Reddy Foster
Reddy Foster | |
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New York Giants | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .000 |
Hits | 0 |
Stolen bases | 0 |
Teams | |
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Oscar E. "Reddy" Foster (August 1864 – December 19, 1908) was a
Early minor league career
Oscar E. Foster, nicknamed Reddy, was born sometime in August 1864 in
In 1894, Foster joined the Richmond Crows of the newly-formed
New York Giants
During the 1896 season, Foster also played in his only
Later minor league career
For 1897, Foster returned to Richmond, this time with the Richmond Giants of the Atlantic League. In 106 games, he batted .256 with 53 runs scored, 91 hits, 16 doubles, 6 triples, 3 home runs, and 35 stolen bases. He played for the league's Allentown Peanuts in 1898, though statistics from this year are unavailable.[2]
In 1899, Foster played for three
The Richmond Blue Birds and the Hampton Crabs both employed Foster during the 1900 campaign. With Richmond, he batted .191 with 16 runs scored, 25 hits, 4 doubles, 0 triples, 0 home runs, and 9 stolen bases in 33 games. He only played 14 games for Hampton, batting .271 with 3 runs scored, 13 hits, 3 doubles, 0 triples, 0 home runs, and 3 stolen bases. Most of these appearances were at the catcher position, though Foster was also used as an outfielder and
Foster managed several of his teams, most notably one located in
Temper and alcohol issues
Russo states that Foster "was known as a hard-drinking, rough, and ready ballplayer whose temper usually got the best of him."[3] When his teams lost, he would scream and shout at his wife, Mary, while making ominous gestures. Though it was never confirmed, contemporaries suspected that he sometimes beat her. Mary eventually instructed friends to warn her of the outcome of the game. If the team lost, she would go to a neighbor's home and wait for her husband to get sober.[3]
Death
Foster's alcoholism became more severe after he retired. He engaged in a drinking binge on December 18 and 19, 1908, making suicidal comments to those with him. On December 19, he and friend Lee Polkington wandered down to banks of the James River. Foster carried with him a whiskey bottle and a 12-gauge shotgun, double-barreled and loaded. After taking a drink of whiskey, he said to Polkington, "Watch me do a trick."[3] Putting the shotgun under his chin, he set off the trigger with his foot, dying instantly at the age of 44. Baseball associates of his in the Richmond area were shocked to hear of his suicide. Despite his alcohol issues, he had a great deal of fans and friends.[3]
Foster was survived by Mary and their three children: John, Katie, and Julia. He had another son from a previous marriage, Joseph, who survived him as well. Foster was buried at Richmond's Oakwood Cemetery.[3]
References
- ^ "Reddy Foster Stats". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Redy Foster Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
- ^ ISBN 9781442236400. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
- ^ Sumner, Jim. "Virginia-North Carolina League: A Fascinating Failure". SABR. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)