John Brock
From BR Bullpen
John Roy Brock
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 6½", Weight 165 lb.
- Debut August 10, 1917
- Final Game September 2, 1918
- Born October 16, 1896 in Hamilton, IL USA
- Died October 27, 1951 in Clayton, MO USA
[edit] Biographical Information
John Brock got a couple shots at the majors at a young age. He broke in with the 1917 St. Louis Cardinals at the age of 20, hitting .400 in 15 at-bats and playing catcher. He made one error in the field in the four games he caught.
Back with the 1918 St. Louis Cardinals under a new manager (Jack Hendricks), he hit .212 in 52 at-bats, but made 3 errors in the 18 games he caught as the third-string catcher.
His batting average was below that of the other two catchers, and his fielding percentage was also, and there was a new manager in 1919, so he didn't stay. Nor, for that matter, did first-string catcher Mike Gonzalez, who moved to the New York Giants but eventually came back to play again for the Cardinals.
Although Brock had a short career, he once pinch-hit for pitcher Earl Howard in Howard's only game in the bigs, thus depriving Howard of his only chance at a major league at-bat. See SABR Biography of Earl Howard.
