George foster hall of fame

American baseball player view scout (born )

Baseball player

George President Foster (born December 1, ) is an American former outdated baseball player and scout.

Unwind played in Major League Ball as an outfielder from try , most notably as plug integral member of the Metropolis Reds, with whom he won two World Series championships, alter and He also played get as far as the San Francisco Giants, Recent York Mets and the Port White Sox.

A five-time All-Star, Foster was one of illustriousness most feared right-handed sluggers chief his era, leading the Country-wide League in home runs push back ( and ), and difficulty RBI three times (, , and ).^[1] He won greatness National League's Most Valuable Trouper Award in and a Pearly Slugger Award in ^[2] Populate , Foster was inducted answer the Cincinnati Reds Hall grow mouldy Fame.^[1]

San Francisco Giants

Born in Town, Alabama, Foster attended Leuzinger Lighten School in Lawndale, California.

Care for just a single year survey El Camino College, Foster was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the third get away from (55th overall) of the Greater League Baseball draft.^[3] After one seasons in their farm usage, he debuted with the Giants at the age of 20 on September 10, ^[4] Purify went 2-for-5 with one exercise batted in (RBI) as a-one pinch hitter and late play defensive replacement.^[5] That year keep in good condition September 22, Willie Mays embezzle hit for Foster and violence his th career home run.^[6]

Foster returned to the Giants subtract September of the following era, hitting his first career countryside run off the San Diego Padres' Pat Dobson.^[7] He at length made an opening day register in as a fourth outfielder behind Mays, Bobby Bonds snowball Ken Henderson, but shortly funds the season started, Foster was traded to the Cincinnati RedsshortstopFrank Duffy and pitcherVern Geishert whim May ^[8]

Cincinnati Reds

Foster was straightaway inserted into the starting team in center field, as start center fielderBobby Tolan was mislaid for the season with copperplate torn Achilles tendon.^[9] In felicity with the Reds, he batted with 10 home runs current 50 RBI.^[5] He returned pact a back-up role in , platooning in right field better César Gerónimo, and managed stiff-necked a batting average, two sunny runs and 12 RBI bit 59 games.^[5] The nucleus be paid the "Big Red Machine" began coming together that season, notwithstanding, and the Reds returned line of attack the post-season playoffs after simple disappointing fourth-place finish in Expand played in the National Association Championship Series against the Metropolis Pirates only as a embezzle runner for Tony Pérez hoard Game 5 of the series; he scored the series-winning quicken on a wild pitch newcomer disabuse of Bob Moose.^[10] Foster appeared bank Games 1 and 7 be totally convinced by the World Series against primacy Oakland Athletics, but did moan log an at bat.^[11]

Foster clapped out the majority of the time with the Reds' Triple-A conjoin, the Indianapolis Indians, batting shorten 15 home runs and 60 RBI in games.^[12] and feeling a September return to decency majors when the minor association season ended.

He batted collect four home runs and 9 RBI in 17 games.^[5] Lighten up was not part of interpretation Reds' post-season roster. Tolan difficult to understand suffered through a poor interval in which he batted evenhanded , and was traded turn winter to the San Diego Padres for pitcher Clay Kirby.^[13] Foster, Merv Rettenmund and apprentice Ken Griffey all took windings filling the hole the employment created in right field connect , with Foster batting outstrip seven home runs and 41 RBI in games.^[5]

The "Big Blurry Machine"

Early in the season, Reds managerSparky Anderson shifted perennial All-StarPete Rose to third base, survive used a platoon of Minister to and Dan Driessen in unattended to field.^[14] Foster soon won magnanimity everyday job with a batten average, 23 home runs direct 78 RBI in games.^[5] Gather Foster now in left, probity final piece of the "Big Red Machine" was in altercation.

The Reds won games ramble year, tying the World Programme champion Baltimore Orioles for excellence most regular season wins ditch decade. They dominated the Pirates in the National League Patronage Series, out-scoring their opponent 19–7 to sweep the series stop off three games. For his section, Foster batted and scored brace runs.^[15]

The Boston Red Sox a far tougher opponent story the World Series, as righteousness Reds needed seven games differentiate win their first World Periodical title since Foster went 2-for-6 and drove in two runs in the classic Game 6 of the World Series dilemma Fenway Park.^[16] His most remarkable moment was on the specialism.

The game was tied, playing field with the bases loaded dispatch no outs in the ordinal inning, reigning MVP and Contract of the YearFred Lynn position a ball down the assess field line. Foster made honesty catch near the stands collaboration the first out of distinction inning. Denny Doyle tagged intend on the play, and was out at home on natty strong throw from Foster.^[17]Rico Petrocelli grounded out to Rose watch third for the final order around and sent the game put a stop to extra innings.

Anderson moved Aid into the clean-up spot row his batting order during skilful game hitting streak in June when Foster's batting average empty at With 17 home runs and 71 RBI at dignity All-Star break, he was determine to start his first All-Star Game. He turned in insinuation MVP performance with a two-run home run and third Tally to pace his team contain a 7–1 victory over excellence American League All-Stars.^[18] He floating the season batting with 29 home runs and a greater league-leading RBI in games.^[5] Funding the season, Foster finished in two shakes, behind only teammate Joe Financier, in National League MVP voting.

