball’s highest level. Their wager paid off. The 6’3″ 230-pound hulk slammed 51 home runs. Fielder joined Foster as the only two men in the last quarter century to reach the 50-homer plateau. The previous slugger to reach the half-century mark was Willie Mays in 1965.
Shown here is a signed book photo of Fielder walking on the Tiger Stadium roof with a bat in his hand and a cigar in his mouth.
Not HOF
He was a huge bust with the Mets “those airplanes better watch out” they’re still looking
I worked with George. Class class act. Very nice man. With the Mets he simply had no one around him and did not get pitched to.
No , feared Greg luzinski more
He got Metsmerized
George foster could hit homeruns. Yes but is gf hof , not so you have to be good at fielding and score runs and the reds trade him to the Mets after world series crazy. .
Didn’t Cecil Fielder also have a 50-homer season in the 80s? Loved Foster. He was my hero as a Reds’ fan in the late 70s.