ST. LOUIS, MO., September 6, 2020 – The St. Louis Cardinals organization, the St. Louis community and baseball fans everywhere are saddened this evening to learn of the passing of Hall of Famer Louis Clark “Lou” Brock at the age of 81.  Brock, who was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1985, is survived by his wife Jacqueline, daughter, Wanda, sons, Lou Jr. and Emory, stepchildren Marvin Hay and Jacqueline Means, grandchildren Darian, Alivia, Colston, Spencer and Iris, and preceded in death by his son, Daniel.

“Lou Brock was one of the most revered members of the St. Louis Cardinals organization and one of the very best to ever wear the Birds on the Bat,” said Cardinals’ Principal Owner & Chief Executive Officer William O. DeWitt Jr. “Lou was a Hall of Fame player, a great coach, an insightful broadcaster and a wonderful mentor to countless generations of Cardinals players, coaches and members of the front office.  He was an ambassador of the game around the country and a fan favorite who connected with millions of baseball fans across multiple generations.  He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.”

Brock enjoyed 19 seasons in the majors, including parts of 16 years with the Cardinals from 1964-79. The Louisiana native, who was born on June 18, 1939 in El Dorado, Arkansas, was a fan-favorite who still holds the National League record with 938 career stolen bases.

The Cardinals’ acquisition of outfielder Lou Brock from the Chicago Cubs on June 15, 1964, ranks as perhaps the greatest trade in franchise history. St. Louis traded pitchers Ernie Broglio and Bobby Shantz and outfielder Doug Clemens in exchange for Brock and pitchers Jack Spring and Paul Toth.

Over the course of his career with the Cardinals, Brock established himself as the most prolific base stealer in baseball history to that time. His 938 stolen bases stood as the Major League record until Rickey Henderson bettered the mark in 1991. Brock’s total remains the National League standard, and he owns the Major League record with 12 seasons of 50 or more steals. Brock led the N.L. in thefts on eight occasions (1966-69, 1971-74). He set the single-season record with 118 in 1974, bettering Maury Wills’ mark of 104 during the 1962 campaign, and finished 2nd in N.L. MVP voting that season. In 1978, the N.L. announced that its annual stolen base leader would receive the Lou Brock Award, making Brock the first active player to have an award named after him.

In addition to his base-stealing records, Brock was a career .293 batter with 3,023 hits. Eight times he batted at a .300 or better clip. In 1967, Brock slugged 21 home runs and had 76 RBI from the leadoff spot. He also had 52 stolen bases, making him the first player in baseball history with 20 homers and 50 steals. The following year, Brock topped the N.L. in doubles (46), triples (14) and stolen bases (62), becoming the first player in the Senior Circuit to do so since Honus Wagner of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1908. Brock joined the 3,000-hit club Aug. 13, 1979, with a fourth-inning single off Dennis Lamp of the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium. Brock’s 3,023 career hits rank 28th on baseball’s all-time list.

Upon his arrival in St. Louis, the left-handed hitting Brock paid immediate dividends, batting .348 for the balance of the 1964 season and propelling the Cardinals from eighth place in the N.L. to a World Championship win over the New York Yankees. The Cardinals won the World Series again in 1967 over the Boston Red Sox and were N.L. champions in 1968. Brock was at his best in postseason play. His .391 career batting average (34-for-87) ranks as the seventh-best in World Series history, while his 14 stolen bases are tied for the most all-time with Eddie Collins of the Philadelphia Athletics and Chicago White Sox. Brock holds the Fall Classic record for stolen bases in a single series (7 in both 1967 and 1968).

On the Cardinals’ career lists, Brock ranks first in stolen bases (888 – Vince Coleman is second with 549); second in games played (2,289), at-bats (9,125), runs (1,427) and hits (2,713); third in doubles (434) and total bases (3,776); fourth in triples (121); sixth in walks (681); and 11th in RBI (814). His 21 career leadoff home runs are the second-most in club annals.  Brock’s uniform no. 20 was retired by the Cardinals in 1979.

