That's so '80s: Listen to former pitcher Terry Forster's 1985 hit single 'Fat is In'

Listen to Terry Forster's hit single 'Fat is In'

By Michael Clair

January 17, 2015

Former Major League pitcher Terry Forster was always, well, how should we put this, a man who cast a very large shadow. And though he had a fine Major League career, posting a 3.23 ERA with 127 saves in 16 seasons, he reached national prominence in 1985 when David Letterman called him a "tub of goo."

And though that night's broadcast has apparently been lost to the sands of time, we do have footage of Letterman's half-apology the next night.

Though Forster was upset at first, he learned to embrace the role. He soon appeared on Letterman with his pockets loaded with candy and soda before showing the at-home audience how to make tacos. (This was apparently a dark age in American history when tacos were a seemingly exotic food. How glad I am that this is no longer the case):

Said Forster about going on the show:

"When that music starts, though, you're thinking, 'Geez, what the hell am I doing here?' You know how I felt? Just like right before my first arm operation. It's the unexpected. You have no idea what the results will be. But I had a pretty good game plan if he wanted to go insult for insult.

It was fun. But hey, it was a choice between spending my off-day doing this or going home and pulling up weeds and picking up dog poo-poo."

Afterwards, with fame beckoning, Forster really leaned into the role. And since it was the '80s, a time when every athlete had to produce an album (personal favorite: the 1986 Mets with "Get Metsmerized"), Forster released a novelty EP titled "Fat is In." It featured a lead single of the same name.

Forster barely appears on his very own song. After giving a spoken word intro, Forster occasionally interjects with shouts like "It's good being the big tub of goo." Though I suppose it makes sense -- after all, Forster pitched in relief for his day job, so wouldn't it make sense for Forster do the same on his very own record?

Of course, Forster wasn't just a pitcher and novelty record producer. He was also a pretty decent hitter. The big-boned southpaw hit .397/.413/.474 in 86 career plate appearances. It's the highest career batting average for anyone, be they pitchers or fielders, with over 50 plate appearances. Not too shabby for a "tub of goo."