Lou Brock
Encyclopedia
Louis Clark "Lou" Brock (born June 18, 1939) is an American former professional
baseball
player. He began his Major League Baseball
career with the Chicago Cubs
but, spent the majority of his career as the left fielder
for the St. Louis Cardinals
. Brock was best known for breaking Ty Cobb
's all-time major league stolen base
record. He is currently a special instructor coach
for the St. Louis Cardinals. Brock was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985
.
to a family of sharecroppers
. His family moved to Collinston, Louisiana
when he was two years old. While his family didn't have much money, he said that he never felt poor because,"If you don't have something, you don't miss it." Brock grew up as a fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers
, the team that included Jackie Robinson
, Don Newcombe
and Roy Campanella
. Although he didn't play in organized baseball until he reached the 11th grade, he learned much about the sport from listening to Cardinals radio broadcaster Harry Caray
describe the way major league hitters stood at the plate. After attending high school in Mer Rouge, Louisiana
, he received academic assistance to attend Southern University
in Baton Rouge
but, when a low grade in his first semester meant the possibility of losing his scholarship, he decided to try out for the school's baseball team in order to secure an athletic scholarship.
in his first year of college baseball but, improved the following year to hit for a .500 average. Southern University won the NAIA
baseball championship during his junior year and, Brock was selected for the United States baseball team in the 1959 Pan American Games
. When Brock decided to try for a professional baseball career, he traveled to St. Louis to try out for the Cardinals but, the scout who had recommended him was in Seattle to sign Ray Washburn
. He then decided to try out for the Chicago Cubs who signed him as an amateur free agent
in . Assigned to play for the St. Cloud Rox
, Brock won the 1961 Northern League batting championship with a .361 batting average. It would be his only season in minor league baseball
as the Cubs decided to promote him to the major leagues.
at the age of 21. In his rookie season of 1962
, Brock became one of four players to hit a home run
into the center-field bleachers at the old Polo Grounds
in New York since its reconstruction. His blast came against Al Jackson
in the second game of a June 17 doubleheader
against the New York Mets
in the first of back-to-back games with a center-field home run, Hank Aaron accomplishing the feat the very next day. Joe Adcock
was the first to hit a ball over that wall, in . Babe Ruth
reached the old bleachers (a comparable distance) before the reconstruction. He was not known as a power hitter, but he did display significant power from time to time.
Brock was blessed with great speed and baserunning
instincts, but the young right fielder failed to impress the Cubs management, hitting for only a combined .260 average over his first two seasons. In 1964
after losing patience with his development, the Cubs gave up on Brock and made him part of a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals
. The June 15 deadline deal for pitcher Ernie Broglio
saw Brock, Jack Spring
and Paul Toth head to St. Louis for Broglio, Bobby Shantz
, and Doug Clemens
. Cardinals general manager Bing Devine
, specifically sought Brock at the insistence of Cardinals' manager Johnny Keane
to increase team speed and solidify the Cardinals' lineup, struggling after the retirement of left fielder Stan Musial
in 1963
. At the time, many thought the deal was a heist for the Cubs. Broglio had led the National League in wins four years earlier, and had won 18 games the season before the trade.
season. At the time of the trade, the Cardinals were 28–31, in eighth place in the National League
, trailing even the Cubs, who were 27–27 and in sixth place. Brock helped the Cardinals storm from behind to capture the National League pennant
on the last day of the season. Four months to the day after Brock's trade, the Cardinals would win the 1964 World Series
in seven games over the favored New York Yankees
, who were appearing in their fourteenth World Series in sixteen years (and their last until a dozen years later). Brock's contributions to the Cardinals' championship season were recognized when he finished in tenth place in voting for the National League Most Valuable Player Award. Meanwhile, Broglio won only seven games for the Chicago Cubs before retiring from baseball after the season. To this day, the trade of Brock for Broglio
is considered one of the most lopsided deals in baseball history.
In 1966
, Brock ended Maury Wills
' six-year reign as the National League's stolen base champion with 76 steals. In David Halberstam
's book, October 1964, the author states that manager Johnny Keane asked Brock to forgo hitting home runs in favor of the stealing bases. Brock went on to lead the National League in stolen bases eight times within a nine year span between and (former teammate Bobby Tolan
led the league in steals in ). Brock began the 1967
season by hitting 5 home runs in the first four games of the season, becoming the first player to do so. He was hitting for a .328 average by mid-June to earn the role as the starting left fielder for the National League in the 1967 All-Star Game
. After suffering through a mid-season slump, he recovered to finish the season with a career-high 206 hits
and a .299 batting average while leading the league in stolen bases and runs
scored as the Cardinals won the National League pennant by ten and a half games. Brock became the first player to steal 50 bases and hit 20 home runs in the same season. In the 1967 World Series
, Brock hit for a .414 average and set a World Series record with seven stolen bases as the Cardinals defeated the Boston Red Sox
in seven games.
