Al Bumbry Private Signing + One More ’81 Star Sticker Catch-Up

Another 1981 Fleer Star Sticker success! Again by way of affordable through-the-mail private signing.

Al Bumbry was a mainstay in the Baltimore Orioles outfield for 13 seasons (1972-1984). He won the AL Rookie of the Year in 1973. He was an All-Star in 1980. He won a World Series ring in 1983.

Before his MLB career, Bumbry served in the U.S. Army and received a Bronze Star leading a platoon during the Vietnam War.

Bumbry still ranks high on the Orioles franchise leaderboard for stolen bases (4^th – 252) and runs (9^th – 772). He played the 1985 season – his last – with the Padres, serving mostly as a pinch hitter.

 

 

I recently blogged a catch-up post with five ’81 Star Sticker set returns that came in while I wasn’t writing. I missed one…

I received George Foster back from another private signing back in early August.

Foster is best known for his years with the “Big Red Machine.” A five-time All-Star, he won two World Series rings as the Reds went back-to-back in 1975 and 1976. He led the league in RBI in ’76, ’77, and ’78. He won the NL MVP in 1977, pacing the league in HRs (52), runs (124), RBI (149), total bases (388), and OPS (1.013).

After another great season in 1981 (he finished third in the NL MVP voting), the Reds – who were unwilling to give Foster the five-year deal he was seeking – traded him to the Mets.

Foster’s power numbers declined with the Mets (he maxed out at 28 HRs in 1983 and never exceeded 90 RBI). The Mets released Foster in August of their eventual World Series-winning 1986 season. He was awarded a ring.

Unknown to me before this write up: Foster bookended his career with the Giants and the White Sox. He broke into the Majors with San Francisco in 1969. The outfielder-rich Giants traded him to the Reds in 1971. After his release from the Mets, Foster latched on with Chicago. Foster hung up his cleats after 15 games with the White Sox.

 

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1981 Fleer Star Sticker Progress: 56 of 125 (44.8%)