George Foster did not have the Mets career many hoped for when they signed him. He did all right at times, just not as well as he did when he was on the Big Red Machine. He was never appreciated due to his quiet demeanor and lack of production but he toiled away. During the 1986 season, Foster began complaining over his lack of playing time, sighting it was racially-based. The Mets were not about to have their dream season fall apart over racial discord so they released him.
The Chicago White Sox picked him up off of waivers on August 15th of that year. He saw action in 15 games for them, his last being on September 6, 1986 before being released the following day. He played the outfield for 11 games and DH'd in three others. He had 11 hits in 51 at bats—two of those TRIPLES(!!), 2 runs, 1 HR, and 4 RBI.
Pictured above, is Foster's 1986 Topps Traded card. A
Lost Card no more.
Great column!
ReplyDeleteFoster was a dog
Funny you should mention dog, as I found this story while putting this post together ...
ReplyDeleteIn 1987 the Mets held "Spuds Mackenzie Night." Budweiser had a limo drive into Shea from center field and the canine Bud mascot(Spuds) emerged from the limo and was seated in a director's chair behind home plate before the game.
Mike Lupica wrote the next day that "The last dog to take a limo to Shea was George Foster."