Here
was a fun card to create, a 1971 “Traded” card for future National
League MVP George Foster, who was shipped to the Cincinnati Reds on May
29th of 1971, adding yet another key component of the “Big Red Machine”:
I found this great shot of Foster leading off first base with none other
than Cubs legend Ernie Banks holding him on, making for a really fun
card!
As for Foster’s career, all he would go on to do is give the Reds
another big time bat along with Pete Rose, Johnny Bench and Tony Perez,
with Joe Morgan soon joining them in 1972, forming the eventual two-time
World Champion “Big Red Machine” dynasty of the mid-70’s.
Between, Foster, Bench, Rose and Morgan, it would give the Reds five MVP
seasons in the decade, just insane, with Foster having his career-year
in 1977 when he slammed 52 homers along with 149 RBIs and 124 runs
scored, all leading numbers in the National League.
He’d go on to play 18 years in the Big Leagues, finishing in the top-3
in MVP voting three times, while making five All-Star teams and retiring
with 348 home runs, 1239 RBIs and just under 2000 hits with 1925.