Most Chicago Cubs fans applauded the 1964 deal that brought them veteran pitcher Ernie Broglio from St. Louis for outfielder Lou Brock. After all, Broglio had won eighteen games for the Cards the previous year, while Brock hadn't shown much during his two years in Chicago. As it turned out, it was the Cardinals who got the better of the deal -- by far. The team had the sense to turn the speedy 24-year-old loose, and in return Brock's speed led St. Louis to a championship that year and again in 1967. Brock averaged over 55 steals per season for the Cardinals, finishing his 19-year career with a record 938 stolen bases. His 118 swipes in 1974 still stand as the most ever in National League history. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1985.
Unlike Brock, Vince Coleman started fast. Literally. Having already won three stolen base titles in three minor league seasons, Coleman joined the Cardinals in 1985 and promptly stole two bases in his major-league debut. Appropriately enough, his first career home run was an inside-the-park drive a month later. After setting a major-league rookie stolen base record with 110 steals that season (taking the Rookie of the Year Award), Coleman stole 107 the next, tying Brock's record of 28 steals without being caught. With 109 steals in 1987, he became the first player ever to steal a hundred bases in three consecutive seasons. Coleman went on to lead the league in steals for six consecutive seasons, tying a record set by Maury Wills, and set a major-league record with 50 consecutive successful stolen base attempts in 1988. In 1991, after joining the New York Mets, injuries began to take their toll on Coleman, who never recaptured his past glory. Nevertheless, his 752 career stolen bases rank fifth on the all-time list.
HITTING
HITTING
For a speedster, Brock showed decent power early in his career. His tater totals were often in the double-digits, and one of the few highlights of his rookie season was a towering home run at the Polo Grounds against the New York Mets. But as his stolen base totals increased, Brock focused more on hitting for average. He usually had a batting average at or close to .300, but his on-base percentage was low for a lead-off hitter -- he struck out far too often (1,730 career whiffs) and had trouble drawing walks.
A switch-hitter who hit as well from the left as the right, Coleman had an unusual swing in which he almost flung his bat at the pitch. He didn't hit for power -- his six homers for the Cards in 1990 rank as his career high -- and in fact was most successful when he kept the ball on the ground, able to race the throw to first base. Like Brock, Coleman had trouble with his strikeout-to-walk ratio throughout his career.
DEFENSE
DEFENSE
Seven times Brock led NL outfielders in errors -- almost as many times as he led the league in stolen bases. His defense was one of the main reasons the Cubs were willing to deal him to the Cardinals, and in St. Louis his atrocious outfield play continued. He committed at least ten gaffes in every season from 1964 to 1973. His one memorable catch came with the Cubs in 1964, when he snared a Vada Pinson line drive off the center-field wall; Brock later admitted that he hadn't intended to actually catch the ball, but merely to show the fans he had tried.
Coleman was no Gold Glover, but his speed was an asset in the vast Busch Stadium outfield and his arm strength sometimes surprised baserunners trying to take advantage of his defensive anonymity.
BASERUNNING
BASERUNNING
Brock's eight stolen-base titles and career steal totals attest to his domination on the basepaths -- and those totals might have even been higher had his speed not stretched singles into doubles or triples. Always daring, Brock consistently challenged outfielders' arm strength going from first to third.
Duke Snider once wrote he thought he'd seen the fastest runners ever in Lou Brock and Maury Wills until Rickey Henderson and Tim Raines came along. Then he saw Coleman, who topped everyone. Blessed with tremendous quickness, Coleman was able to take huge leads off of first base, daring the pitcher to try to pick him off. They rarely did. Like any runner of his caliber, Coleman had little trouble when it came to taking the extra base.
LEADERSHIP/CHARACTER
LEADERSHIP/CHARACTER
Brock was golden in the clutch, especially in postseason play. He twice tied a World Series major-league record with seven stolen bases, and his .391 career World Series average still stands as the highest ever for anyone with over 20 appearances in the Fall Classic.
Except for his six stolen bases in the 1987 World Series, Coleman was a non-factor in the Fall Classic both times his Cardinals won the NL pennant. In 1985, he missed the series after an automated tarpaulin ran over his leg; in 1987, he hit just .143 against the Minnesota Twins. As his career stalled, Coleman became known for foolish behavior on and off the field. With the Mets, he was often ejected for arguing calls and had a reputation for having a bad attitude. In 1993, he threw a lit firecracker into the parking lot of Dodger Stadium; the resultant explosion won Coleman 200 hours of community service.
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