Originally a third baseman, and the third player chosen in the June 1978 draft, Hubie
Brooks was an early key to the rebuilt fortunes of the Mets. Though he gave the club
its first real stability at third base, Brooks was shifted to shortstop in 1984 to
make room for Ray Knight and was then traded with Floyd Youmans,
Mike Fitzgerald
and
Herm Winningham to the Expos for
Gary Carter after the season. An outstanding
clutch hitter, in 1985 Brooks became the first NL shortstop since
Ernie Banks (1960)
to drive in 100 runs. Off to his greatest season in 1986, when he hit .340, Hubie
was sidelined by a series of injuries, the most severe being torn ligaments and bone
chips in his left thumb. His 1987 season was shortened by a broken wrist, suffered
when he was hit by a
Danny Darwin pitch. Brooks earned Silver Slugger Awards in 1985
and 1986.
Never a good fielder even at third base (he led NL third basemen in errors
in 1981), Brooks's extreme lack of range at shortstop led the Expos to move him to
right field in 1988. The move may have helped his durablity, but even in the outfield
his defense proved barely adequate.
(ME)
Hubie Brooks
