Lou Brock's 118 Stolen Bases
In 1974 baseball history was made. Most baseball fans would recognize that year as the year that Henry "Hank" Aaron took over the Home Run King title by hitting his 715th homer; however, another piece of history was made that year too. Lou Brock of St. Louis stole one-hundred eighteen bases, breaking the modern record of one-hundred four set by Maury Wills in 1962-a record that would stand until Ricky Henderson would break it in 1982.
While Brock more than doubled American League leader Billy North’s total of fifty-four, it was no surprise, as it was one of fourteen consecutive seasons that Brock had more than thirty stolen bases. The six-time All-Star had a .781 record that year, as he was caught stealing only thirty-three times. Brock would often steal two or three times in one game, making his speed more important than the usual element of surprise. Future Hall of Famer Brock would never again achieve triple-digits in stolen bases, but he would be widely remembered as one of the greatest base stealers of all time.
|