The Cardinals won the National League pennant for a second consecutive year in 1968
as Brock once again led the league in stolen bases as well as in doubles
and triples
. In the 1968 World Series
against the Detroit Tigers
, the Tigers rallied from being down three games to one behind the excellent pitching of Mickey Lolich
to win the series in seven games. Brock once again stole seven bases and was the leading hitter in the series, posting a .464 batting average with 6 runs and 5 runs batted in.
At the end of the 1960s, Brock's career was entering its prime. Beginning in 1969
, he produced six consecutive seasons with 190 hits or better. In August 1973
, he broke a record set by Ty Cobb when he stole his 50th base of the season, marking the ninth time he had stolen 50 or more bases in a season. In August 1974
, Brock broke Maury Wills' single-season stolen base record of 104. He ended the season with a new major league single-season record of 118 stolen bases. Brock finished second to Steve Garvey
in the balloting for the National League Most Valuable Player Award.
In a game against the San Diego Padres on August 29, 1977
at Busch Memorial Stadium
in St. Louis, Brock became the all-time major league stolen base leader when he broke Ty Cobb's career record of 892 stolen bases. The record had been one of the most durable in baseball history and like Babe Ruth's record of 714 career home runs, had been considered unbreakable by some observers.
Brock remained best known for base-stealing and starting Cardinals rallies. He was said to have disdained Maury Wills' method of base-stealing, instead shortening his leads and going hard. He was also an early student of game films. He used an 8 mm movie camera from the dugout to film opposing pitchers and study their windups
and pickoff
moves to detect weaknesses he could exploit.
Brock fell into a hitting slump
early in the 1978
season and lost the left fielder's job however, he fought back during spring training
in 1979
with a .345 batting average to regain his starting job. Brock was named Player of the Month for the month of May 1979, during which he produced a .433 batting average.
On August 13, 1979, Brock became the fourteenth player in Major League Baseball history to reach the 3,000 hits plateau against the team that traded him, the Chicago Cubs. Approximately one month later, Carl Yastrzemski
reached the same plateau and was promptly invited to the White House
by Massachusetts Congressman Tip O'Neill
. Brock was reported to have felt slighted that he hadn't received a similar invitation. Brock originally stated that he wouldn't go to the White House even if he was invited however, after consideration he decided that forgiveness was the best course and accepted a belated invitation to meet with the President. Brock retired at the end of the season, having posted a .304 batting average in his last season at the age of 40.
, accumulating 3,023 hits
in 10,332 at bats for a .293 career batting average along with 149 home runs, 900 runs batted in and a .343 on base percentage
. A six-time All-Star, Brock hit over .300 eight times during his career. He ended his career with a .959 career fielding percentage
.
Brock held the single-season stolen base record with 118 until it was broken by Rickey Henderson
in . He also held the major league record for career stolen base
s with 938 until it was also broken by Henderson in . He led the National League in stolen bases for a record eight times and also had a record twelve consecutive seasons with 50 or more stolen bases. Brock is still the National League's leader in career stolen bases.
Brock's .391 World Series batting average is the highest for anyone who played over 20 series games. His 14 stolen bases in World Series play are also a series record. Brock's 13 hits in the 1968 World Series are a single-series record.
In a unique (if incidental) accomplishment, Brock was the first player ever to bat in a major league regular season game in Canada. He led off the April 14, 1969 game against the Montreal Expos
at Jarry Park
by lining out to second baseman Gary Sutherland
.
as the outstanding player in the 1967 World Series. Brock was honored with The Sporting News Player of the Year Award
in . In the wake of his record setting 118 stolen bases during the 1974 season, Brock was named the winner of the Roberto Clemente Award
in March , for best exemplefying the game of baseball both on and off the field. In he was awarded the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award
as the player who best exemplefied Lou Gehrig's ability and character. In , the National League announced that its annual stolen base leader would receive the Lou Brock Award, making Brock the first active player to have an award named after him.
In October , Brock was named the National League's Comeback Player of the Year. In December 1979, he was named as the recipient of the Hutch Award
, given to the player who best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire of Fred Hutchinson
. Also in 1979, the St. Louis Cardinals retired Brock's jersey number 20, an honor that had previously been bestowed upon only three other Cardinals players; Stan Musial
, Dizzy Dean
and Bob Gibson
. In he was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame
.
