Up on the blog today, we have the top three RBI men of the National League in 1978 proudly displayed on a 1979 “expanded league leader” card:
Of course we begin with the RBI-man of the era, Cincinnati Reds All-Star George Foster, who took home his third straight RBI crown in 1978 with 120, this after a monster 1977 season that saw him drive home 149.
Foster was just the man at the plate during his incredible three-year run between 1976 and 1978, taking home the MVP Award in 1977, finishing runner-up in 1976, helping the Reds to championships in 1975 and 1976, and becoming the first player since Willie Mays in 1965 to top 50 homers in a season, with his 52 in 1977.
Incredibly, the man was not just a home run hitter, as he would top a .300 batting average four out of five seasons between 1975 and 1979, with a .281 average in between.
In second place with 117 RBIs, a man that was in contention for all three Triple Crown stats, Pittsburgh Pirates great Dave Parker, who just happened to also be the N.L. batting champ for the second year in a row in 1978.
Parker was also a force at the plate in the late-70’s, winning the MVP in 1978, helping the Pirates to a championship in 1979, while also hitting not only for power, but for average as well, with five straight seasons of above-.300 averages between 1975 and 1979.
I still cannot understand how people do not think he is not a Hall of Famer! It’s not just about total stats, but the fact that he reached that elite level that goes beyond stats, like Steve Garvey, who is also a Hall of Famer in my book!
…And speaking of Steve Garvey, he finished third in the league with 113 RBIs in 1978, just two off his career best set a season earlier!
Garvey was as consistent as they came then, reaching 200+ hits six of seven seasons between 1974 and 1980, while driving in 100+ runs five times, 20+ homers five times, and a .300+ average seven out of eight season between 1973 and 1980.
Just a machine who hit for average, with some “pop”, driving in runs while guiding the Los Angeles Dodger team to four World Series appearances, winning it all in 1981 over my beloved New York Yankees.
Three guys right here that hit homers, drove in runs by the bunch, and also hit for average. Top notch!