George Foster and the 1977 Reds: The Rise of a Slugger and the End of an Era

George Foster, a left fielder for the Cincinnati Reds, was a key player on their back-to-back 1975 and 1976 World Championship teams. In 1977, he became the most feared slugger in the National League, setting a new single-season home run record for the Reds franchise. However, his success was not enough to prevent the emergence of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who won the NL West Division pennant. This book chronicles Foster's record-setting season and the decline of the Big Red Machine.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 185 pages
Publication date: 30 March 2019
Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc

The Cincinnati Reds are widely regarded as one of the greatest teams in the history of baseball. Left fielder George Foster, a crucial component of the Reds' back-to-back World Championships in 1975 and 1976, has unfortunately never received the proper recognition for his significant contribution to their legacy. In 1977, Foster emerged as the most feared slugger in the National League, boasting a batting average of .320, along with 52 home runs and 149 runs batted in, ultimately earning him the NL MVP Award. This remarkable achievement established a new single-season home run record for the Reds franchise, which still stands today. However, despite Foster's outstanding performance, the Los Angeles Dodgers emerged as a formidable rival, swiftly claiming the NL West Division pennant.

This book delves into the story of Foster's record-setting season and provides a rightful perspective on his pre-steroid era accomplishments. The author also chronicles the subsequent decline of the Big Red Machine and the remainder of Foster's illustrious big league career.

Weight: 304g
Dimension: 151 x 223 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780786464517