Eddie Foster

Edward Cunningham Foster
(Kid)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 6½", Weight 145 lb.

• Debut April 14, 1910
• Final Game August 5, 1923
• Born February 13, 1887 in Chicago, IL USA
• Died January 15, 1937 in Washington, DC USA

BR page

Biographical Information

" . . . the Griffith dynasty . . . had more than its share of good third basemen. That includes Eddie Foster in the pre-Bluege era . . . " - from an article in the September 1962 issue of Baseball Digest

"When Ruth walked lead-off man Eddie Foster, he was so incensed that he threw a punch at umpire Brick Owens. Exit Ruth; enter Shore." - an account of Eddie Foster's role in the famous Ernie Shore perfect game, from the book On Baseball: A History of Baseball Scribes

Eddie Foster played 13 seasons in the majors, and led the league four times in at-bats. He was often among the leaders in assists and range factor at third base. Foster has the fewest home runs (6) among players with 5,000 career at bats.

Eddie was born in Chicago, IL in 1887. At the age of 19 he was playing in the Kansas State League, and after a number of additional years in the minors made his major league debut with the New York Highlanders in 1910. Getting 92 at-bats, he hit only .133 and spent the next year in the minors with the Rochester Bronchos, for whom he hit .288.

In 1912 he came up to stay. Eddie spent until 191 with the Washington Senators, and twice received some votes for MVP. In 1912 he was fifth in the American League in doubles, in 1914 he was second in the league in singles, and in 1915 he was seventh in the league in doubles. In 1918 he was second in the AL singles.

In the Historical Baseball Abstract, Bill James lists the top ten rookie seasons by third basemen. Eddie Foster's 1912 season is ranked # 6.

Walter Johnson was his teammate during all Eddie's years with the Senators, and Clark Griffith was the manager the whole time.

According to the book The California Winter League, Foster played for Calexico during the winter of 1914-15, along with a number of other major leaguers.

After the 1919 season Eddie was traded to the Boston Red Sox and played for them from 1920 to 1922. He was the oldest player on the 1920 squad. In the summer of 1922 the St. Louis Browns selected him off waivers and Eddie finished his major league career playing 37 games for the Browns that season and 27 more for them in 1923. He was six years older than teammate George Sisler.

In January 1924, after his release by the St. Louis Browns, it was reported that Foster was going to study for the ministry. A story in The Evening Independent said "Foster has devoted considerable time to religious work for several years, being one of the few active major leaguers who taught a Sunday school class."

Notable Achievements

• 4-time AL At-Bats Leader (1912, 1914, 1915 & 1918)

Related Sites

• Eddie Foster at the SABR Bio Project