Joe Foy
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| {{{team}}} — No. 5 | |
| Third Base | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Major League Baseball debut | |
|---|---|
| April 13, 1966 for the Boston Red Sox | |
| Selected MLB statistics (through October 3, 2006) |
|
| Batting average | .248 |
| Runs batted in | 291 |
| Stolen bases | 99 |
| On-Base Percentage | .351 |
Joseph Anthony "Joe" Foy (February 21, 1943 – October 12, 1989) was a Major League Baseball player who primarily played third base, but also played outfield (20 games), shortstop (19 games), first base (16 games), and second base (6 games).
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[edit] With the Boston Red Sox
Born in New York City, Foy was signed as an amateur free agent by the Minnesota Twins in 1962, but was selected in that year's minor league draft by the Boston Red Sox. Playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the International League in 1965, Foy was voted the league's most valuable player and rookie of the year in the same season. He also won the league's batting title, hitting .302.
His first year in the majors, with Boston in 1966, was arguably his best season. Foy batted a solid .262, drew the second-most walks in the American League (91), had a .364 on-base percentage, good for eighth in the junior circuit; he also scored 97 runs, fifth in the league. As pitching became more dominant in the late 1960s, Foy's numbers dropped considerably. In 1967, while receiving over 100 less at-bats, Foy batted a slightly worse .251/.325/.426 (his walk total halved), although the league did drop by 4 batting points, 2 on-base points, and 18 slugging points. On a positive note, Foy set his career record for home runs with 16. In 1968, the infamous Year Of The Pitcher, (where Carl Yastrzemski led the league with a .301 batting average, and the American League batted just .230), Foy did pretty well. While his raw stats (.225/.336/.326) may seem unimpressive, consider that his on base percentage was 39 points above league average, and his slugging and batting averages roughly coincide with league average. He stole 26 bases that year, and he walked 84 times.
[edit] With the Kansas City Royals
Joe Foy was selected with the fourth pick of the 1968 expansion draft by the Kansas City Royals, he had a fine season in 1969. While the league still only batted .246/.321/.369, Foy batted .262/.354/.370, making him an above league-average hitter. He also had 71 RBI, that year, his career high. Then, in a move considered by some to be one of the worst trades ever, the Royals traded Foy fto the third-baseman hungry Mets for Amos Otis, and Bob Johnson. Otis developed into an All-Star, and an occasional MVP candidate.
[edit] With the New York Mets
Foy posted a career-best .373 OBP while hitting .236/.373/.329 with 7 home runs and 39 RBI in 322 at-bats with New York. Although his averages were not that far off from his career average, Foy was considered a disappointment to Mets fans. The man traded for Foy, Amos Otis, batted .284/.353/.424 while making the All-Star team for the first time. After the season, the Washington Senators drafted him in the Rule V draft.
[edit] With the Washington Senators
Foy did poorly with the Senators, batting .234/.363/.297 in 128 at-bats. He was released on July 16, 1971 and no other team signed him. He died October 12, 1989, in the Bronx.
