San Francisco Giants: 5 Trades That Did Not Work Out

Jul 24, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; A Cincinnati Reds hat on top of third base in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Giants send George Foster to the Cincinnati Reds for Frank Duffy and Vern Geishert (1971)

After 36 games in the 1971 season, outfielder George Foster was sent to the Cincinnati Reds for shortstop Frank Duffy. The team had an outfield of Bobby Bonds, Ken Henderson, Willie Mays (his last season with the team). Probably could have used Foster after Mays was sent to the Mets the next season.

Nobody could have foreseen what Foster, a third round pick for the Giants in 1968, would do with the Reds. His minor league stats were average as far as power (14 homer runs in 121 games in 1969 and 18 in 114 games in 1970). But his averages in both those years (.321 and .308) showed he could handle the bat.

All Foster did in his 11 seasons in Cincinnati was hit 244 home runs, make 5 All-Star games and win an MVP award. His MVP season was in 1977, when he hit 52 home runs and drove in 149 and hitting .320.

Vern Geishert never appeared in a game for the Giants.

Duffy was a shortstop who played in 21 games total for the Giants, hitting .179 and starting 3 games at short.

He was then involved in the next trade on our list…..

Next: Duffy and Perry for McDowell