Ernie Broglio

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Ernest Gilbert Broglio (born August 27, 1935 in Berkeley, California) was a righthanded pitcher in American Major League Baseball from 1959-66. Broglio signed with the independent Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League after he attended West Contra Costa Junior College. He was acquired by the New York Giants in 1956. After two seasons in the Giants' minor league system - when he won 17 games each year - Broglio was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in October 1958.

Although he led the National League in wins with 21 for the 1960 Cardinals and won 18 for the 1963 Redbirds, Broglio is best remembered as the "other player" in the ultimately lopsided trade that sent future Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder Lou Brock from the Chicago Cubs to the Cardinals on June 15, 1964.

When the deal was made, it was not seen as one-sided. Broglio had started slowly with the Cardinals that season, but had won 18 games only the year before and he was considered a top-flight starting pitcher. Brock - one of the fastest men in the game with surprising power as a hitter - had been a disappointment in Chicago. But Brock would bat .348 for the rest of the '64 season, leading the Cardinals to a world championship. He then would play another 15 years, star in two more World Series (1967-68), and set the career stolen base record (938, since broken by Rickey Henderson). Meanwhile, Broglio would a compile a record of seven wins and 19 defeats for the Cubs. It is rumored that in 1966, Broglio - upset with both his own performance and the constant abuse of Cub fans - burned his uniform and equipment at Wrigley Field and stormed off, never to return to Major League Baseball.[citation needed]

His final record in the majors: 77 wins, 74 defeats, with an earned run average of 3.74. Perhaps unfairly for Broglio, the term "Brock for Broglio" is still in use in the sports world to signify a ridiculously lopsided player trade.

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