RIP Lou Brock who passed away this week. I have always been a Cubs fan but had deep respect for the speedy Cardinals’ leftfielder. Each year, I remember him as a welcome addition to the National League All-Star team.
For today’s Monster Card Monday, I asked Illowa League commissioner Mike Bunch who is one of biggest St. Louis Cardinals fans I know and asked him to suggest an appropriate Brock card. Mike suggested two.
1967 Lou Brock (first reprint)
Lou Brock had some solid early years but in 1967, he had a breakout season, hitting .299 and leading the league with 113 runs scored as well as 52 steals. It was also his first All-Star nomination. It was unheard of for a leadoff hitter have 100+ strikeouts back in Brock’s day and he wasn’t known for taking a pitch but it didn’t seem to affect his success.
Ironically, Lou had a bit of power (1-4-6) to go with his speed (11-11-10) in the deadball era of the late 60s.
| Split | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 Totals | 159 | 724 | 689 | 113 | 206 | 32 | 12 | 21 | 76 | 52 | 18 | 24 | 109 | .299 | .327 | .472 |
1974 Lou Brock (original)
Later in his career, Lou Brock didn’t lose his speed as evidenced by this 1974 card. With his then-record breaking 118 steals in 1974, he received five 11s. Only luminaries such as Cobb, Henderson and Wills have a steal number at result number 55.
Brock also scored 105 runs and hit .306.
| Split | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 Totals | 153 | 702 | 635 | 105 | 194 | 25 | 7 | 3 | 48 | 118 | 33 | 61 | 88 | .306 | .368 | .381 |
Five years later, Lou Brock hit safely for the 3,000th time.
In discussing Brock, Mike describes Brock as a “gentleman”. Well said, Mike!
RIP Lou Brock
Wow, an everyday player with a 55-11. This is my kind of card.
I like that 1974 card shown above. My 1974 Brock (2017 print) has only! (4) 11’s, with (4) additional 11’s in the second column. Also has an additional 13.
Hi Tom – A few comments.
First of all – “hitting .299 and leading the league with 113 runs scored as well as 52 at-bats.” That has to be some kind of all-time record. Scoring two runs per at-bat! I’m sure you meant 52 stolen bases (he had 689 at-bats that year).
Secondly – “Only luminaries such as Cobb, Henderson and Wills have a steal number at result number 55.” My OFAS card set has Billy Hamilton having a 10 on 55.
Thanks for the article on Mr. Brock. I was sorry to see of his passing.
LOL, Dan! Keep up the good work as my copy editor ;)
Always a pleasure . :)
It should be noted that it was Brock’s 1974 SB totals that forced the adoption of the stolen base asterisk. Absent that, he might get a 11 at 33 on top of everything else…
I’m still waiting to see an 42* (HBP) with an asterisk! Do they still use second column 6’s with an asterisk. I remember Henderson’s card having a TON of those.
I believe APBA has gone away with most of the asterisks, especially for modern era players.
Even in some of the reprints they have moved to more second column 11’s depending on the number of at bats. If you see an asterisk it’s usually only on one or two numbers.
Interesting too, that the asterisk shown on Brock card above implies steal with bases empty only. So a walk with a runner on third would not invoke a stolen base, whereby the current asterisk invokes a stolen base if the following base is unoccupied.
The 60s wasn’t a dead ball era. It was bigger ballparks. Ex.: Dodger Stadium instead of Ebbetts field.
Well that and a bumper crop of very dominant pitching.