Former Cubs pitcher Ernie Broglio, who was involved in one of the most lopsided deals in sports history, died Tuesday at age 83, his daughter told the San Jose Mercury-News.
The Mercury-News report said Broglio had an undisclosed form of cancer.
The term “Brock for Broglio” became a part of the sports lexicon in 1964 when the Cubs dealt young outfielder Lou Brock to the Cardinals in a multiplayer deal that brought back Broglio as the centerpiece.
Brock went on to become five-time All-Star and a Hall of Famer and helped lead the Cardinals to World Series titles in 1964 and 1967. Broglio endured elbow problems that ultimately led to surgery and went 7-19 with a 5.40 ERA in three seasons with the Cubs.
The good-natured Broglio never seemed to be bothered by the fact he was always mentioned as being the bad part of one of the worst trades in baseball. He laughed when he was booed at an Old Timers game at Wrigley Field.
“It’s always nice to talk about that trade,” the 78-year-old Broglio told the Tribune’s David Haugh on the 50th anniversary of the deal in 2014. “I don’t mind. At least they remember who I am.”
Broglio led the National League with 21 wins for the Cardinals in 1960, when he finished third in Cy Young voting, and went 70-55 with a 3.74 ERA in six seasons in St. Louis. But on June 15, 1964, he was dealt to the Cubs along with Doug Clemens and Bobby Shantz for Brock, Jack Spring and Paul Toth.
The Tribune reported the day after the deal that manager Bob Kennedy became “irritated by … Brock’s erratic outfield play and unsound baserunning.” Brock went on to become the greatest base-stealers of his generation with 938. Kennedy also said the addition of Broglio “gives us as good a pitching staff as there is in the league,” another optimistic assessment that didn’t pan out.
Most fans in St. Louis were upset with the deal, which was considered lopsided the other direction. Cubs fans were ecstatic, and the Chicago Daily News began its report on the trade with the lede: “Thank you, thank you, oh, you lovely St. Louis Cardinals. Nice doing business with you. Please call again any time.”
The trade was almost always mentioned anytime one team dealt a player who would go on to become a star for another who didn’t pan out.
Former Cubs marketing chief John McDonough invited Brock and Broglio to the 1995 Cubs Convention, at which Broglio said to Brock: “Do you know why I’m here? I’m here because of you.”
Brock laughed and replied: “History put us together. We’re joined at the hip.”
Broglio continued to root for the Cubs in retirement and before they won their long-sought title in 2016 he told the Mercury-News: “I told Lou Brock, ‘I better go before you, because you’re in the Hall of Fame and well-remembered. I’m only remembered for the trade.’ “
