Cardinals legend Lou Brock dies at 81

Tragic news has struck the baseball world, as a true legend of the game has passed away

Lou Brock, who played nearly 20 seasons in the majors — the majority with the St. Louis Cardinals — has passed away on Sunday afternoon, per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Brock finished his baseball career with over 3,000 hits and was a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. On the diamond, there are few who could compete with this six-time All-Star.

Brock was part of what many consider to be the greatest trade in franchise history. In a move that in the decades following would fuel the rivalry with the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis dealt for the-then 24-year-old Brock in exchange for right-handed pitcher Ernie Broglio, who had won 18 games the previous season. Fellow Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson admitted they thought it was a terrible trade, and Tim McCarver revealed how close the team was to Broglio, which made the move unpopular in the clubhouse.

“We were so close to Broglio. Our friendship blinded us to what kind of effect Lou would have on the team — until we saw him run,” McCarver said.

Brock dealt with a number of serious health conditions the past few years

Sadly, Brock was no longer a regular at Busch Stadium due to his deteriorating health, but he did make a few appearances. He will long be remembered for his grace in the outfield and on the basepaths.

In the 1967 World Series, which the Cardinals won over the Boston Red Sox, Brock hit a staggering .414 and swiped seven bases. In a later turn in the Fall Classic he would mirror those numbers and then some, hitting .464 with seven more steals in a World Series loss to the Detroit Tigers. Brock played his best when the lights were brightest, and quickly turned around the initial negative reviews of his teammates.

Brock’s family has yet to release a statement, but our thoughts are with them during this difficult time.