Larcenous Lou Brock was born on June 18, 1939 in El Dorado, Arkansas. He grew up on a cotton plantation in Collinston, Louisiana where he tirelessly worked for most of his childhood. As a child, Brock was regarded as a quiet and introverted boy, a child that no one would have predicted would become a National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee. In fact, Brock did not even begin playing baseball until the age of 13 after he was inspired by a class paper he wrote on baseball legends Jackie Robinson and Joe DiMaggio. After a while, he began to fall in love with the classic American pastime, and he accomplished many amazing feats both on and off the field.
Brock attended Union High School in Mer Rouge, Louisiana after completing elementary school. There, he met his future wife, Katie. Lou was on the basketball team and math and chemistry competition squads where he represented his school in various state competitions. Union High School is also where Brock joined his first baseball team, playing as their left handed pitcher. Eventually, he earned an academic scholarship to Southern University, and he and Katie moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to enrich their minds and lives.
Math had been a passion for Brock since his elementary school days, so it was only logical he choose mathematics as his college major. Unfortunately, he lost his scholarship after only one semester at Southern University when he received a C+ instead of a B average. Lowly and depressed about his current academic situation, Brock volunteered to retrieve balls for the college baseball team during his semester break. After one tiring day working on the field, the coaches rewarded Brock with five practice batting swings. He mustered up all his strength and launched three of the five balls over the fence, much to the amazement of the coaches. Thrilled with his performance, the coaches offered Brock a full baseball scholarship on the spot. In time, Brock made the transition from pitcher to outfielder and displayed his winning talents.
Brock excelled in his new position as an outfielder. He gave it his all, eventually helping Southern’s baseball team climb to the NAIA World Series Championship. The young phenom was so fantastic on the field that major league clubs began coming out to see him play. Among Brock’s onlookers was the United States Olympic Committee. They saw the young man’s talent and couldn’t pass him up, offering him a playing position at the 1959 Pan American Games. Brock took that opportunity and ran with it, once again giving his all on the field. His efforts paid off when he was offered a contract with the Chicago Cubs in 1961. Brock signed with the Cubs for a $30,000 bonus and began playing for their minor league team, St. Cloud in the Northern League.
After leading the Northern League in hits, runs, doubles and batting average (.361), it was clear Brock’s stint in the minor league wouldn’t last long. The Cubs quickly advanced him to the major league, where he finished out the 1961 season. He gave the Cubs nothing less than the best, and in 1962, he was invited back for the 1962 season. This was a great complement to his abilities but, unfortunately, Brock was ill prepared for his major league promotion.
In the 1962 season, he had a .263 batting average and, later in the season, was only brought in games as a pitch-hitter. His 1963 and 1964 seasons were not much better; in 1964, he churned out a dismal 3 for 42 at the plate and stolen a mere 50 bases in two and a half seasons. As result, the Cubs traded Brock to the St. Louis Cardinals in the middle of the 1964 season. That trade is now referred to as one of the worst trades in baseball history. The Chicago Cubs received Ernie Broglio who had won 60 games for the Cardinals in three years. At the time, the trade seemed to make sense, but after the young and promising Brock blossomed on the field, it was clear how lopsided the deal really was.
June 15th, 1964 was Brock’s first official day as a Cardinal. He entered into a team that was in fourth place, six and one-half games out of first. The Cardinals gave their all and surpassed the Phillies, the Giants, and the Reds to eventually win the pennant.
The 1965 season was quite fruitful for Brock as well. St. Louis fans cheered as the “Running Redbird” scored 107 runs, hit .288, and stole 63 bases. Perhaps his best season was in 1967 when he blasted away his competition with 113 runs, 52 steals, 21 home runs, and drove in 78 runs. That year, he also helped the Cardinals win the World Series against the Boston Red Sox in seven games. In that World Series he stole e14 bases, setting a new record.
Brock went on to lead the National League in stolen bases from 1971 until 1974. In 1974 he broke Maury Willis’ single season stolen base record when he stole 118 bases (his record was broke in 1982 by Rickey Henderson, who stole 130 bases). Accomplishing this feat at the age of 35, Brock became the oldest player to steal over 100 bases. In 1977, he continued his mind-boggling success when he broke baseball legend Ty Cobb’s career stolen base record. In his final season in 1979, Brock batted .304, stole 21 bases and became a member of the elite 3,000 club. Then, after 19 illustrious seasons in the Major League, Lou Brock retired from baseball.
Lou Brock stole 938 bases, scored 90 runs in ten seasons batted .300 in eight different seasons and captured eight stolen-base titles in his career. As a result of his many accomplishments, Brock was selected to the All-Star team six times, inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985, named as one of the Top 100 Players in the century and the only baseball player to have an award named in his honor while still an active player. The Lou Brock Award is bestowed to the National League player with the most stolen bases each year. Brock was even honored by the St. Louis Cardinals with a statue in commemoration of his accomplishments.
Today, Brock lives in St. Louis with his wife Jacqueline. They are both ordained ministers and elders at Abundant Life Fellowship Church in St. Louis. In addition, Lou Brock is a spring training instructor for the St. Louis Cardinals and the owner/CEO of Brock World in St. Louis. Brock is regarded as one of baseball’s finest players and considered an ambassador to the sport. He will surely go down in recent history as one of the most determined and accomplished players of his time.