“Why didn’t the Cardinals get more than Brock?” – Post Dispatch

June 15, 1964

St. Louis Cardinals (28-30)

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Houston Colt 45s (27-32)

The game 59 lineup:

1. Curt Flood CF
2. Dick Groat SS
3. Bill White 1B
4. Ken Boyer 3B
5. Bob Skinner LF
6. Charlie James RF
7. Tim McCarver C
8. Julian Javier 2B
9. Glen Hobbie P

I can’t tell you how much I’ve stressed about writing this one.

60 years ago today, the Brock for Broglio trade happened.

I mean, what can I tell you about the Lou Brock trade that you haven’t already read by far more talented writers? Probably, I think, nothing. So I’m just going to tell you about that day, and we’re all going to see how this train wreck goes together, ok?

June 15th was the trade deadline, but it was nothing like deadlines of today. It’s really, really hard to make a trade with other teams when almost the entire league is within 5 games of first place. And the teams that aren’t? Well they don’t exactly have the talent to offer up.

But on June 15th this year, the Cubs were going for it. The Cardinals, ok, I suppose they were too. But this wasn’t an out and out stated goal. The Cardinals were looking to stop the losing. The Cubs were planning to vault to the pennant.

There’s a famous quote that came out of the Chicago Daily News after the trade:

“Thank you, thank you, oh, you lovely St. Louis Cardinals, Nice doing business with you, Please call again any time.”

The headline of the article was “Deal Boosts Hope For Real Flag Bid.” Sure, Cubs. Sure.

The genesis of the trade goes back to the previous winter. The Cardinals wanted Brock, but weren’t willing to part with a great starting pitcher to do it. That wasn’t Bing Devine’s overall methodology. He believed you couldn’t get enough pitching.

Brock had been discussed again and again, as stated here – one rumor had Ray Sadecki going in his stead. But Devine didn’t want to trade any of his youngest starters, including Ray Washburn, Bob Gibson, and Ernie Broglio.

Bing Devine was calling around to the GMs around the league when he got to Chicago. While he was the one who made the call, John Holland the Chicago GM said, “If you’re still interested, we may have to move Brock.”

Bob Kennedy, Cubs manager, had become “irritated” by Brock’s adventures in right field, and his poor base running as well. Yes, you read that right. But looking at Brock’s stats, you can understand it. Brock had a career .257 average for the Cubs. They limited his baserunning, by allowing him run only when signaled, and Right Field at Wrigley was brutal to play back then. Brock complained that no one told him how to do anything there. He was on his own. “It was like being in a prison yard with everyone waiting for you to do something wrong,” he later said. Ahh, Cubs baseball.

In his final days as a Cub, he got a talking to from his hitting coach, that told him he was too mechanical. He was trying too hard to be absolutely perfect in his form and he needed to loosen up, and relax. Brock was always looked at as a great prospect who simply wasn’t panning out. It may have been from how he was coached while with the Cubs. Given this new advise, Brock would homer in his final at bat with Chicago.

Now, willing to trade Brock, John Holland referenced an earlier list that Devine had given him, and told him he wanted Broglio.

But the list wasn’t meant as a “take your pick and the deal is done,” more a case of “here’s guy’s we’re willing to trade in the right deal.”

In the meantime, the Cardinals and Cubs had made their previous Lew Burdette and Glen Hobbie trade. Glen’s 1st two starts went SO WELL for the Cardinals, that he was looked at as a steal, and a regular part of the Cardinals rotation. This gave them 6 starters, along with Curt Simmons, and opened up the availability of Ernie Broglio for a much smaller cost than the Cardinals would have been willing to do.

Indeed, as the lead-in quote will tell you, the reaction to Brock for Broglio would be, “that’s it?” Previously, that couldn’t have been it. And a deal may not have been able to get done.

After the call, Bing Devine sat by Johnny Keane on the flight to Houston after dropping 3 in a row to the Dodgers, and told him, “I can make the trade with Chicago.”

Keane said, “well what are we waiting for?” Devine said he would call as soon as the plane landed.

The details of the trade, including the additional players were worked out, and the trade was announced on the morning of the 15th.

To the Cubs:
Ernie Broglio
Doug Clemens
Bobby Shantz

To the Cardinals:
Lou Brock
Jack Spring
Paul Toth

Paul Toth, a former Cardinal, never would make the majors again. To make up for that spot, the Cardinals called up future Cy Young winner, Mike Cuellar, from the minor leagues.