Brock was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in , his first year of eligibility. He was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
in . Brock was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame
in May and, in he was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. In , he was ranked Number 58 on The Sporting News
list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was nominated as a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team
.
After retiring from baseball, Brock prospered as a businessman, especially as a florist in the St. Louis, Missouri
area. In 1980 he briefly worked as a color analyst for Monday Night Baseball
telecasts on ABC. Brock still regularly appears at Cardinals games. When he steps onto the field he is always greeted by a loud, low-pitched cheer of "Loooouuuuuuuuuuuu". This may sound like "Boooo" to those unfamiliar with the team, and the town's love for Brock. He also lent his name to a unique rainhat, shaped like a miniature umbrella and to be worn at games during showers in lieu of retreating to the concourse. The product was called the "Brockabrella".
Brock and his wife are both ordained ministers serving at Abundant Life Fellowship Church in St. Louis and, he is a director on the board of YTB International. Brock's speed was referenced in the song Check the Rhime
by the pioneering "jazz rap
" hip-hop ensemble A Tribe Called Quest
. On December 5, he was recognized for his accomplishments on and off of the field when he received the Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation
Lifetime Achievement Award. Brock is the father of former University of Southern California Trojan and National Football League
player Lou Brock Jr.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. He began his Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
career with the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
but, spent the majority of his career as the left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
for the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. Brock was best known for breaking Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
's all-time major league stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
record. He is currently a special instructor coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
for the St. Louis Cardinals. Brock was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985
Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1985
Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 1985 followed the system in place since 1978.The Baseball Writers Association of America voted by mail to select from recent major league players andelected two, Lou Brock and Hoyt Wilhelm....
.
Early life
Brock was born in El Dorado, ArkansasEl Dorado, Arkansas
El Dorado , a multi-cultural arts center: South Arkansas Arts Center , an award-winning renovated downtown, and numerous sporting, shopping, and dining opportunities. El Dorado is the population, cultural, and business center of the 7,300 mi² regional area...
to a family of sharecroppers
Sharecropping
Sharecropping is a system of agriculture in which a landowner allows a tenant to use the land in return for a share of the crop produced on the land . This should not be confused with a crop fixed rent contract, in which a landowner allows a tenant to use the land in return for a fixed amount of...
. His family moved to Collinston, Louisiana
Collinston, Louisiana
Collinston is a village in Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 327 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bastrop Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Collinston is located at ....
when he was two years old. While his family didn't have much money, he said that he never felt poor because,"If you don't have something, you don't miss it." Brock grew up as a fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, the team that included Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson
Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
, Don Newcombe
Don Newcombe
Donald Newcombe , nicknamed "Newk", is an American former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher who played for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers , Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians .Until 2011 when Detroit Tigers Pitcher Justin Verlander did it, Newcombe was the only baseball...
and Roy Campanella
Roy Campanella
Roy Campanella , nicknamed "Campy", was an American baseball player, primarily at the position of catcher, in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball...
. Although he didn't play in organized baseball until he reached the 11th grade, he learned much about the sport from listening to Cardinals radio broadcaster Harry Caray
Harry Caray
Harry Caray, born Harry Christopher Carabina, was an American baseball broadcaster on radio and television. He covered four Major League Baseball teams, beginning with a long tenure calling the games of the St...
describe the way major league hitters stood at the plate. After attending high school in Mer Rouge, Louisiana
Mer Rouge, Louisiana
Mer Rouge is a village in Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, United States. The name is French for "Red Sea". The population was 721 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bastrop Micropolitan Statistical Area....
, he received academic assistance to attend Southern University
Southern University
Southern University and A&M College is a historically black college located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Baton Rouge campus is located on Scott’s Bluff overlooking the Mississippi River in the northern section...
in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
but, when a low grade in his first semester meant the possibility of losing his scholarship, he decided to try out for the school's baseball team in order to secure an athletic scholarship.
College and the minor leagues
Brock hit for a .189 batting averageBatting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
in his first year of college baseball but, improved the following year to hit for a .500 average. Southern University won the NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
baseball championship during his junior year and, Brock was selected for the United States baseball team in the 1959 Pan American Games
1959 Pan American Games
The 3rd Pan American Games opened on August 27, 1959 in sunny 90°F heat before 40,000 people in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The first Pan American Games held in North America, they were originally scheduled for Cleveland, Ohio, but the U.S. Congress’s decision to cut $5,000,000 in federal...
