Passing of Lou Brock

[brian1961]

Ken, while you're correct that the Brock-Broglio trade has gone down as the epitamy of "worst trade ever!" discord, you must stop and ask yourself, why didn't the Cubs organization with their college of coaches (Bob Kennedy was finally made manager in 1964), ownership, and general manager ever have a vision for the greatness that was lurking within Mr. Brock? Were they all that blind, or just ignorant, or plain stupid??? Would Lou have EVER blossomed with the Cubs, as he immediately seemed to do with the pennant contender, and eventual world-champion Cardinals? It's not as if the Cubs were flat-out door-mat lousy in '64, finishing 8th in the league, ten games below .500.

The Cubs were 3 years away from their own resurgence, and perhaps Lou would have taken off. However, Leo Durocher could be a difficult taskmaster, and tough to play for. For example, for a time, Adolpho Phillips seemed primed for greatness in '67, but I think when he slumped, Leo just dismantled him mentally, and he was ruined. Lou Brock was a sweet, gentle man and I think Durocher ate these kind of personalities for lunch. He did great with Willie Mays and Billy Williams, but I personally don't think Lou would have gone on to the greatness that awaited him in St. Louis. Red Schoendienst handled him perfectly, and with great teammates, the previously frustrated Brock became Lou Brock, baseball All-Star, base-stealer extraordinaire, World Series batting and stealing star, and first ballot (I would think) BBHOFer.

Reminds me of another Chicago player from a different sport----Phil Esposito. With the Black Hawks, the coach and general manager's vision of Phil was to feed Bobby Hull the puck---as often as possible. Bobby would give it back to Phil when he got tied up, which was often, but for the most part, Phil Esposito, along with Chico Maki, were Bobby's assist teammates on the HEM line (Hull-Esposito-Maki). After the '67 season, Espo (with a few celebratory beers down him) really warned General Manager Tommy Ivan not to screw up the greatest Black Hawk team ever. With Phil's meager showing in the '67 Playoffs against the Maple Leafs, Tommy Ivan remembered Esposito's tart warning to him, and smugly traded the young star but whippersnapper to last-place Boston, to join Bobby Orr. Ivan sent away Kenny Hodges and Freddie Stanfield, young players the Hawks seemed to have no vision for and were nobodies to them, just as they had sent away "nobody" John McKenzie. EVERY ONE OF THOSE FORMER BLACK HAWKS CAME ALIVE AND BLOSSOMED with the Boston Bruins the following season, joining Bobby Orr, Captain John Buyck, and Rookie of the year Derek Sanderson to quickly become "THE BIG BAD BRUINS" who would win 2 Cups in 70 and 72. Wait da go, Ivan, you idiot. But again, would those former Hawks have ever jelled in Chicago? I do not think so.

Just as Lou Brock needed to come to St. Louis to become the legendary player he would be.

Rest in piece, Mr. Brock. May God rest your soul, and comfort your family and many fans at this very, very sad time.

Sorry for LONGGGGGGGG post. ---- Brian Powell