After making the trade, the players were informed.

Ernie Broglio took a call from Johnny Keane in his hotel room with roommate Dick Groat:

Ernie: “I’m going. roomie.”
Dick: “I don’t believe it.”
Ernie: “It’s true. The Cubs. I had a hunch last night that we’d make a big deal and sure enough it happened.”

Broglio spoke with the press in Chicago. “I feel great about it. I have heard so much about what a fine organization the Cubs have.”

He went on to talk about how healthy he was, how his previous injury concerns weren’t bothering him at all anymore. The goin problem? Done. The sore arm? Doesn’t hurt in the slightest.

Broglio told St. Louis press that he figured a starter would be traded, adding, “probably me.”

At the same time, leaks were happening in Chicago. Thanks to numerous trades with the Cubs in recent years, many former Cardinals were among their ranks and new Broglio. Those former players confirmed to the Chicago Tribune that Broglio wasn’t happy in St. Louis, especially Manager Johnny Keane.

Now, memories change. And huge events like this tend to sway memories. People like to be remembered as the hero, or at least in the most positive light they possibly can be. Needless to say, year’s later Ernie Broglio remembered this in the exact opposite of how it was reported at the time.

“I do not know what caused the disagreement I had with Johnny Keane. I had just won 18 games and thought I was pretty stable with the ballclub. The trade was a big surprise and I guess I never really got over it. I was hoping to finish my career with the Cardinals.”

He also said, “When I was traded, my right arm was not in fine tune. My elbow was really bothering me,”

Perhaps one of Keane’s issues with Broglio was that he was full of shit?

As for Doug Clemens, he said, “I had a good shot, I can’t complain.” Respect to Doug!

And for Bobby Shantz, oof, this one hurts:

“Bobby’s the sensitive type of guy who, I feel, will benefit from a change of scenery.” – Bing Devine

That sounds like a girlfriend dumping her boyfriend as nicely as possible by telling him he’d be more happy with someone who appreciates his lack of testosterone.

As for the two players coming from the Cubs, they both had a plane to catch to Houston. Jack Spring was watching a kids show with his children when the news broke in to announce he’d been traded. That was probably a fun way to find out! Show’s over kid, daddy has to go. “I was running all over, getting ready to leave Chicago,” he said.

Lou Brock went to clean out his locker and said the following:

“I know I’ll hit over .300 this year. I had been doing a few fundamental things wrong, and I can correct them. I knew all along that I was probably the one that had to go. We needed pitching, and we had to give an experienced player to make a deal. I knew it wouldn’t be Billy or Ronnie or Dick.” (Williams, Santo, Ellsworth)

“And I figured it wouldn’t be Ernie either. He meant too much to this team to be traded. So I was the guy. I just wish I could have helped the Cubs more while I was here.”

He then posted a note to his teammates that read:

“TO THE FELLOWS:

It’s sort of hard to say farewell to a nice bunch of guys…I enjoyed every moment of it…even being called ‘X.’ (This is a reference to him picking Cassius Clay to beat Sonny Liston. Granted I don’t know HOW it’s a reference to it, but it is.) But as you and I know that’s part of the game called baseball.

So fellows, take care and best of luck to every one of you…Brock

P.S. Don’t try to take that extra base. I’ll gun you down.”

And just like that, the Cardinals had two new players on their way to Houston.

Chicago was elated. Numerous predictions from all around, from the Cubs GM and manager and media all said the Cubs now had the best starting pitching in the National League.

Meanwhile, Cardinals players were pissed. There was enough anger in the Cardinals clubhouse that Johnny Keane had to call a meeting, and tell them to drop their complaining.

When I talk about people wanting to make themselves heroes in a story, and thus changing history around that, no, Johnny Keane appears to be an actual hero in this case.

The Cardinals had lost 4 in a row, and were not in a bad mood going in to play the Colts. Glen Hobbie was on the mound after his two dazzling starts paved the way for Broglio to get dealt.

The game was scoreless until the 3rd inning when Julian Javier singled, stole second, and scored on a Curt Flood single. Oh: Something else happened in the 3rd inning. Brock and Spring showed up in the dugout. 1-0 Cardinals and the future was here.

In the 4th inning Bill White continued to show his power was returning when he hit a double to lead off the inning, and came around on Bob Skinner‘s first hit as a Cardinal, a single to center. He was then erased on a double play.

