1969–1986 · LF

George Foster

6' 1", 180 lbs·Lived to 78·Bats R / Throws R

MVPSilver SluggerAll-Star

The Almanac's Take

Foster became the first National Leaguer in 12 years to crack 50 home runs when he launched 52 bombs in 1977, a feat that earned him MVP honors and made him the last player to reach that milestone until the steroid era began. His 149 RBIs that season represented pure middle-of-the-order dominance for Cincinnati's Big Red Machine.

The left fielder's power surge wasn't a fluke — he averaged 28 homers per year from 1975-1979 and drove in at least 90 runs in seven different seasons. Foster's 117 career OPS+ reflects solid offensive production over 18 years, though his peak years in Cincinnati overshadow a longer career that included productive stops in San Francisco and New York.

What separates Foster from other sluggers of his era is timing. His 52-homer campaign came during baseball's second dead-ball period, when offensive numbers were depressed league-wide. That makes his 1977 explosion even more remarkable.

Career Highs

1.013

Best OPS · 1977

Most HR · 1977

149

Most RBI · 1977

.320

Best AVG · 1977

Career Arc · OPS

18 seasons

Statistical Comps

Corey Seager

99%

2024 season

ISO .234 · K% 18.0 · BB% 9.9 · HR% 5.6

Shohei Ohtani

98%

2024 season

ISO .336 · K% 22.3 · BB% 11.1 · HR% 7.4

Jorge Polanco

98%

2025 season

ISO .229 · K% 15.7 · BB% 8.1 · HR% 5.0

Career · Batting

18 seasons

Year	Team	G	AB	HR	RBI	AVG	OPS	OPS+
1969	SF	9	5	0	1	.400	.800	—
1970	SF	9	19	1	4	.316	1.013	142
1971	CIN	140	473	13	58	.241	.681	100
1972	CIN	59	145	2	12	.200	.513	77
1973	CIN	17	39	4	9	.282	1.016	144
1974	CIN	106	276	7	41	.264	.749	108
1975	CIN	134	463	23	78	.300	.875	125
1976	CIN	144	562	29	121	.306	.894	131
1977	CIN	158	615	52	149	.320	1.013	139
1978	CIN	158	604	40	120	.281	.906	129
1979	CIN	121	440	30	98	.302	.948	130
1980	CIN	144	528	25	93	.273	.835	117
1981	CIN	108	414	22	90	.295	.892	130
1982	NYM	151	550	13	70	.247	.676	95
1983	NYM	157	601	28	90	.241	.708	99
1984	NYM	146	553	24	86	.269	.754	107
1985	NYM	129	452	21	77	.263	.792	111
1986	NYM	87	284	14	42	.225	.699	97
Career		1977	7023	348	1239	.274	—	—

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