Tuesday Headline: RIP Kevin Foster

October 14th, 2008 · No Comments

From the Trib:

Former major league pitcher Kevin Foster, who fulfilled a lifelong dream by playing for the Cubs, died Saturday at the age of 39.
The former Evanston High star died in an Oklahoma City hospital after a six-month bout with renal cell carcinoma, his brother, Mark Foster, said.
Kevin Foster spent five seasons with the Cubs after being acquired from Philadelphia for Shawn Boskie in 1994, going 32-28 from 1994 to ’98.

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Originally signed as an infielder, Foster became a pitcher in ’91 and was in the majors with the Phillies briefly in ’93.
Foster advanced quickly through the Cubs’ system before going 12-11 in ’95, his first full season in the majors.
In 1997, starting for a team that had set a National League record with 14 straight losses to begin the season, he beat the New York Mets in Shea Stadium to end the streak.
Foster went 10-5 in 17 first-half starts in ’97, becoming the first Cub with 10 wins at the All-Star break since Greg Maddux in ’92.
Foster battled arm injuries after ’97, and made a brief comeback with Texas in 2001.
Recently, he was living in Oklahoma City, where he had once pitched in Texas’ farm system, and drove a truck for a living.