Lou Brock

Guide Note:

Lou Brock is a former Major League outfielder who played for the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals during his 19-season career. When he retired, Brock held the records for most stolen bases in a single season (118), and most career stolen bases (938). Both records would later be broken by Ricky Henderson.

Fast Facts:

1. Birth name: Louis Clark "Lou" Brock
2. Born: June 18, 1939, El Dorado, AR, Arkansas
3. Lou Brock was a left fielder
4. Career: 938 Stolen Bases
5. World Series champion: 1964, 1967

A native of Arkansas, Brock was first signed by the Chicago Cubs in 1960. By 1964, the Cubs were pleased with Brock's base-stealing ability, but not as impressed with his hitting. After a trade to the St. Louis Cardinals that year, Brock's career began to take off. He began hitting better and getting on base more often, and this increased his stolen base total. While on the Cardinals, he batted over .300 eight times, and was named to the All-Star team six times. He led the National League in stolen bases every year between 1966 and 1974, except for one—in 1970, he finished second to Bobby Tolan of the Cincinnati Reds. In 1974, Brock stole an amazing 118 bases, doubling the total of second-place finisher Davey Lopes. That same year, he finished second in MVP voting to Steve Garvey. At the end of the 1979 season, Brock retired, finishing his career with a .293 batting average and 938 career stolen bases. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985, and his number 20 was retired by the Cardinals. Today, the award for most stolen bases is named the Lou Brock Award.