. When Brock decided to try for a professional baseball career, he traveled to St. Louis to try out for the Cardinals but, the scout who had recommended him was in Seattle to sign Ray Washburn
Ray Washburn
Ray Clark Washburn is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Washburn, a right-hander, pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals from to and the Cincinnati Reds in ....
. He then decided to try out for the Chicago Cubs who signed him as an amateur free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in . Assigned to play for the St. Cloud Rox
St. Cloud Rox
The St. Cloud Rox were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1946 to 1971. Located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, the team played in the Northern League and was affiliated with the New York Giants from 1946 to 1957, the San Francisco Giants from 1958 to 1959, the Chicago Cubs from 1960 to 1964...
, Brock won the 1961 Northern League batting championship with a .361 batting average. It would be his only season in minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
as the Cubs decided to promote him to the major leagues.
Chicago Cubs
Brock made his major league debut with the Cubs on September 10, 19611961 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs season was a season in American baseball. The team finished seventh in the National League with a record of 64-90, 29 games behind the Cincinnati Reds.- The College of Coaches :...
at the age of 21. In his rookie season of 1962
1962 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* October 10, 1961: 1961 MLB expansion draft**Don Zimmer was drafted from the Cubs by the New York Mets.**Ed Bouchee was drafted from the Cubs by the New York Mets.* Prior to 1962 season: J. C...
, Brock became one of four players to hit a home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
into the center-field bleachers at the old Polo Grounds
Polo Grounds
The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used by many professional teams in both baseball and American football from 1880 until 1963...
in New York since its reconstruction. His blast came against Al Jackson
Al Jackson
Al Jackson, Jr. was a drummer, producer, and songwriter. He is best known as a founding member of Booker T. & the M.G.s, a group of session musicians who worked for Stax Records and produced their own instrumentals...
in the second game of a June 17 doubleheader
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
against the New York Mets
1962 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the first regular season for the Mets, as the National League returned to New York for the first time since . They went 40-120 and finished tenth and last in the National League, games behind the NL Champion San Francisco Giants, who once called New York home...
in the first of back-to-back games with a center-field home run, Hank Aaron accomplishing the feat the very next day. Joe Adcock
Joe Adcock
Joseph Wilbur "Billy Joe" Adcock was an American first baseman and right-handed batter in Major League Baseball, best known for his years with the powerful Milwaukee Braves teams of the 1950s, whose career included numerous home run feats...
was the first to hit a ball over that wall, in . Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
reached the old bleachers (a comparable distance) before the reconstruction. He was not known as a power hitter, but he did display significant power from time to time.
Brock was blessed with great speed and baserunning
Baserunning
In baseball, baserunning is the act of running around the bases performed by members of the team at bat.In general, baserunning is a tactical part of the game with the goal of eventually reaching home to score a run. In fact, the goal of batting is generally to produce baserunners, or help move...
instincts, but the young right fielder failed to impress the Cubs management, hitting for only a combined .260 average over his first two seasons. In 1964
1964 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs finished in eighth place in the National League, as they went 76-86, 17 games behind the NL and World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals.- Offseason :...
after losing patience with his development, the Cubs gave up on Brock and made him part of a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. The June 15 deadline deal for pitcher Ernie Broglio
Ernie Broglio
Ernest Gilbert Broglio is a former right-handed pitcher in American Major League Baseball from 1959-66. Broglio signed with the independent Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League after he attended West Contra Costa Junior College. He was acquired by the New York Giants in 1956...
saw Brock, Jack Spring
Jack Spring
Jack Russell Spring is an American former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. The , left-hander played for the Philadelphia Phillies , Boston Red Sox , Washington Senators , Los Angeles Angels , Chicago Cubs , St...
and Paul Toth head to St. Louis for Broglio, Bobby Shantz
Bobby Shantz
Robert Clayton Shantz was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics , Kansas City Athletics , New York Yankees , Pittsburgh Pirates , Houston Colt .45's , St...
, and Doug Clemens
Doug Clemens
Douglas Horace Clemens , is a professional baseball player who played outfielder in the Major Leagues from 1960-1968. He played for the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals.-External links:...
. Cardinals general manager Bing Devine
Bing Devine
Vaughan Pallmore "Bing" Devine was an American front office executive in Major League Baseball. In the prime of his career, as a general manager, the executive who is responsible for all baseball operations, Devine was a major architect of four National League champions and three World Series...
