Lou Brock, Hall of Fame outfielder, dies at age 81

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NEW YORK — Hall of Famer Lou Brock, one of baseball’s signature leadoff hitters and base stealers who helped the St. Louis Cardinals win three pennants and two World Series titles in the 1960s, has died. He was 81.

Dick Zitzmann, Brock’s longtime agent and friend, confirmed Brock’s death on Sunday, but he said he couldn’t provide any details. The Cardinals and Cubs also observed a moment of silence in the outfielder’s memory before their game at Wrigley Field.

Brock lost a leg from diabetes in recent years and was diagnosed with cancer in 2017.

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rest - https://www.denverpost.com/2020/09/06/lou-brock-dies/

He was Rickey Henderson before Rickey Henderson but infinitely classier.

For those who don't know the story, Brock came up to the majors with the Chicago Cubs who, due to Wrigley Field, weren't interested in stealing bases but they were interested in hitting home runs. They kept trying to turn Brock into a slugger and the result was a boatload of strikeouts. In constant need of starting pitching back then, the Cubs struck a deal before the 1964 season with their archrival Cardinals to send Brock in exchange for veteran pitcher Ernie Broglio who had a little gas left in the tank but not that much. Cards fans spent the next 20 years reminding Cub fans that the ignition switch on their offense used to be a Cub. Brock was the sort of player who, if he walked or hit a single, you could bet he'd be standing on second a short time later.

Point of trivia: The first batter in a regulation game in the history of the Houston Astros (Colt .45s) was Lou Brock with the Chicago Cubs on April 10, 1962. He led off the game and struck out at the hands of Bobby Schantz.