George Foster---1977
The Giants are accustomed to making
bad trades. Just ask the Minnesota
Twins, who have been feasting on the
biggest egg general manager Brian
Sabean laid when he sent Joe Nathan,
Francisco Liriano and Boof Bonser to
the Land of 10,000 Lakes in exchange
for catcher A.J. Pierzynski. Is it any
wonder why the Twins have been
perennial contenders in recent years
while the Giants are arguably the worst
team in baseball?
That same type of talent evaluation
played a significant role in the Giants’
swoon throughout most of the 1970s.
The team’s worst deal had the G-men
sending a young outfielder by the
name of George Foster to the Reds
for shortstop Frank Duffy. Duffy
played a year for San Francisco and
barely hit his weight, while Foster
became one of the primary cogs of
the Big Red Machine, leading the
National League in RBIs three straight
times and earning Most Valuable
Player honors in 1977.
Adding further insult to injury was
Duffy’s next contribution to the Giants’
cause. San Francisco traded the
infielder along with Gaylord Perry to
the Indians for Sam McDowell. Perry
would go on to win Cy Young Awards
in both leagues, and Duffy led junior
circuit shortstops in fielding in 1973
and 1976. McDowell? He was on the
down side of his career, thanks to a
relentless battle with the bottle that
limited him to 11 wins in parts of two
seasons by the Bay.
(10/15/11)
bad trades. Just ask the Minnesota
Twins, who have been feasting on the
biggest egg general manager Brian
Sabean laid when he sent Joe Nathan,
Francisco Liriano and Boof Bonser to
the Land of 10,000 Lakes in exchange
for catcher A.J. Pierzynski. Is it any
wonder why the Twins have been
perennial contenders in recent years
while the Giants are arguably the worst
team in baseball?
That same type of talent evaluation
played a significant role in the Giants’
swoon throughout most of the 1970s.
The team’s worst deal had the G-men
sending a young outfielder by the
name of George Foster to the Reds
for shortstop Frank Duffy. Duffy
played a year for San Francisco and
barely hit his weight, while Foster
became one of the primary cogs of
the Big Red Machine, leading the
National League in RBIs three straight
times and earning Most Valuable
Player honors in 1977.
Adding further insult to injury was
Duffy’s next contribution to the Giants’
cause. San Francisco traded the
infielder along with Gaylord Perry to
the Indians for Sam McDowell. Perry
would go on to win Cy Young Awards
in both leagues, and Duffy led junior
circuit shortstops in fielding in 1973
and 1976. McDowell? He was on the
down side of his career, thanks to a
relentless battle with the bottle that
limited him to 11 wins in parts of two
seasons by the Bay.
(10/15/11)