, specifically sought Brock at the insistence of Cardinals' manager Johnny Keane
Johnny Keane
John Joseph Keane was an American manager in Major League Baseball. Born in St. Louis, Missouri and known as a patient manager of young players, Keane participated in one of the strangest turns of events in baseball history in , his final season at the helm of the St...
to increase team speed and solidify the Cardinals' lineup, struggling after the retirement of left fielder Stan Musial
Stan Musial
Stanley Frank "Stan" Musial is a retired professional baseball player who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals . Nicknamed "Stan the Man", Musial was a record 24-time All-Star selection , and is widely considered to be one of the greatest hitters in baseball...
in 1963
1963 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 82nd season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 72nd season in the National League. The Cardinals went 93-69 during the season, and finished 2nd in the National League, six games behind the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers...
. At the time, many thought the deal was a heist for the Cubs. Broglio had led the National League in wins four years earlier, and had won 18 games the season before the trade.
St. Louis Cardinals
After Brock was traded to the Cardinals, his career turned around significantly. He moved to left field and batted .348 and stole 38 bases for the remainder of the 19641964 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 83rd season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 73rd season in the National League. The Cardinals went 93-69 during the season and finished first in the National League, edging the co-runner-ups Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies by one game each on...
season. At the time of the trade, the Cardinals were 28–31, in eighth place in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
, trailing even the Cubs, who were 27–27 and in sixth place. Brock helped the Cardinals storm from behind to capture the National League pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
on the last day of the season. Four months to the day after Brock's trade, the Cardinals would win the 1964 World Series
1964 World Series
The 1964 World Series pitted the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals against the American League champion New York Yankees, with the Cardinals prevailing in seven games. St...
in seven games over the favored New York Yankees
1964 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the 62nd season for the Yankees. The team finished with a record of 99-63, winning their 29th pennant, finishing 1 game ahead of the Chicago White Sox. New York was managed by Yogi Berra. The Yankees played at Yankee Stadium. In the World Series, they were defeated...
, who were appearing in their fourteenth World Series in sixteen years (and their last until a dozen years later). Brock's contributions to the Cardinals' championship season were recognized when he finished in tenth place in voting for the National League Most Valuable Player Award. Meanwhile, Broglio won only seven games for the Chicago Cubs before retiring from baseball after the season. To this day, the trade of Brock for Broglio
Brock for Broglio
The phrase Brock for Broglio is sometimes used in the sport of baseball to signify a trade that in hindsight, turns out to be a ridicuously lopsided transaction....
is considered one of the most lopsided deals in baseball history.
1966 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 85th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 75th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 83-79 during the season and finished sixth in the National League, 12 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers....
, Brock ended Maury Wills
Maury Wills
Maurice Morning "Maury" Wills is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and switch-hitting batter who played most prominently with the Los Angeles Dodgers , and also with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Montreal Expos...
' six-year reign as the National League's stolen base champion with 76 steals. In David Halberstam
David Halberstam
David Halberstam was an American Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author and historian, known for his early work on the Vietnam War, his work on politics, history, the Civil Rights Movement, business, media, American culture, and his later sports journalism.-Early life and education:Halberstam...
's book, October 1964, the author states that manager Johnny Keane asked Brock to forgo hitting home runs in favor of the stealing bases. Brock went on to lead the National League in stolen bases eight times within a nine year span between and (former teammate Bobby Tolan
Bobby Tolan
Robert Tolan is a former center and right fielder in Major League Baseball. Tolan, who batted and threw left-handed, played for the St. Louis Cardinals , Cincinnati Reds , San Diego Padres , Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates...
led the league in steals in ). Brock began the 1967
1967 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 86th season in St. Louis, Missouri, its 76th season in the National League, and its first full season at Busch Memorial Stadium. The Cardinals went 101-60 during the season and won the NL pennant by 10½ games over the San Francisco Giants...
season by hitting 5 home runs in the first four games of the season, becoming the first player to do so. He was hitting for a .328 average by mid-June to earn the role as the starting left fielder for the National League in the 1967 All-Star Game
1967 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1967 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 38th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on July 11, 1967 at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California. The game resulted...
. After suffering through a mid-season slump, he recovered to finish the season with a career-high 206 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
and a .299 batting average while leading the league in stolen bases and runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
scored as the Cardinals won the National League pennant by ten and a half games. Brock became the first player to steal 50 bases and hit 20 home runs in the same season. In the 1967 World Series
1967 World Series
The 1967 World Series matched the St. Louis Cardinals against the Boston Red Sox in a rematch of the 1946 World Series, with the Cardinals winning in seven games for their second championship in four years and their eighth overall...
, Brock hit for a .414 average and set a World Series record with seven stolen bases as the Cardinals defeated the Boston Red Sox
1967 Boston Red Sox season
The Boston Red Sox season, often referred to as The Impossible Dream, consisted of the Red Sox shocking New England and the rest of the baseball world by winning the American League Championship and reaching the World Series for the first time since 1946...
in seven games.
