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Brock excelled in his new position as an outfielder. He gave it his all, eventually helping Southern’s baseball team climb to the NAIA World Series Championship. The young phenom was so fantastic on the field that major league clubs began coming out to see him play. Among Brock’s onlookers was the United States Olympic Committee. They saw the young man’s talent and couldn’t pass him up, offering him a playing position at the 1959 Pan American Games. Brock took that opportunity and ran with it, once again giving his all on the field. His efforts paid off when he was offered a contract with the Chicago Cubs in 1961. Brock signed with the Cubs for a $30,000 bonus and began playing for their minor league team, St. Cloud in the Northern League.
After leading the Northern League in hits, runs, doubles and batting average (.361), it was clear Brock’s stint in the minor league wouldn’t last long. The Cubs quickly advanced him to the major league, where he finished out the 1961 season. He gave the Cubs nothing less than the best and in 1962 he was invited back for the 1962 season. This was a great complement to his abilities but, unfortunately, Brock was ill prepared for his major league promotion.
In the 1962 season he had a .263 batting average and, later in the season, was only brought in games as a pitch-hitter. His 1963 and 1964 seasons were not much better; in 1964 he churned out a dismal 3 for 42 at the plate and stolen a mere 50 bases in two and a half seasons. As result, the Cubs traded Brock to the St. Louis Cardinals in the middle of the 1964 season. That trade is now referred to as one of the worst trades in baseball history. The Chicago Cubs received Ernie Broglio who had won 60 games for the Cardinals in three years. At the time, the trade seemed to make sense, but after the young and promising Brock blossomed on the field, it was clear how lopsided the deal really was.
June 15th, 1964 was Brock’s first official day as a Cardinal. He entered into a team that was in fourth place, six and one-half games out of first. The Cardinals gave their all and surpassed the Phillies, the Giants and the Reds to eventually win the pennant.
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