Career
After graduating from Hargrave High School in Huffman, Texas in 1991, he attended Galveston College and Lewis-Clark State College in Idaho. He began his career in the minor-league system of the San Francisco Giants, but was traded to the Chicago White Sox in 1997 with five other prospects for starting pitchers Wilson Álvarez and Danny Darwin, and top reliever Roberto Hernández in the infamous White Flag Trade.
In 1998, Keith found a home in the White Sox bullpen, primarily serving as set-up man for closers Matt Karchner (who was traded to the Chicago Cubs in the middle of the season) and Bill Simas. In 1999, Foulke established himself as one of the league's best relief pitchers, posting a 2.22 ERA in 105.1 innings of work over 67 games, however, he was still used primarily as a set-up man. His stellar season even netted him a vote for the 1999 AL Cy Young Award.
In 2000, Foulke again was an important piece of the White Sox bullpen, however, Bob Howry entered the season as the team's primary closer, though Foulke was seeing more and more time closing out games, and by April's end he had recorded 4 saves (in 1999, he didn't notch a save until June). As Howry continued to struggle, Foulke inherited the closer's role and flourished, saving 34 games for the White Sox in 2000, and was a major reason the White Sox won the AL Central title.
On December 3, 2002, Foulke, along with catcher Mark Johnson, minor league pitcher Joe Valentine, and cash, was traded by the White Sox to the Oakland Athletics for closer Billy Koch and two minor leaguers. During the 2003 season with the Athletics, Foulke would distinguish himself as a closer, leading the league in saves and games finished, being named to the All-Star team and winning the American League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award. However, it was Foulke who also gave up the game-winning double to David Ortiz in Game 4 of the American League Division Series that year.
Foulke was granted free agency on October 27, 2003, and signed with the Boston Red Sox.
Read more about this topic: Keith Foulke
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