The Cardinals won the National League pennant for a second consecutive year in 1968
1968 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 87th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 77th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 97-65 during the season, winning their second consecutive NL pennant, this time by nine games over the San Francisco Giants. They lost in 7 games to the...
as Brock once again led the league in stolen bases as well as in doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
. In the 1968 World Series
1968 World Series
The 1968 World Series featured the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers, with the Tigers winning in seven games for their first championship since 1945, and the third in their history...
against the Detroit Tigers
1968 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers won the 1968 World Series, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 4 games to 3. The 1968 baseball season, known as the "Year of the Pitcher," was the Tigers' 68th since they entered the American League in 1901, their eighth pennant, and third World Series championship...
, the Tigers rallied from being down three games to one behind the excellent pitching of Mickey Lolich
Mickey Lolich
Michael Stephen Lolich is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1962 until 1979 who played the majority of his career with the Detroit Tigers.-Baseball career:...
to win the series in seven games. Brock once again stole seven bases and was the leading hitter in the series, posting a .464 batting average with 6 runs and 5 runs batted in.
At the end of the 1960s, Brock's career was entering its prime. Beginning in 1969
1969 St. Louis Cardinals season
The 1969 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 88th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 78th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 87-75 during the season and finished fourth in the newly-established National League East, 13 games behind the eventual NL pennant and World Series...
, he produced six consecutive seasons with 190 hits or better. In August 1973
1973 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 92nd season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 82nd season in the National League. The Cardinals went 81-81 during the season and finished second in the National League East, a-game-and-a-half behind the NL East and eventual NL pennant winners New York...
, he broke a record set by Ty Cobb when he stole his 50th base of the season, marking the ninth time he had stolen 50 or more bases in a season. In August 1974
1974 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 93rd season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 83rd season in the National League. The Cardinals went 86-75 during the season and finished second in the National League East, a game and-a-half behind the Pittsburgh Pirates.-Offseason:* October 26, 1973:...
, Brock broke Maury Wills' single-season stolen base record of 104. He ended the season with a new major league single-season record of 118 stolen bases. Brock finished second to Steve Garvey
Steve Garvey
Steven Patrick Garvey , nicknamed "Mr. Clean" because of the squeaky clean image he held throughout his career in baseball, is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and current Southern California businessman...
in the balloting for the National League Most Valuable Player Award.
In a game against the San Diego Padres on August 29, 1977
1977 St. Louis Cardinals season
The 1977 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 96th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 86th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 83-79 during the season and finished third in the National League East, 18 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies.Vern Rapp took over as the...
at Busch Memorial Stadium
Busch Memorial Stadium
Busch Memorial Stadium, also known as Busch Stadium, was a multi-purpose sports facility in St. Louis, Missouri that operated from 1966 to 2005....
in St. Louis, Brock became the all-time major league stolen base leader when he broke Ty Cobb's career record of 892 stolen bases. The record had been one of the most durable in baseball history and like Babe Ruth's record of 714 career home runs, had been considered unbreakable by some observers.
Brock remained best known for base-stealing and starting Cardinals rallies. He was said to have disdained Maury Wills' method of base-stealing, instead shortening his leads and going hard. He was also an early student of game films. He used an 8 mm movie camera from the dugout to film opposing pitchers and study their windups
Pitching position
In baseball, there are two legal pitching positions: the windup, and the set. Each type of pitching position has its strengths and weaknesses. Compared to the set, the windup takes a relatively slower execution, so therefore is better suited for situations in which there are no baserunners, or when...
and pickoff
Pickoff
In baseball, a pickoff is an act by a pitcher or a catcher, throwing a live ball to a fielder so that the fielder can tag out a baserunner who is either leading off or about to begin stealing the next base....
moves to detect weaknesses he could exploit.
Brock fell into a hitting slump
Slump (sports)
In sports, a slump is a period of time when player or team is not performing well or up to expectations. It is pretty much a dry spell or drought, though it is often misused to define a player's decline that is natural during their career....
early in the 1978
1978 St. Louis Cardinals season
The 1978 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 97th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 87th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 69-93 during the season and finished fifth in the National League East, 21 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies.- Offseason :* October 25, 1977:...
season and lost the left fielder's job however, he fought back during spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in 1979
1979 St. Louis Cardinals season
The 1979 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 98th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 88th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 86-76 during the season and finished third in the National League East, 12 games behind the eventual NL pennant and World Series champion Pittsburgh...
with a .345 batting average to regain his starting job. Brock was named Player of the Month for the month of May 1979, during which he produced a .433 batting average.