Brock remained active in baseball since retiring as a player following the 1979 season. He worked in the Cardinals’ broadcast booth from 1981 to 1984; was a base-running consultant for the Minnesota Twins in 1987, Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988 and Montreal Expos in 1993; and had served as a special instructor for the Cardinals (base running and outfield play) since 1995.

The six-time N.L. All-Star was a first-ballot National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee in 1985 and was an inaugural member of the Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014. He was voted the left fielder on the All-Busch Stadium II team in 2005. In 2015, Brock was voted by the fans as a member of Franchise Four, joining Bob Gibson, Rogers Hornsby and Stan Musial as one of the most impactful players who best represented the history of the Cardinals.

In 2016, the organization launched #STLisLou, a season-long campaign to honor and celebrate Lou Brock while helping raise money for children with diabetes in Lou’s name.  Brock fought various medical conditions in recent years, including having his left leg amputated below the knee because of an infection relative to a diabetic condition in 2015 and a diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma in 2017, but returned valiantly each time.  A fixture for many Opening Days in St. Louis, he recently visited Busch Stadium to cheer on the team and celebrate his 80th birthday in June 2019.

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Ric Hanson.

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(Radio Iowa) – Game week is finally here as Iowa State gets set for a season of uncertainty by hosting Louisiana. The Big-12 has installed rigorous testing procedures for this season. ISU athletic director Jamie Pollard says each Friday teams will be tested and a roster certified.

Pollard says teams must have 53 players certified for a game to be played, including enough players in all position groups.

Pollard says how teams are able to navigate through the pandemic will have a major impact on the standings.

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Hall of Famer Lou Brock, the dynamic leadoff hitter and base stealer who helped the St. Louis Cardinals win three pennants and two World Series in the 1960s, has died at 81. Dick Zitzmann, the outfielder’s longtime agent and friend, confirmed Brock’s death. Brock arrived in St. Louis in June 1964, swapped from the Chicago Cubs for pitcher Ernie Broglio in one of baseball’s most lopsided trades. Brock was an anchor for St. Louis as its combination of speed, defense and pitching made a top teams in the ’60s. Brock lost a leg from diabetes in recent years and was diagnosed with cancer in 2017.

CHICAGO (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt hit a three-run homer off a struggling Jon Lester, and the St. Louis Cardinals gained ground in the NL Central race with a 7-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs. St. Louis pulled within 1 1/2 games of Chicago with its third consecutive win over the division leaders, sweeping a doubleheader on Saturday after the Cubs won 4-1 in the series opener Friday night. The longtime rivals have one game left in their pandemic-shortened season series on Monday. Tommy Edman also homered for the Cardinals, who improved to 14-0 when they score at least five runs this season.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Edwin Encarnación hit a three-run homer, Dallas Keuchel threw five scoreless innings and the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 8-2 on Sunday to complete a four-game sweep. Keuchel left the game with lower back stiffness after throwing a few warmup pitches before the sixth inning and is considered day to day. He threw 49 pitches, allowed two hits and struck out two. The AL Central-leading White Sox went ahead 5-0 in the seventh inning against reliever Josh Staumont. Encarnación hit a 448-foot blast into the second deck of the fountains beyond the wall in left-center to score Yasmani Grandal and Jose Abreu.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are content to defend their Super Bowl title largely with the team that won it. After signing a handful of veteran free agents during an offseason unlike other, the Chiefs waived the majority of them Saturday as they trimmed down to 53 players for the start of the regular season. Among the notable names were running back DeAndre Washington, who was signed from Oakland, and former Miami safety Adrian Colbert. Most of the players waived as the Chiefs trimmed from their 80-man camp roster ahead of their opener Thursday night against Houston were inexpensive fliers and undrafted free agents.