In the top of the 6th, Curt Flood doubled, and then Bill White followed with a TRIPLE! He’s back folks! Giving the Cardinals a 3-0 lead. Perhaps they could have added on, but Bill White was caught stealing home…for some reason…making him 0/3 on stolen base attempts on the season.

3-0 Cardinals? Hobbie throwing a shutout? This has to be it, right? The team is ready to roll now!

No.

In the bottom of the 6th, Walt Bond hit a 2 run single to bring in Jim Wynn and Nellie Fox who had singled and doubled, respectively. 3-2 Cardinals. Then Bob Aspromonte hit a 2-run-homer to give the Astros a 4-3 lead. Sigh.

But the game was still close, and…while I feel like this would be looked at as insane in today’s world, Johnny Keane wanted to get a look at his new toys. After the Cardinals went down in the top of the 7th, Jack Spring – who only arrived 4 innings before – was sent into pitch in a 1-run game.

The first batter he faced was Rusty Staub…who singled. Then Jerry Grote doubled. Bob Lillis was walked after a Jim Owens groundout, and then Nellie Fox bunted with the bases loaded. Which turned out to be genius! Because the Cardinal defense was still the Cardinal defense. Bill White made an error, everyone was safe, and the Astros were now up 5-3. A wild pitch and a 2-run single made the score 8-3. Welcome to the team Jack Spring!

Spring gave up 4 runs – only 1 was earned. Incidentally Spring would only pitch 1 more game with the Cardinals, and it was…crazy. Especially with regards to this one. You’ll find out about that one in 5 days.

In the top of the 8th, now down 8-3, it was time for Keane to see his other toy. Lou Brock would pinch hit for the pitcher.

And the player that hit a home run in his last at bat with the Cubs, would strike out in his first at bat for the Cardinals.

Many papers would comment the next day how the Cardinals losing skid had already taken hold of the new guys. “Bust” was an often used word. So far, so good.

The Astros would add one more run on Dick Groat‘s 2nd error of the game. Same old same old. 3 runs was practically an outburst for this team. 3 errors were commonplace. Bullpen issues? Check. Base running woes? They got that in their too.

The Cardinals were now 3 games below .500. They were a half game ahead of the Colt’s, barely hanging on to 8th place.

In a lot of ways this was the 1st of many nadirs. At 3 under .500 this as far down that hole they would go on the season. At 7 games out, they still had plenty of room to tumble.

But the new era was here, though it didn’t seem like it. Brock would start the next day, and the Cardinals, losers of 5 games in a row twice in the month, and 4 in a row another time, would only lose 4 in a row once more the rest of the season.

In some ways you can look at this game and say it was a loss – but the day was a win.

That’s what Bob Uecker thought.

“I won the cow milking contest,” he said.

OK, that’s not some sort of euphemism. Before the game Ueck and Nellie Fox had apparently had a competitive cow milking contest, and Uecker crushed him in it. Bob declared the day to be a split.

So that wasn’t about the trade, I get it. But stuff was happening here.

On the same day, the Cardinals did something that would have taken social media by storm. Lou Brock trade? Pah! Tell me about prospects, right?

On this day the Cardinals signed the Bryce Harper of the day for $80,000. Far more than the vast majority of their players were making. They outbid a half dozen other teams to get it done. Art “Pinky” Deras was now in the Cardinals farm system, and he was known as the greatest minor leaguer of all time.

I urge you to watch this video:

Just imagine how through the moon Cardinals fans would have been this day. How convinced they’d be that the team just got a future Hall of Famer. How wrong they would be, and how right they would be.

As for the one they actually got, Keane said, “Brock was the key to the trade and we are well pleased.”

But perhaps it was Keane himself that was the key to the trade. He was the one that urged Devine to make the deal. He was the one that believed in Brock and spoke him up. Devine in fact, had this to say about Johnny Lewis, who would be moving to the bench: “I feel Lewis probably has more potential than Brock. He fields better and he throws better.”

It was Keane who said Brock would be playing every day against righties and lefties. It was Keane who would tell Brock the brakes were off – run when you want to. And it was Keane who led him out to left field before the next game and told him:

“It’s a big one and it’s all yours. If you can do what I think you can, you ought to be able to play out here the rest of your life.”

(OK ok that’s a nice story and all, but Brock actually played RF the next game, and for a few more before switching to left, so while I’d love to end this post on that great quote – I have to tell you he probably took him to right field, where apparently Brock brock failed pretty quickly. But let’s ignore that fact, and pretend it really was left field.)

The next post…will be shorter.