1977 Topps Baseball #347 - George Foster

• This was the last set in which George Foster didn't get a "0" or "5" number. After his monster year in 1977 George got the honored numbers until the end of his career.
• I wonder where Foster's 1977 season ranks in terms of the best seasons of the decade. Aside from the great hitting stats, George also led the NL in fielding at left field.
• 1977 Stats: .320, 52 HR, 149, 124 runs, 388 total bases, .631 slugging
• 1977 Highlights:
• July 19 - Was the starting LF in the All Star Game. Doubled in a run off of Jim Palmer and scored a run and went 1 for 3.
• Sept 4 - Had four hits, including a home run and a double, and scored three times as the Reds beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-2.
• Nov 8 - Named the NL MVP. It was the sixth time a Reds player won the award in eight years.
• Other card blogs: 1971, 1972, 1973, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1976 Hostess, 1978, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1986

1977 Topps #3 - 1976 RBI Leaders

• Lee May was close to the end of his career when he led the AL in RBI, while George Foster was at the beginning of his peak years.
• It is surprising that May would lead the league in RBI. His team finished seventh out of 12 teams in runs scored, 11th in batting average, and 11th in on base percentage. May usually batted behind Reggie Jackson in 1976.
• The 1976 season was the first of three straight years in which Foster would lead the NL in RBI.