Lou Brock

Hall of Fame left fielder and stolen base pioneer for 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.

Quick Facts

Position: Left fielder
Bats: Left
Born: 18 June 1939
Birthplace: El Dorado, Arkansas, U.S.
Died: 6 September 2020
Place of death: St. Charles, Missouri, U.S.
Debut league: MLB
Debut date: September 10

Lore & Background

Best known for stealing bases, Brock led the National League (NL) in stolen bases in eight seasons, and set then-major league records for most steals in a single season and in a career. A member of the 3,000-hit club, he batted over .300 in full seasons seven times, and had additional full seasons of .297, .298, and .299. He finished his career with a .304 batting average in 436 plate appearances at age 40 in 1979, compiling a .293 career batting average. Brock 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 as a player, he served as a special instructor coach for the Cardinals.

Reader's Guide

Brock was traded from the Chicago Cubs to the St. Louis Cardinals on June 15, 1964. 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. He became the first player in MLB history to steal 50 bases and hit 20 home runs in the same season (1967).

Did You Know?

Brock was born on June 18, 1939, in El Dorado, Arkansas, to a family of sharecroppers.
He grew up as a fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers, a team that included Jackie Robinson, Don Newcombe, and Roy Campanella.
Brock won the 1961 Northern League batting championship with a .361 batting average while playing for the St. Cloud Rox.
In the 1967 World Series, he set a World Series record with seven stolen bases.
Brock pioneered the 'rolling start' for stolen bases in 1972.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Lou Brock?

He was a Hall of Fame outfielder who played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1964 to 1979 after starting with the Chicago Cubs. Known as one of baseball's greatest leadoff hitters, he passed away in September 2020 at age 81.

What happened after his playing career ended?

Following his retirement from active play, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985 for his outstanding contributions to the game. He remained a beloved figure in St. Louis until his death decades later.