On August 13, 1979, Brock became the fourteenth player in Major League Baseball history to reach the 3,000 hits plateau against the team that traded him, the Chicago Cubs. Approximately one month later, Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Michael Yastrzemski is a former American Major League Baseball left fielder and first baseman. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. Yastrzemski played his entire 23-year baseball career with the Boston Red Sox . He was primarily a left fielder, with part of his later career...
reached the same plateau and was promptly invited to the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
by Massachusetts Congressman Tip O'Neill
Tip O'Neill
Thomas Phillip "Tip" O'Neill, Jr. was an American politician. O'Neill was an outspoken liberal Democrat and influential member of the U.S. Congress, serving in the House of Representatives for 34 years and representing two congressional districts in Massachusetts...
. Brock was reported to have felt slighted that he hadn't received a similar invitation. Brock originally stated that he wouldn't go to the White House even if he was invited however, after consideration he decided that forgiveness was the best course and accepted a belated invitation to meet with the President. Brock retired at the end of the season, having posted a .304 batting average in his last season at the age of 40.
Career statistics
In a nineteen-year career, Brock played in 2,616 gamesGames played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, accumulating 3,023 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 10,332 at bats for a .293 career batting average along with 149 home runs, 900 runs batted in and a .343 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
. A six-time All-Star, Brock hit over .300 eight times during his career. He ended his career with a .959 career fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
.
Brock held the single-season stolen base record with 118 until it was broken by Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henley Henderson is a former Major League Baseball left fielder who played for nine teams from 1979 to 2003, including four stints with his original team, the Oakland Athletics. Nicknamed The Man of Steal, he is widely regarded as the sport's greatest leadoff hitter and baserunner...
in . He also held the major league record for career stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s with 938 until it was also broken by Henderson in . He led the National League in stolen bases for a record eight times and also had a record twelve consecutive seasons with 50 or more stolen bases. Brock is still the National League's leader in career stolen bases.
Brock's .391 World Series batting average is the highest for anyone who played over 20 series games. His 14 stolen bases in World Series play are also a series record. Brock's 13 hits in the 1968 World Series are a single-series record.
In a unique (if incidental) accomplishment, Brock was the first player ever to bat in a major league regular season game in Canada. He led off the April 14, 1969 game against the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
at Jarry Park
Jarry Park Stadium
Jarry Park Stadium is a former baseball stadium in Montreal which served as home to the Montreal Expos, Major League Baseball's first Canadian franchise, from 1969–1976. It served as a temporary home until the domed Olympic Stadium was finished and made available to the Expos...
by lining out to second baseman Gary Sutherland
Gary Sutherland
Gary Lynn Sutherland was a Major League Second Baseman and Shortstop for 13 seasons from 1966-1978....
.
Awards, honors and life after baseball
Brock received numerous awards during his playing career. In January he was named the recipient of the Babe Ruth AwardBabe Ruth Award
The Babe Ruth Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball player with the best performance in the postseason. The award, created by the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America in honor of Babe Ruth, was first awarded in 1949 to the MVP of the World Series, one...
as the outstanding player in the 1967 World Series. Brock was honored with The Sporting News Player of the Year Award
The Sporting News Player of the Year Award
This is a list of the Major League Baseball players chosen by The Sporting News since 1936 as recipients of the TSN Player of the Year Award. Until 1969, it was the only major award given to a single player from MLB, rather than to a player in each league. In 1969, Baseball Digest began its Player...
in . In the wake of his record setting 118 stolen bases during the 1974 season, Brock was named the winner of the Roberto Clemente Award
Roberto Clemente Award
The Roberto Clemente Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball player who "best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team", as voted on by baseball fans and members of the media. It is named for Hall of Fame...
in March , for best exemplefying the game of baseball both on and off the field. In he was awarded the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award
Lou Gehrig Memorial Award
The Lou Gehrig Memorial Award was created by the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity in honor of the former Major League Baseball player Lou Gehrig, who was a member of the fraternity at Columbia University. It is given to players who best exemplify his character and integrity both on and off the field...
as the player who best exemplefied Lou Gehrig's ability and character. In , the National League announced that its annual stolen base leader would receive the Lou Brock Award, making Brock the first active player to have an award named after him.
In October , Brock was named the National League's Comeback Player of the Year. In December 1979, he was named as the recipient of the Hutch Award
Hutch Award
The Hutch Award is given annually to an active Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire of Fred Hutchinson...
