RetroSimba

Lou Brock hit .451 with six home runs and 16 RBI in the first 10 games of the 1967 season for the Cardinals.

“Lou Brock likes to refer to his initials, L.B., as standing for Long Ball,” The Sporting News reported. “The Cardinals outfielder wasn’t kidding as he went into orbit the first week of the new season.”

The Cardinals played the Giants, Dodgers and Astros in the first 10 games. Six of the 10 starting pitchers Brock faced in that stretch would be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He faced the Giants’ Juan Marichal and the Dodgers’ Don Sutton twice apiece and the Giants’ Gaylord Perry and the Dodgers’ Don Drysdale once each.

Brock produced eight RBI with hits in seven consecutive at-bats over two games April 15-16.

On April 15, Brock was 4-for-6 with two home runs and five RBI in the Cardinals’ 13-4 victory over the Dodgers at St. Louis. After Brock was retired in his first two at-bats, teammate Mike Shannon noticed Brock had closed his stance.

“I asked (hitting coach) Dick Sisler about it and Dick told Lou to open up again,” Shannon said.

Brock hit a solo home run off Joe Moeller in the seventh and a three-run home run off Bruce Brubaker, making his big-league debut, in the eighth. Boxscore

On April 16, Brock was 4-for-5 with two solo home runs against former teammate Mike Cuellar and three RBI in the Cardinals’ 11-8 victory over the Astros at St. Louis. Boxscore

After the game, Brock told the Associated Press a switch to a 35-ounce bat, heavier than the model he usually used, helped his early-season hitting. Said Sisler: “The heavier bat Brock is using cuts down on his swing, so he’s not getting out in front of the ball.”

Brock’s other two home runs in the opening 10 games were a three-run shot off Marichal in the season opener April 11 and a solo homer off the Giants’ Bob Bolin on April 20.

In sparking the Cardinals to the 1967 National League pennant, Brock finished the regular season with career highs of 206 hits, 21 home runs and 76 RBI.

Previously: Lou Brock to Lance Berkman: comeback specialists