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — Tyler O’Neill and Paul DeJong homered, five St. Louis pitchers combined on a three-hitter and the Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 5-1 to sweep a doubleheader. St. Louis pulled within 2 1/2 games of the NL Central-leading Cubs. Adam Wainwright pitched the Cardinals to a 4-2 win in the opener.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — José Abreu hit his 13th home run of the season in the first inning, Yasmani Grandal added a two-run shot, and the Chicago White Sox defeated the Kansas City Royals 5-3 behind Lucas Giolito. Abreu leads the majors with 40 RBIs in 40 games and extended his hitting streak to 19 games. His 425-foot, two-run shot pushed him past Baltimore’s Anthony Santander for the longest streak this season. Giolito (4-2) allowed three runs on five hits in six-plus innings, struck out nine and walked none. Alex Colome earned his ninth save in 10 tries. Kris Bubic (0-5) took the loss and Bubba Starling homered for the Royals.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are content to defend their Super Bowl title largely with the team that won it. After signing a handful of veteran free agents during an offseason unlike other, the Chiefs waived the majority of them Saturday as they trimmed down to 53 players for the start of the regular season. Among the notable names were running back DeAndre Washington, who was signed from Oakland, and former Miami safety Adrian Colbert. Most of the players waived as the Chiefs trimmed from their 80-man camp roster ahead of their opener Thursday night against Houston were inexpensive fliers and undrafted free agents.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Pascal Siakam (see-A’-kam) and Kyle Lowry each had double-doubles as the Toronto Raptors beat the Boston Celtics, 100-93 to even the Eastern Conference semifinal series at two games apiece. Siakam finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Lowry delivered 22 points and 11 boards. The game was tied until Toronto outscored Boston, 32-24 in the third quarter.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — The Denver Nuggets have squared their Western Conference semifinal series at a game apiece with a 110-101 win against the Los Angeles Clippers. Jamal Murray scored 27 points for Denver, which never trailed and led by as many as 23. Clippers forward Kawhi (kah-WY’) Leonard had 13 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists but shot only 4 for 17.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Authentic has captured the pandemic-delayed Kentucky Derby in front of near-empty empty stands at Churchill Downs. With John Velazquez aboard, Authentic went off at 9-1 and grabbed the lead out of the game before holding off 3-5 favorite, Tiz the Law by 1 1/4 lengths. It’s the sixth Derby victory for Bob Baffert, tying the all-time record for trainers.

(Council Bluffs) The Lewis Central boys cross country team placed three runners in the top fifteen and won the team championship at Abraham Lincoln, Saturday. SE Polk was the girls team champion with four runners in the top ten.  (Complete results here)

Boys Team Scoring

1. Lewis Central 68
2. Thomas Jefferson 72
3. LeMars 87
4. Harlan 104
5. Glenwood 115
6. Missouri Valley 120
7. Sergeant Bluff-Luton 131
8. Denison-Schleswig 217
9. Abraham Lincoln 228
10. St. Albert 246

Girls Team Scoring

1. SE Polk 32
2. Glenwood 54
3. Harlan 57
4. Sergeant Bluff-Luton 97
5. Lewis Central 168
6. Thomas Jefferson 169
7. Denison-Schleswig 175

(Pella) – Pella held a two-division cross country meet on Saturday and ACGC was among the participants in the small schools class. The Charger boys scored 64 points and placed 3rd while the girls team placed 4th with a total of 100. Jorja Hoover was the first runner in for the ACGC girls in 16th. (Complete results here)

Boys Team Scoring

1. Mid-Prairie 26
2. DM Christian 44
3. ACGC 64
4. Pella Christian 106
5. Collins-Maxwell 115
6. Baxter 182

Girls Team Scoring

1. Mid-Prairie 29
2. Panorama 55
3. DM Christian 77
4. ACGC 100
5. Lynnville-Sully 122
6. Collins-Maxwell 152
7. Pella Christian 175

Glenwood takes Atlantic Tournament 

Glenwood picked up five victories on their way to the Atlantic Tournament championship, Saturday. The Rams were winners in straight sets over Atlantic and Winterset and needed three sets to beat St. Albert, Treynor and Underwood. Scores:

Glenwood 2-1 over Underwood
Glenwood 2-0 over Winterset
Glenwood 2-1 over St. Albert
Glenwood 2-1 over Treynor
Glenwood 2-0 over Atlantic (21-7, 21-19)
Underwood 2-1 over St. Albert
Treynor 2-1 over Winterset
Treynor 2-0 over Atlantic (21-13, 21-9)
Treynor 2-1 over St. Albert
Winterset 2-0 over St. Albert
Underwood 2-1 over Winterset
Underwood 2-1 over Treynor
Underwood 2-1 over Atlantic (14-21, 21-18, 15-10)
St. Albert 2-0 over Atlantic (21-18, 21-14)

