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When the 1970s began, George Foster was struggling to become a big league player. By the time they ended he was one of the decade’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”.