During the late 1970’s, George Foster was one of the most powerful sluggers of the game. In 1976 he hit 29 homers for the Big Red Machine and batted .429 in the 1976 World Series. The 1977 season was his career best. He hit 52 home runs, the most by any player in a season in the 1970’s and was named the NL MVP.
Since his baseball retirement in 1986, George instructs at baseball camps and clinics for boys and girls from age 7 to the Minor League baseball level. He was the roving Minor League hitting instructor for the Cincinnati Reds from 1997-1998. Currently, George attends corporate functions, adult fantasy baseball camps, and golf tournaments. He also hosts youth baseball clinics in Ohio, Florida and California.
George and his family reside in Greenwich, CT.
Professional Career San Francisco Giants 1968-1971, Cincinnati Reds 1971-1981, New York Mets 1982-1986
Professional Career Highlights NL Most Valuable Player – 1977 All-Star Game Most Valuable Player – 1976 348 Career Home Runs 13 Career Grand Slams 1976-78 NL RBI Leader 1977-78 Home Run Leader 11th Player to hit 50 or more Home Runs in one season .300 or better batting average – 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979 Reds RBI leader – 1976-1981 Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame – 2003
CORPORATE SPEAKING George talks to your group and tailors his speech to meet your topic. He has spoken to many business and parent groups from business to supporting your children in sports. The two most popular topics in business are management and sales. The following speeches include parallels between sports and the business industry.
• Building a Team (Corporate Management) Discussion and facts about the Big Red Machine and how each player had a role in winning the 1975 and 1976 World Series. • Game On (Business Sales) Describes George’s personal preparation for a major league baseball game and how it can translate to prepare for any selling position.
Previous Speaking Groups include: John Hancock Inc., Fidelity Investments, KPMG, LaSalle High School, Babe Ruth Baseball, CABA Baseball, Piqua Baseball. COMMUNITY SERVICE Foster Safe Youth Network Foundation Baseball Clinic at Oakley and Schmidt Fields – (2003-2006) A one-day baseball clinic for at-risk youth ages 9-12 interested in learning baseball fundamentals. The clinic is attended by 13 youth centers located in the city of Cincinnati.
Foster Celebrity Golf Classic – (May 2004-2006) The proceeds from this one day golf tournament benefit baseball clinics for youth in Cincinnati.
Reds Rookie Success League (RRSL) League Commissioner – (2003- Present) The RRSL is the first outreach program of the Cincinnati Reds Community Fund, the official nonprofit organization of the Cincinnati Reds, established in 2001. The RRSL is a noncompetitive character-building baseball league targeting 8-12 year old at-risk children in Cincinnati. The six-week league teaches life lessons and applies the lessons through the game of baseball.
Building Bridges, Inc. Honorary Chairman – (1979- Present) This program is an intensive rehabilitation program for at-risk youth between 12 and 18 years of age located in Dayton, Ohio. The George Foster Group Home supplies a positive environment for the kids to live while continuing their rehabilitation work.