East Mills picks up Missouri Valley title 

The East Mills volleyball team won the Missouri Valley Championship, Saturday, 3-1. The Wolverines swept Griswold, Riverside and Boyer Valley to supplant themselves in the championship. Meanwhile, Missouri Valley was making a wild run through consolation after an early loss. The Lady Reds lost to Boyer Valley in their first match, but they beat Griswold, Riverside and avenged their loss to Boyer Valley to advance to the championship. They then beat East Mills in three sets, but as the consolation team they needed two wins over the Wolverines. Scores:

East Mills 2-1 over Missouri Valley (Championship Match)
East Mills 2-0 over Boyer Valley
East Mills 2-0 over Griswold (21-9, 21-12)
East Mills 2-0 over Riverside (21-17, 21-10)
Missouri Valley 2-1 over East Mills
Missouri Valley 2-0 over Boyer Valley
Missouri Valley 2-1 over Griswold (15-21, 21-9, 15-10)
Riverside 2-0 over Exira-EHK (21-13, 21-6)
Riverside 2-0 over Woodbine (21-12, 21-17)
Boyer Valley 2-1 over Exira-EHK (18-21, 21-16, 15-5)
Griswold 2-0 over Woodbine (21-14, 21-17)

Tri-Center bounces back to win in Clarinda 

The Tri-Center volleyball team bounced back from a couple losses in round robin play to win the Clarinda Tournament on Saturday. The Trojans were just 1-2 in pool play, beating Shenandoah and losing to Nodaway Valley and Clarinda to take the No. 4 seed in bracket play. T-C then went on a run with a three-set victory over West Central Valley, a sweep of Nodaway Valley in a tight battle and a three-set (27-25, 18-21, 15-13) win in the championship over Sidney. Scores:

Tri-Center 2-0 over Nodaway Valley (24-22, 22-20)
Tri-Center 2-0 over Shenandoah
Tri-Center 2-1 over West Central Valley
Tri-Center 2-1 over Sidney (Championship Match)
Sidney 2-0 over Clarinda
Sidney 2-1 over Clarinda
Nodaway Valley 2-0 over Shenandoah (21-17, 21-10)
Nodaway Valley 2-0 over West Central Valley (21-13, 21-7)
Nodaway Valley 2-0 over Tri-Center (21-15, 22-20)
Clarinda 2-0 over Shenandoah
Clarinda 2-0 over Tri-Center
Clarinda 2-0 over West Central Valley

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are content to defend their Super Bowl title largely with the team that won it. After signing a handful of veteran free agents during an offseason unlike other, the Chiefs waived the majority of them Saturday as they trimmed down to 53 players for the start of the regular season. Among the notable names were running back DeAndre Washington, who was signed from Oakland, and former Miami safety Adrian Colbert.

Fans watch the Kansas City Chiefs during NFL football training camp Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs opened the stadium to 5,000 season ticket holders to watch practice as the team plans to open the regular season with a reduced capacity of approximately 22 percent of normal attendance. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Most of the players waived as the Chiefs trimmed from their 80-man camp roster ahead of their opener Thursday night against Houston were inexpensive fliers and undrafted free agents.

CHICAGO (AP) — Adam Wainwright pitched six-hit ball into the seventh inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 4-2 in the first game of a doubleheader. Wainwright allowed two runs, struck out six and walked one while improving to 4-0 for the first time in his career.

St. Louis Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

The 6-foot-7 right-hander tossed a four-hitter in a 7-2 victory over Cleveland on his 39th birthday in his previous start. Paul DeJong drove in two runs for St. Louis, which had dropped two in a row. Kolten Wong had two hits and scored twice.

KJAN Sports Director Chris Parks’ weekly talk on Atlantic Fall sports. This week we hear from Cross Country Coach Dan Vargason and Volleyball Coach Michelle Blake.

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