They Called Him Baseball’s Most Dangerous Player

Lou Brock
Shonda Buchanan
March 16, 2021

The bases were loaded. It was like a dream young Lou Brock had enjoyed many years ago when he was a child listening to the radio

Jackie Robinson had just broken the color barrier in Major League Baseball, sticking it to racists who doubted his talent. Brock wondered if he could ever do something so inspiring.

Born into a family of sharecroppers in the segregated South of the 1940s, it was only natural to play the sport that had given him his first taste of mental freedom once he reached college. But it wouldn’t be an easy road.

His first few seasons as a pro weren’t spectacular, and when he was traded to the Cardinals teammates were skeptical.

Now here he was at the World Series, all eyes on him. He knew countless Black people were glued to the radio back home.

Brock stole every base he could steal, leading his team to their 7th World Series win! His reputation as the fastest man in the league and its greatest base-stealer had Black people swelling with pride everywhere. 

Robinson’s sacrifice had cleared the path for Brock to achieve his childhood dreams, despite racists who wanted them both to fail.

Despite the racism that seeks to limit our dreams, Brock showed us that we can determine our own lives and careers, rising above our circumstances to make our community proud. 

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