Cincinnati Reds
Foster was immediately inserted into the starting line-up in center field, as starting center fielder Bobby Tolan was lost for the season with a torn Achilles tendon. He returned to a back-up role in 1972, platooning in right field with César Gerónimo, and managed just a .200 batting average, two home runs and twelve RBIs. The nucleus of the "Big Red Machine" began coming together that season, however, and the Reds returned to the post-season playoffs after a disappointing fourth place finish in 1971. Foster played in the 1972 National League Championship Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates only as a pinch runner for Tony Pérez in game five of the series; he scored the series-winning run on a wild pitch from Bob Moose. Foster appeared in games one and five of the World Series against the Oakland Athletics, but did not log an at-bat.
He spent the 1973 season with the Reds' triple A affiliate, the Indianapolis Indians, and made a September return to the majors when the minor league season ended. He was not part of the Reds' post-season roster. Tolan had suffered through a poor 1973 season in which he batted just .206, and was traded that winter to the San Diego Padres for pitcher Clay Kirby. Foster, Merv Rettenmund and rookie Ken Griffey all took turns filling the hole the trade created in right field in 1974, with Foster batting .264 with seven home runs and 64 RBIs.
Read more about this topic: George Foster (baseball)
Famous quotes containing the word reds:
“Holly Golightly: You know those days when you’ve got the mean reds?
Paul: The mean reds? You mean like the blues?
Holly Golightly: No, the blues are because you’re getting fat or maybe it’s been raining too long. You’re just sad, that’s all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you’re afraid and you don’t know what you’re afraid of.”
—George Axelrod (b. 1922)