Bill Foster
Bill Foster was overshadowed by his half-brother, Hall of Fame executive, Andrew “Rube” Foster, for many years. Both were born in Calvert, Texas and Rube was 15 years senior to Bill. Rube followed a business path to baseball. Bill wanted to play ball. Their relationship didn’t form until Bill’s success on the pitcher’s mound grew to an unignorable level in semi-pro leagues. Older, wiser, and already established in the baseball community, Rube urged his brother to not pursue his baseball dreams but to continue with his education. Finally, Rube signed his brother to his very own Chicago American Giants.
Big Bill pitched for 14 years in the Negro Leagues. Foster was known to have excellent control and a wide assortment of pitches to throw. He was labeled the best left-handed pitcher in the Negro League. Like many other players of the time, Foster played winter ball; one season in Cuba and three in California. In Cuba, Foster played alongside Hall of Famers Oscar Charleston and Judy Johnson, led by league MVP Martin Dihigo. Teams in the California Winter League were nearly all-star teams. Over three campaigns, he played on a team with the likes of Turkey Stearnes, Joe Rogan, Willie Wells, Biz Mackey, Jud Wilson, Mule Suttles, Rap Dixon, Cool Papa Bell, and (in his first California Winter League stint in 1931–1932), Satchel Paige. The California Winter League was an integrated league. White and black players could play freely with and against each other without protest; however, the caliber of talent displayed was recorded to be at the highest minor level. In those three seasons, Foster had a record of 24–1. Then, in 1933, Foster won the first Negro League All-Star game.
Arm problems ended his career in 1938 at the age of 35. Foster amassed 110 wins on the mound with a winning percentage of 66.3%. That is an impressive ratio of winning two out of every three games he pitched. His best seasons were 1926 and 1927 with records of 13–4 and 21–5, winning the championships in both seasons. After baseball, Bill followed his older brother’s advice and returned to school. Bill made his late brother proud by finishing his schooling and earning a college degree.
Bill Foster was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, and Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. In 2010, Alcorn State University named their baseball field in his honor.
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/bill-foster/
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fostebi99.shtml
