1977 NL Stargell Award

National League 1977

			AVG	OBA	SLU	AB	HIT	DB	TP	HR	RUN	RBI	BB	SB	OPS
LF	G FOSTER	CIN	320	386	631	615	197	31	2	52	124	149	61	6	1013
LF	G LUZINSKI	PHI	309	399	594	554	171	35	3	39	99	130	80	3	988
RF	R SMITH	LA	307	432	576	488	150	27	4	32	104	87	104	7	1003
CF	G HENDRICK	SD	311	381	492	541	168	25	2	23	75	81	61	11	873
1B	S GARVEY	LA	297	337	498	646	192	25	3	33	91	115	38	9	834
LF	J BURROUGHS	ATL	271	365	520	579	157	19	1	41	91	114	86	4	882
1B	B WATSON	HOU	289	360	498	554	160	38	6	22	77	110	57	5	858

RF	D PARKER	PIT	338	399	531	637	215	44	8	21	107	88	58	17	927
3B	P ROSE	CIN	311	379	432	655	204	38	7	9	95	64	66	16	809
RF	J CRUZ	HOU	299	368	475	579	173	31	10	17	87	87	69	44	843
1B	K HERNANDEZ	STL	291	379	459	560	163	41	4	15	90	91	79	7	837
RF	K GRIFFEY	CIN	318	389	467	585	186	35	8	12	117	57	69	17	855

3B	M SCHMIDT	PHI	274	399	574	544	149	27	11	38	114	101	104	15	967
2B	J MORGAN	CIN	288	420	478	521	150	21	6	22	113	78	117	49	895
2B	D LOPES	LA	283	372	406	502	142	19	5	11	85	53	73	47	779
CA	J BENCH	CIN	275	353	540	494	136	34	2	31	67	109	58	2	889
CA	T SIMMONS	STL	318	410	500	516	164	25	3	21	82	95	79	2	908
CA	G CARTER	MON	284	361	525	522	148	29	2	31	86	84	58	5	881
SS	G TEMPLETON	STL	322	339	449	621	200	19	18	8	94	79	15	28	786

        Foster was a devastating power hitter in his prime. He played for 18 years, but didn't start to hit until he was 26, and had his last good season at age 32. But in his big years, Foster was quite a force. He mashed out 348 homers in his career; his 52 homers this year were the most by a National League player since Willie Mays in 1965, and would not be surpassed until McGwire and Sosa had their big seasons in 1998.
         Reggie Smith also had a very good year, helping the Dodgers win the pennant. Smith was a good player for a long time; he frequently moved around from team to team, but played well wherever he went. One of the best switch-hitters ever, Smith finished his career with 314 homers and over 2000 hits.
         The 1970's were strangely absent of really great outfielders, in the Hank Aaron/Willie Mays/Stan Musial tradition. The best ones were probably Reggie Jackson and Willie Stargell. What defines the decade are the Almost-Great-Players, guys like Reggie Smith and Bobby Bonds and Fred Lynn and Dave Parker, guys who were really good but who you think might or should have been better.
         Foster's closest MVP competition comes from Mike Schmidt, who had another huge year for the Phillies, leading them to the National League's best record. Schmidt lacked the eye-popping Triple Crown numbers that Foster had, but he was a more patient hitter, and he was probably the best defensive infielder in the league.
        Another good third sacker was Ron Cey, who was a key member of the pennant-winning Dodgers. From 1973 to 1981, the Dodgers had a set infield of Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Ron Cey and Bill Russell, with Steve Yeager as catcher. I don't think any five infielders have ever stayed together for so long. Cey was probably the best of the group; his lifetime average was only .261, but he had power and walks, and played a good third base. Cey played for 17 years, and hit 316 lifetime homers; he was an All-Star six times, helped the Dodgers win three pennants and a World Series, and he was also a key member of the 1984 Cubs.