Mr. Foster - A Working Class Hero

The Giants and I arrived in San Francisco in 1958. Juan Marichal, Willie McCovey, and Jesus Alou were our guys. Willie Mays was our hero. When I played sandlot ball, I always imagined myself to be Willie Mays. It was my boyhood dream to see him play. Unfortunately, my parents never took me out to the ball game. Fortunately, Mr. Foster did.

Willard Foster worked the line at the Continental Can Company in Pittsburg. It was the type of work that could bend the body and dull the mind, but it was important work because it supported his family. He was a hard-working man and also a man of God. In ways unspoken, he was a role model. I was one of five students – all boys - in his fourth grade Sunday school class. To improve our attendance, Mr. Foster made a deal with us: if we attended Sunday school five weeks in a row, he would take us to a Giants game. Oh my gosh!

I made it to three classes in a row. On the fourth Sunday, however, my parents decided to take our family away for the weekend. I reminded my parents that I could not go to the Giants game if I miss one class. Despite my anguished pleas, I spent that weekend in the mountains.

On the fifth Sunday, I returned to Sunday school. Fighting back my tears, I told Mr. Foster that I was sorry, and I told my friends to have fun at the game. As I started to leave, Mr. Foster said, “Hold on, Ronnie. You did your best, and that’s all that matters. You are going to the game.” It was a simple act of kindness that I appreciate to this day.

On Sunday, April 14, 1968, Mr. Foster took us to Candlestick Park to see the Giants play a double-header against the Philadelphia Phillies. He purchased our tickets, hot dogs, and sodas. We sat in the upper deck, and then the magic happened: Willie Mays charged onto the field, Willie McCovey went to first, and Juan Marichal took the mound. I cheered with unrestrained joy!

Marichal pitched nine innings in game one, struck out nine batters, and allowed just two runs. His ERA was 3.18. Willie Mays went to the plate five times. He scored two runs, drove in four RBIs, and hit a home run! The Giants won 13 to 2.

In game two, Ray Sadecki pitched nine innings as well. He struck out ten batters, and his ERA was 1.0. Willie Mays sat out most of the second game. In his place, a young ballplayer named Frank Robinson played center field. The Giants won 3 to 1.[1]

It was a glorious day! I will forever be grateful to the working-class hero who took us to see the greatest ballplayer of all time.

-Ron Shingler

[1] Source: baseball-reference.com. I was only 10 that day. I clearly remember watching Willie Mays hit a home run, but the other details described here are beyond my memory.