R.I.P. Lou Brock

Hall of Fame outfielder Lou Brock, who led the National League in stolen bases seven times and had over 3000 career hits, died on September 6th. He was 81 years old.

Brock first made it to the majors in 1961, playing in four games with the Chicago Cubs. He was with the Cubs until June 15th of 1964, when he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in one of the worst deals in Cubs’ history. Chicago traded Brock and two other throw in players to the Cardinals for pitcher Ernie Broglio, outfielder Doug Clemons, and pitcher Bobby Shantz. Broglio was 7-19 with a 5.40 ERA for the Cubs from 1964 through 1966, Clemons hit .238 with six homers and 38 RBIs in 182 games with the Cubs over two seasons, and Shantz, who was a 38 year old in his final season, was 0-1 with 5.56 ERA in 20 relief appearances before being sent to Philadelphia in September.

Brock went on to play on three pennant and two World Series champions with the Cardinals and was a six time All Star. Batting as the Cardinals leadoff man, Brock led the majors in runs scored twice, with a career high 126 in 1971. Brock set a single season record with 118 stolen bases in 1974 and was the career leader in stolen bases (938) when he retired in 1979 (both have since been broken by Rickey Henderson). He had 3023 hits and a .293 batting average, and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985.