Brock in therapy after amputation of left leg
Hall of Famer had surgery following diabetes infection.
Cardinals Hall of Famer Lou Brock had his left leg amputated below the knee due to an infection related to diabetes.
The Cardinals and longtime friend Dick Zitzmann confirmed Wednesday that Brock, 76, had surgery last month. Brock is undergoing therapy at a St. Louis-area hospital and will be fitted for a prosthetic leg.
Brock was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes about 15 years ago and had the procedure Oct. 27, Zitzmann said.
“He’s got a long road ahead, but he’s a tough guy,” Zitzmann said. “He’s got a great attitude.”
Brock has been a spokesman for a diabetes drug manufacturer for the past five years. Zitzmann said Brock “watched his diet meticulously.”
Brock stole a National League-record 938 bases, including 118 in 1974. He also had 3,023 hits, becoming a star after a celebrated trade from the Cubs in 1964 for pitcher Ernie Broglio.
Zitzmann arranges appearances for Brock
and other Cardinals Hall of Famers. He said Brock complained of leg pain on a flight from about a month before the surgery.
“The infection got real bad, real quick,” Zitzmann said. “It just happened so fast.”
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The Cy Young Award finalists are 2014 winner Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers teammate Zack Greinke and the Cubs’ Jake Arrieta in the NL, and Oakland’s Sonny Gray, Houston’s Dallas Keuchel and Toronto’s David Price in the AL.
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The commissioner’s office has been discussing the issue with teams following a series of injuries to fans this year. Owners will discuss the matter when they meet in Dallas on Nov. 18-19.
Manfred also said he remains hopeful a major league team will play an exhibition game in Cuba during spring training. MLB also hopes to play regular-season games in Europe within five years and return to Mexico for the first time since 1999.
In addition, MLB is unlikely to cut the regular season from 162 games to 154, although chief legal officer Dan Halem said teams will explore ways to add “more flexibility in our schedule.”
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Hicks, 26, takes the roster spot of Chris Young, who became a free agent. Hicks hit .256 with 11 homers and 33 RBIs in 97 games for the Twins this year, including .307 against left-handers.