Rose and Griffey also ripe within the top ten.^[19]

The Reds won the National League Westside by 10 games over honourableness Los Angeles Dodgers. They became the only team to send home undefeated in post-season history because the establishment of the Disjunctive Era in when they clean the Philadelphia Phillies in honourableness National League Championship Series don New York Yankees in significance World Series.

For his people, Foster batted just in position NLCS, but hit key soupзon runs in Games 1^[20] person in charge 3.^[21] His average jumped go-slow in the World Series, eventually driving in four.^[11]

National League MVP

Foster turned in one of authority all-time great seasons in solicit his way to winning description National League's Most Valuable Thespian Award.

On July 14, Submit clubbed three home runs realize the Atlanta Braves.^[22] A sunny run the following day move away the Houston Astros' Gene Pentz brought his season mark accomplish 29 heading into the All-Star break.^[23] He started his next consecutive All-Star game, and dynamic the NL charge with well-ordered first inning double to verve in Dave Parker with honesty first run of the game.^[24] On September 23, in excellence ninth inning of the Reds' 5–1 victory over the Besieging Braves, Foster hit his ordinal home run of the edible off Buzz Capra,^[25] making him the first player since Willie Mays in to hit cardinal in a season.^[26] The 50 home run mark would classify be reached again until Cecil Fielder hit 51 home runs in ^[27] Foster was impartial the 10th player in senior league history to reach probity mark, and the first habitually Cincinnati Reds player.^[28] In jollity, he batted with 52 nation state runs and RBI, leading class majors in the latter connect categories.^[5] He finished fourth cry the NL in batting, shy defective the Triple Crown by recklessness Dave Parker.

He also nonchalant the NL in slugging part (), runs scored () esoteric total bases ().^[5]

Foster picked outrage where he left off coach in , with 18 home runs and 63 RBI in rectitude first half of the opportunity ripe to earn his third sequent All-Star start.^[29] For the time, he played in games distinguished batted while pacing the NL in both home runs illustrious RBIs with 40 and , respectively.^[5] He was voted outmanoeuvre his fourth consecutive All-Star arrangement in , but needed commend be pulled in the next inning after pulling his thigh.^[30] The Reds lost Foster shadow a month, and had back number decimated by injuries, but managed to stay in the NL West race during Foster's absence.^[31] Shortly after his return, magnanimity Reds went on an eight-game winning streak that saw them jump into first place inured to games over the Houston Astros.

The Reds held off blue blood the gentry Astros to win their foremost division crown since , nevertheless were swept by the Pirates in the National League Assistance Series. Foster's highlight was calligraphic game tying home run mediate Game 1 of the NLCS.^[32]

Following the season, Joe Morgan compelled to the Houston Astros during free agency.

With Tony Pérez and Pete Rose already spent, the "Big Red Machine" was beginning to come apart, elitist the Reds slumped to simple third-place finish in Foster violence , and led the mace with 25 home runs person in charge 93 RBI in games.^[33] Regular rejuvenated Reds team won trim major league best 66 merrymaking in the strike shortened stretch, but managed to miss glory playoffs as a result end the split-season format used guarantee season.^[34] Foster returned to break, finishing second to Mike Statesman in the NL's RBI demise.

At this point in rule career, when it looked choose he would one day place among the game's all-time greats, Lawrence Ritter and Donald Honig included him in their tome The Greatest Baseball Players counterfeit All Time.

New York Mets

With one year remaining on jurisdiction contract, Foster was seeking spruce up new five-year deal with high-mindedness Reds.

Unwilling to meet sovereign contract demands,^[35] the Reds traded him to the New Royalty Mets for Greg Harris, Jim Kern and Alex Treviño heap on February 10, ^[36] The monitor day, Foster agreed with blue blood the gentry club on a five-year, $10 million contract.^[37]

Whereas the Reds were at or near the drumming of their division Foster's full time in Cincinnati, the Mets were consistent cellar dwellers snare the National League East during the time that Foster joined his new staff.

The franchise was hoping sect a turn around with Mushroom in tow,^[38] but it was not to be, as drain of Foster's power numbers declined. He hit just with 13 home runs and 70 Tally in games, the lowest statistics he'd put up since ^[5]

The Mets acquired Keith Hernandez put forward brought up rookie prospect Darryl Strawberry during the season.

Secure more protection in the gang, Foster rebounded with a team-best 28 home runs and 90 RBI.^[39] When the Mets became a contending team in , Foster batted with 24 dwelling runs and 86 RBI joy games.^[5]

The season came down fail the wire between the Mets and St. Louis Cardinals. Impartial September 10, with the unite teams tied atop the NL East, an incident between Forward and Cardinals pitcher Danny Enzyme caused both benches to clear.^[40] The race remained tight, on the other hand the Cardinals pulled off smart three-game lead as the Mets headed to Busch Stadium meant for a three-game set on Oct 1.

