1985 Fleer Super Star Special Featuring Sparky Anderson – ‘Giving The Signs’

1985 Fleer Super Star Special Featuring Sparky Anderson – ‘Giving The Signs’

I have to imagine that watching a manager like Sparky Anderson go through the process of managing a baseball game from the dugout would be an enjoyable experience.

Between the signals, the chatter, the complaining, and the use of multiple pitchers, I would guess that watching him would at times be more entertaining than the game itself.

Luckily, in 1985, Fleer gave us a small glimpse of what that would be like.

Have a look:

In today’s sport, we get a lot more activity: pre-game interviews, mid-game interviews, and post-game interviews.

I wonder how a manager like Sparky Anderson would feel about stuff like this??  My guess is that it is not something he would be agreeable to…

Lou Brock & His 1962 Topps Rookie Baseball Card

Lou Brock & His 1962 Topps Rookie Baseball Card

It is not his fault, not by any stretch, but Lou Brock’s rookie card is pretty bad.

Have a look:

As much as I like the 1962 Topps design, there is no escaping the horrible photo that accompanies Brock’s debut baseball card. It is awful!!

Still, I would love to own one. And yes, I would even take one of the many reprints that have been issued over the last decade+.

Lou Brock Offers Up A Pretty Great Looking Signature. And I’ve Got One!!!

Lou Brock Offers Up A Pretty Great Looking Signature. And I’ve Got One!!!

I try to collect all of the autographs of my favorite baseball legends. And while it will be virtually impossible to get them all, I can have the dream.

Lou Brock offers up a very clean and textbook signature. Extremely easy to read, and identify, there is no mistaking Brock’s signature for another…

Here are a few examples:

Photos:

Cards:

A here is my signed baseball:

I received this ball for Father’s Day a few years ago.  It ia a great addtion to my collection of balls of Cardinals legends. 

Today, in my collection, it rests with my Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, and Ozzie Smith signed baseballs.  Not a bad ‘Fab Four’ right there!!!

Lou Brock And The Hall Of Fame Class Of 1985

Lou Brock And The Hall Of Fame Class Of 1985

Lou Brock was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985. In his first year of eligibility, Brock captured 315 of the 395 votes cast, good for a 79.7% clip.

His plaque at Cooperstown reads: “Baseball’s all-time leader in stolen bases with 938. Set major league record by stealing over 50 bases 12 times and NL record with 118 steals in 1974. Led NL in stolen bases 8 times. Collected 3,023 hits during 19 year career and holds world series record .391 batting average in 21 post-season games”.

Lou Brock And The 1964 & 1967 World Series Championships

Lou Brock And The 1964 & 1967 World Series Championships

Lou Brock played in three World Series match-ups during his career. He and his Cardinals teammates won titles in the 1964 and 1976 contests.

Brock was exceptional in post-season play. Even when his team lost in 1968, Brock was awesome!

In 21 World Series games, Brock amassed a .391 batting average while collecting 34 hits in 87 at-bats. Of the 87 hits, 7 were doubles, 2 were triples, and 4 were home runs. Brock scored sixteen runs in the Fall Classic while stealing 14 bases and driving in 13.

Lou Brock And The ’3,000 Hits Club’

Lou Brock And The ’3,000 Hits Club’

Date of entry into “Club 3,000″ – August 13, 1979

The Story – At home, and in front of 44,000+ fans, the Cardinals took on their divisional rivals – The Chicago Cubs. Ironically, the Cubs were the team that Brock entered the major leagues with. On this day, Brock made baseball history capturing the 3,000th hit of his big league career. In the game, Brock went 2-for-2 raising his batting average to .326. And while his day momentous for his career and baseball history, it was just as important that his two hits helped the Cardinals win the game 3-2.

Baseball History – The game’s second greatest base stealer of all-time also ranks in 24th place on the all-time hits list with 3,023 career hits.

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Lou Brock & His 938 Career Stolen Bases

Lou Brock & His 938 Career Stolen Bases

Lou Brock retired from major league baseball with 938 career stolen bases. He was the all-time leader of this offensive category at the time of his retirement.

Brock had double-digit steals in 18 of his 19 big league seasons. His lowest output came in 1962 when he stole just 16 bases. His highest number of steals in a single season was 118 in 1974.

Brock retired with a 75.3% stolen base success rate.

He currently ranks in 2nd place on the all-time steals list and will likely remain in that spot for the foreseeable future. The highest ranking current major leaguer is more than 350 steals behind him…

Lou Brock: The MVP Contender

Lou Brock: The MVP Contender

Lou Brock hit full stride as a major league baseball player right around 1967. His game was peaking on all levels – from hitting, to running, and on-base percentage, Brock was becoming a National League force.

In ’67, he made his first appearance as an All-Star, and he finished in 7th place for the MVP award.

Brock would go on to rank in the Top 15 for the MVP award during seven different seasons. His highest finish would be 2nd place in 1974, behind Steve Garvey of the Dodgers.

Lou Brock Is A 6-Time All-Star!!!

Lou Brock Is A 6-Time All-Star!!!

Lou Brock made the All-Star team six times during his 19-year major league career.

Brock’s first All-Star selection came in 1967, with the other occuring in 1971, 1972, 1974, 1972, and 1979.

At the peak of his career, Brock had some very solid competition in the National League for a spot on the All-Star roster. He shared crowded outfield space with Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Billy Williams, Willie McCovey, and Pete Rose.

The One That Got Away – Lou Brock Traded To The St. Louis Cardinals

The One That Got Away – Lou Brock Traded To The St. Louis Cardinals

On June 15, 1964, Lou Brock was traded from the Chicago Cubs to the St. Louis Cardinals.

The transaction also sent Jack Spring and Paul Toth to the Cards in exchange for Ernie Broglio, Doug Clemens, and Bobby Shantz.

While Brock showed flashes of the future with his knack for scoring runs and stealing bases, the Cubs had no idea of the treasure that they traded to their inner-division rivals. Brock possessed all of the tools that a team like Chicago needed – and now he was put in a position in which he would beat them…