Oscar Foster never won an individual scoring championship at San Diego High, but Foster finished his legendary prep career with the San Diego Section record for most points.
Consistent, often brilliant, Foster’s record was testimony to the popular, team player that he was.
Foster passed away recently in Los Angeles at age 69, a victim for at least his last 40 years of internal demons that robbed the friendly, gentle man of his great promise.
A lithe, 6-foot, 7-inch forward, Foster scored 1,766 points in three seasons and 91 games during an era in which the Cavers posted a 77-17 record and won two San Diego Section championships.
“The Big O was an unbelievable player, intimidating and competitive,” remembered Brent Strom, now the pitching coach for the Houston Astros and Foster’s teammate at San Diego High.
Player-of-the-year Foster was joined on 1966-67 all San Diego Section first team by (clockwise from upper left) Morse’s Monroe Nash, Madison’s Steve Rostoker, Kearny’s Russ (Whimpy) Northcutt, and La Jolla’s Steve Haskett.
Foster averaged 14.7 and scored 457 points in 1964-65, his sophomore season, as San Diego, 24-8 overall after being a tied-for-second-place entry in the Eastern League, got hot in the playoffs and defeated Chula Vista, 62-40, in the championship game.
The Cavers were 24-7 in 1965-66, won the third-place game in the playoffs, and Foster averaged 21.4 points and scored 667.
The 29-2 championship team of 1966-67 was beaten only by Long Beach Poly, 67-62, and St. Augustine, 55-53, in the regular season.
Foster averaged 20.6 and scored 642 points and led coach Bill Standly’s squad a 54-53 victory over Mount Miguel in the championship game.
The Big O and I went to Sherman elementary, he was a grade behind me, what a gangly gentle soul. We played B-Ball at Memorial Jr. High, San Diego High and San Diego City College together. Through the years we learned a great deal from one another, especially the hard work it took for you to be the best you can be. I miss him now and forever! By the way he was my Best-Man at my wedding in 1969.
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Doyle, thanks for the remarks about the Big O. Life should have been much kinder. Speaking of Sherman, i think there is a new campus there. I went to Lionc0ln and began following track with Luther Hayes, who won the state “broad” jump at Berkeley in ’57. As a sportswriter at the Evening Tribune I covered your 25-5 at the Stadium and when you battled back to win the state meet at Berkeley at 25-3 1/2 in ’66. Stanley Oden once remarked to me that you also could croon. All the best.
I will always remember the Big O as my classmate and Terrific Player; the best on and off the court. I remember him as being the most likely to succeed. But mental illness robbed him of his potential and what he was destined to become over a lifetime. I will always remember the gentle giant!
Thanks for writing, Henry. That seems as all remembered the Big O.
Played against Oscar for El Capitan 1965 to 66. Met him many yrs latter at UCSD MEDICAL CENTER. The demons were showing then. Great person and player.
Oscar was a gentle soul. Thanks for writing, Jon.
I remember seeing Foster’s first season when I was a senior at Point Loma. He was really a special player. he went to Minnesota on a basketball scholarship but never played varsity there, returning to San Diego to play at USD. It’s too sad that he had to deal with the inner demons for so long.
Thanks for writing, John. Foster is remembered and respected by many.
Did Oscar Foster ever play college ball?
He played his freshman year at the University of Minnesota and returned to play a season at San Diego City College. Foster played his last two years at the university of San Diego and averaged 16.5 points his senior year.