, given to the player who best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire of Fred Hutchinson
Fred Hutchinson
Frederick Charles Hutchinson was an American professional baseball player, a major league pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. He also was a manager for three major league teams...
. Also in 1979, the St. Louis Cardinals retired Brock's jersey number 20, an honor that had previously been bestowed upon only three other Cardinals players; Stan Musial
Stan Musial
Stanley Frank "Stan" Musial is a retired professional baseball player who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals . Nicknamed "Stan the Man", Musial was a record 24-time All-Star selection , and is widely considered to be one of the greatest hitters in baseball...
, Dizzy Dean
Dizzy Dean
Jay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the last National League pitcher to win 30 games in one season. Dean was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953....
and Bob Gibson
Bob Gibson
Robert "Bob" Gibson is a retired American professional baseball player. Nicknamed "Hoot" and "Gibby", he was a right-handed pitcher who played his entire 17-year Major League Baseball career with St. Louis Cardinals...
. In he was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame
Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame
-Inductees:Official Hall of Fame Portraits created by Chris Brown 2009–present-External links:* website...
.
Brock was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in , his first year of eligibility. He was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in Springfield, Missouri, USA, showcases sports memorabilia of Missouri athletes and interactive displays.-Inductees:-External links:*...
in . Brock was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame
St. Louis Walk of Fame
The St. Louis Walk of Fame honors well-known people from St. Louis, Missouri, who made contributions to culture of the United States. All inductees were either born in the Greater St. Louis area or spent their formative or creative years there...
in May and, in he was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. In , he was ranked Number 58 on The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was nominated as a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team
Major League Baseball All-Century Team
In 1999, the Major League Baseball All-Century Team was chosen by popular vote of fans. To select the team, a panel of experts first compiled a list of the 100 greatest Major League Baseball players from the past century...
.
After retiring from baseball, Brock prospered as a businessman, especially as a florist in the St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
area. In 1980 he briefly worked as a color analyst for Monday Night Baseball
Monday Night Baseball
Monday Night Baseball is a live game telecast of Major League Baseball that airs most Monday nights during the regular season on ESPN and is also available in high definition on ESPNHD. The official name of the game is Monday Night Baseball presented by Vonage. The game starts at 7 p.m...
telecasts on ABC. Brock still regularly appears at Cardinals games. When he steps onto the field he is always greeted by a loud, low-pitched cheer of "Loooouuuuuuuuuuuu". This may sound like "Boooo" to those unfamiliar with the team, and the town's love for Brock. He also lent his name to a unique rainhat, shaped like a miniature umbrella and to be worn at games during showers in lieu of retreating to the concourse. The product was called the "Brockabrella".
Brock and his wife are both ordained ministers serving at Abundant Life Fellowship Church in St. Louis and, he is a director on the board of YTB International. Brock's speed was referenced in the song Check the Rhime
Check the Rhime
"Check the Rhime" was the first single from A Tribe Called Quest's second album The Low End Theory. It is one of the group's most famous songs and is well known for lines such as Q-Tip's "Industry rule #4,080: Record company people are shady". The Beastie Boys have a similar lyric in their song "In...
by the pioneering "jazz rap
Jazz rap
Jazz rap is a sub-genre of hip hop which incorporates jazz influences, developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The lyrics are often based on political consciousness, Afrocentricity, and general positivism...
" hip-hop ensemble A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest is an American hip hop group, formed in 1985, and is composed of rapper/producer Q-Tip , rapper Phife Dawg , and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A fourth member, rapper Jarobi White, left the group after their first album but rejoined in 2006...
. On December 5, he was recognized for his accomplishments on and off of the field when he received the Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation
Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation
The Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation was created by Bobby Bragan, who has worked since 1992 to motivate the youth of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to become better scholars, citizens, and athletes, and to serve as leaders and role models for their peers....
Lifetime Achievement Award. Brock is the father of former University of Southern California Trojan and National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
player Lou Brock Jr.
Lou Brock Jr.
Louis Clark Brock, Jr. is a former American football cornerback/safety in the NFL.-Professional career:He played for the San Diego Chargers, Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks in his brief career...
See also
- 3,000 hit club
- List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles
- List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
- Hitting for the cycleHitting for the cycleIn baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- List of Major League Baseball stolen base records
- List of Major League Baseball runs scored champions
- List of Major League Baseball stolen base champions
- List of Major League Baseball doubles champions
- List of Major League Baseball triples champions
- Major League Baseball titles leadersMajor League Baseball titles leadersAt the end of each Major League Baseball season, the league leaders of various statistical categories are announced. Leading the league in a particular category is referred to as a title....