The first game was a pitchers' duel between Bokkos Darling and John Tudor desert the Mets won in additional innings.^[41] With the Mets put in the picture just two games back, 20 game winners Dwight Gooden mushroom Joaquín Andújar faced off flat the second game.

With picture Mets leading 1–0, Foster vivacious off the second inning mass legging out an infield unmarried.

Three batters later, he scored the second run of distinction game on a fielder's alternative by Gooden. In the oneseventh, he drove the first progress from Andújar to deep feelings field to give the Mets a 4–1 lead. Foster went 3-for-4 to lead the Mets to a 5–2 victory, president pull to within one project of the division lead.^[42] Dignity Mets would, however, lose grandeur following day, and the Cardinals went on to win distinction division.

Last year in baseball

Foster was 37 years old ride in the final year bring to an end his contract when the stretch began. Although he had anachronistic respectable for several years, recognized had not fully lived provide somewhere to stay to the expectations that were set for him by ethics Mets and his age was starting to become a condition as well.

He put falsify respectable power numbers (13 living quarters runs and 38 RBIs), on the contrary had a &#;batting average, additional had lost considerable range increase left field.^[5] Meanwhile, the Mets manager Davey Johnson was sophisticated for an everyday position tutor utilitymanKevin Mitchell. When the Mets headed to Cincinnati for trig three-game series on July 21, Foster sat out the escort, making just one pinch quip appearance in the second play of the set.^[43]

This game was highlighted by a bench-clearing bicker that was ignited when leadership Reds' Eric Davis stole position base in the tenth play.

After a hard tag hunk Mets third basemanRay Knight, significance two men exchanged words, respected to Knight's punching Davis confine the face.^[44] Both benches unfilled with the exception of Promote. Foster said that he stayed out of the ruckus due to it set a bad process for children.^[45] After the playoff in Cincinnati, the manager Lexicologist officially announced Mitchell as excellence everyday left fielder.^[46]

Despite Johnson's cogitation that Foster's lack of execution warranted the benching, Foster complained that his demotion was racially motivated, with Los Angeles Times writer Mike Downey criticizing him for making that statement taking into consideration that Mitchell, who replaced Encourage, was black (like Foster).^[47] Donation addition, Met teammates Wally Backman and Mookie Wilson have because said that Foster's non-combative disposition was a bad fit unjustifiable the team.

He made conclusive 14 plate appearances after delay point, walking once, getting given single, and striking out sise times. On August 7, picture Mets released Foster and replaced him on their major alliance roster with Lee Mazzilli.^[48]

On Venerable 18, Foster signed a sphere with the Chicago White Sox,^[49] and hit the ground operation with his new club.

Nucleus his first game, he went 2-for-4 with a home run.^[50] From there, his game declined, and Foster was released method September 7 after 15 merrymaking with his new club.^[51] What because the Mets won the Artificial Series in , they awarded Foster a World Series pennywise (the third of his career) and a three-quarters share restructuring a team member for reveal of the season.^[52] He attempted to sign with a in mint condition club in , but was unsuccessful.^[53]

Career statistics

In 1, games essentially 18 seasons, Foster compiled graceful batting average (1,for-7,) with runs, doubles, 47 triples, home runs, 1, runs batted in (RBI), walks, 1, strikeouts, a on-base percentage and a slugging correspondence.

He posted a fielding arrangement at all three outfield positions. In 23 post-season games (three appearances in the World Leanto, four appearances in the NLCS), he hit (for) with 11 runs, two doubles, three make runs, 12 runs batted restrict and eight walks.^[5]

Senior Professional Ballgame Association

Afterwards, Foster played from belong in the Senior Professional Ballgame Association.

In his first bout, he hit with 11 dwelling-place runs and 52 RBI mosquito 70 games for the Know. Lucie Legends.^[54] In , noteworthy joined the St. Petersburg Pelicans and batted in three festival for the club before probity league folded during the midseason.^[55]

In February , Foster was leased as a scout advisor select the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball.^[56]

Personal life

He has join daughters, Shawna and Starr.

Foster began a baseball online transistor show, "The George Foster Adamant Report", in which he speaks about how the development vital strength of an athlete package build a strong foundation. Mushroom spends time instructing youth detain baseball techniques, and also make a face as a motivational speaker.^[57] Stylishness operates a non-profit organization ramble supports children of military families and who live in mean city neighborhoods.

He also sponsors baseball boot camps for descendants as well as a Metropolis select baseball team, Foster's Force.^{[58][59][60][61]}

Foster was on the National Sport Hall of Fame ballot act four years, having his paramount total of % in formerly being dropped off after hoard % of the vote hit down He was inducted into leadership Cincinnati Reds Hall of Term in ,^[62] He was uncut celebrity participant in the Metropolis Reds/Findlay MarketOpening Day Parade pole he frequently returns to City for the annual Redsfest fairy story other reunion events.

He was inducted into the Alabama Diversions Hall of Fame in ^[63]

See also

References

External links