Lou Brock
Hall of Fame left fielder who began his career with the Chicago Cubs and set stolen base records with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Louis Clark Brock (June 18, 1939 – September 6, 2020) was an American professional baseball left fielder. He began his 19-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the 1961 Chicago Cubs but spent most of it as a left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. An All-Star for six seasons, Brock was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985 in his first year of eligibility and was inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014.
- character
- Rival Legend & Speed Demon
- primary_position
- Leadoff Hitter / Center Fielder
- status
- Retired Hall of Famer
- key_trait
- Unmatched baserunning speed and contact hitting
Lore & Background
Brock made his major league debut with the Cubs on September 10, 1961. In his rookie season of 1962, he hit a home run into the center-field bleachers at the Polo Grounds. He was traded to the Cardinals in a mid-season 1964 deal for pitcher Ernie Broglio, a trade later considered one of the most lopsided in baseball history. Brock helped the Cardinals win the 1964 World Series and later the 1967 World Series, setting a World Series record with seven stolen bases in each of those series. He led the National League in stolen bases eight times and set then-major league records for most steals in a single season and in a career. He finished with a .293 career batting average and was a member of the 3,000-hit club.
In Their Own Story
The humid air of July hung heavy over Wrigley Field as Lou Brock stepped into the batter's box, his eyes locked on the pitcher's mound. The crowd was a sea of blue and red, but the tension in the center field grass was palpable. He took a sharp lead, his cleats digging into the dirt, ready to spring at the slightest hesitation. As the Cubs pitcher wound up, Brock exploded toward second base, a blur of motion that left the shortstop scrambling and the crowd gasping. In that split second, the rivalry wasn't just about runs; it was a battle of wills where speed was the ultimate weapon.
Reader's Guide
Brock is best known for his base-stealing prowess. He pioneered the 'rolling start' in 1972. He led the NL in stolen bases eight times within a nine-year span between 1966 and 1974. He also led the NL in doubles and triples in 1968, and in singles in 1972. In 1974, he was the runner-up for the NL Most Valuable Player Award. After retiring, he served as a special instructor coach for the Cardinals.
Did You Know?
- Brock was not known as a power hitter, though he aspired to be one.
- He became the first player in MLB history to steal 50 bases and hit 20 home runs in the same season.
- Brock's .464 batting average in the 1968 World Series was the highest in that series.
- He was named NL Player of the Month three times in his career.
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