Bill Foster

Pitcher

Class of 1996

Bill Foster

Pitcher

Class of 1996
A lefty pitcher for the Chicago American Giants, Bill Foster won 26 consecutive games during the 1926 season.

Games

Birth year

About Bill Foster

“Bill Foster was my star pitcher, not even barring Satchel Paige.” – manager Dave Malarcher

The younger half-brother of Negro Leagues legend and founder Andrew “Rube” Foster, Bill Foster was a tall left-handed pitcher who played from 1923-37. For much of that time, he was considered the best lefty in the Negro Leagues.

According to Hall of Fame umpire Jocko Conlan, “Foster had the same perfect delivery of Herb Pennock, but was faster by far, with a sharp curve, and had what all great pitchers have – control.”

Foster could throw extremely hard, but he was a pitcher, not just a thrower. His repertoire included the fastball, curve, slider, a drop ball and – most importantly – a phenomenal change-of-pace. Manager Dave Malarcher called him “the greatest exponent of the change-of-pace. He could throw you a fast ball with maybe six or eight changes of speed.”

According to Hall of Famer Hilton Smith, Foster would throw his high curve for a called strike: “Then when he got ready for you to swing, he’d start it ‘round your waist and the catcher would catch it in the dirt. You couldn’t hit it with anything.”

Foster starred for his brother’s Chicago American Giants through much of the 1920s, helping the team to pennants in 1926, ’27, and ’33. The 1926 season and postseason may have been his greatest. He won 26 consecutive games (both league and non-league games) during the season. In the playoff between the Giants and the first half-season winning Kansas City Monarchs, the Giants needed to win both games to take the pennant. Foster started and won both games of the doubleheader, both against future Hall of Famer Bullet Rogan.

The American Giants then advanced to the World Series, defeating the Bacharach Giants while Foster won two games, pitched in two others and posted an ERA of 1.27.

Foster was the winning pitcher for the West in the first East-West All-Star Game, going the distance against a formidable opposing lineup. He appeared in the midsummer classic again the following year. Foster briefly served as a player-manager in 1931 for the American Giants, but resigned in order to concentrate on pitching. He played winter ball in Cuba and California.

Foster was dean of men and baseball coach at Alcorn State College from 1960 until he passed away on Sept. 16, 1978. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996.

“He gave our best teams fits,” said Hall of Famer Cumberland Posey. He was “the hardest man in baseball to beat.”

The Basics

Year inducted
1996
Birth Place
Calvert, Texas
Birth Year
1904
Died
1978, Lorman Mississippi

Career at a Glance

Primary Team
Chicago American Giants
Primary Position
Pitcher
Played For
Memphis Red Sox, 1923-1924
Chicago American Giants, 1924-1930
Birmingham Black Barons, 1925
Homestead Grays, 1931
Kansas City Monarchs, 1931
Chicago American Giants, 1932-1935
Pittsburgh Crawfords, 1936
Chicago American Giants, 1937

Career MLB Stats

Games
238
Wins
110
Losses
56
Winning %
.663
Saves
12
Hits
1,281
Walks
477
Runs
574
Games Started
165
Innings Pitched
1,499
Completed Games
127
Shutouts
31
Earned Runs
438
Strikeouts
922
ERA
2.63
WHIP
1.172

Bill Foster Stories

Explore the archives and go deep into the lives, careers, and stories of the Hall of Fame's honorees.

Bunning, Foster, Hanlon, Weaver elected as Class of 1996

Negro Leagues Researchers and Authors Group