Photograph by Scott Rovak
Lou Brock
Cardinals legend and baseball Hall of Famer Louis Clark “Lou” Brock died at the age of 81 on Sunday.
Brock, who played for the team for 16 seasons, from 1964–1979, is remembered as one of the most revered Cardinals of all time as well as for his speed and mastery of stealing bases. The "Base Burglar" stole 938 bases over the course of his career, which was the Major League record until 1991, and is still the National League record. In 1985, Brock was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
“Lou Brock was one of the most revered members of the St. Louis Cardinals organization and one of the very best to ever wear the Birds on the Bat,” said Cardinals’ Principal Owner & Chief Executive Officer William O. DeWitt Jr. in a release. “Lou was a Hall of Fame player, a great coach, an insightful broadcaster and a wonderful mentor to countless generations of Cardinals players, coaches and members of the front office. He was an ambassador of the game around the country and a fan favorite who connected with millions of baseball fans across multiple generations. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.”
Brock came to the Cardinals in 1964, when the team traded pitchers Ernie Broglio and Bobby Shantz and outfielder Doug Clemens for outfielder Brock and pitchers Jack Spring and Paul Toth. In a Sunday release from the team, the baseball club called it "perhaps the greatest trade in franchise history." Brock, who batted left-hand, was a career .293 batter with 3,023 hits. After joining the Cardinals, he batted a .348 the rest of the season, helping to move the Cardinals from eighth place in the National League to winning a World Championship.
After he retired in 1979, Brock worked as a broadcaster, a base-running consultant, and a special instructor for the Cardinals.
Brock had been sick in recent years, first undergoing a leg amputation due to an infection related to diabetes. A Multiple Myeloma diagnosis came in 2017. Still, he visited Busch Stadium to celebrate his 80th birthday in June 2019.
Brock is survived by his wife Jacqueline; daughter, Wanda; and sons, Lou Jr. and Emory; stepchildren Marvin Hay and Jacqueline Means; and grandchildren Darian, Alivia, Colston, Spencer, and Iris. His son Daniel preceded him in death.
Soon after his death was announced, the tributes to Brock came pouring in.
The MLB released a memorial video on Sunday evening with Brock's career highlights. In it, former Negro League player Jesse Rogers remembers: "Lou Brock, he could outrun sound, I can tell you that." Watch below:
