Ernie Broglio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ernie Broglio |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Broglio in 1961
|
|||
| Pitcher | |||
| Born: August 27, 1935 Berkeley, California, U.S. |
|||
| Died: July 16, 2019 (aged 83) San Jose, California, U.S. |
|||
|
|||
| debut | |||
| April 11, 1959, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| July 2, 1966, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 77–74 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.74 | ||
| Strikeouts | 849 | ||
| Teams | |||
|
|||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
|
|||
Ernest "Ernie" Gilbert Broglio (born August 27, 1935 – died July 16, 2019) was a professional baseball pitcher. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs in Major League Baseball (MLB). His career lasted from 1959 to 1966.
Ernie Broglio was known for leading the National League in wins in 1960 with 21 victories for the Cardinals. He also won 18 games in 1963. However, many baseball fans remember him for a big trade. On June 15, 1964, he was traded from the Cardinals to the Cubs for future Hall of Famer Lou Brock. Broglio's career in the major leagues ended in 1966. He passed away in 2019 from cancer.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Dreams
Ernie Broglio was born in Berkeley, California. He was the second child of Anna and Joseph Broglio. In 1945, when Ernie was ten, his family moved to El Cerrito, California. Ernie's dad worked two jobs, so Ernie learned to be very self-motivated. He loved baseball and basketball. He played on the varsity high school teams for both sports even as an eighth grader!
Ernie graduated from El Cerrito High School at age 17. Soon after, he signed with the Oakland Oaks. This team was part of the Pacific Coast League, a professional baseball league.
Baseball Career Highlights
Starting in the Minor Leagues
Ernie Broglio began his professional baseball journey in 1953. He was just 17 years old. In his first year with the Oakland Oaks, he had 2 wins and 4 losses. He also had an earned run average (ERA) of 6.89. An ERA shows how many earned runs a pitcher gives up per nine innings.
Ernie worked hard and got much better. By 1957, his ERA was 2.51 with the Dallas Eagles. During his time in the minor leagues, Ernie played for several teams. These included the Modesto Reds, Stockton Ports, and Phoenix Giants. In October 1958, he was part of a trade that sent him to the St. Louis Cardinals. This led to his chance to play in the major leagues.
Pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals
Ernie Broglio made his big league debut on April 11, 1959. He was 23 years old and playing for the St. Louis Cardinals. His first few games were tough, and he didn't get his first win until June 16. He finished his first season with 7 wins and 12 losses.
The 1960 season was a huge success for Ernie. He wasn't expected to be a main pitcher, but he pitched well. He ended up with an amazing 21 wins and only 9 losses. This made him the leader in wins for the entire National League that year! He also had one of the best ERAs in the league. Ernie was even ranked third for the Cy Young Award, which goes to the best pitcher. He also won the National League Sophomore of the Year Award. This award was given to the best player in their second full season.
After 1960, Ernie started having arm problems. He even received many shots in his shoulder in 1961. These arm issues played a role in the Cardinals' decision to trade him.
Playing for the Chicago Cubs
On June 15, 1964, Ernie Broglio was traded to the Chicago Cubs. This trade was a big deal in baseball history. The Cardinals sent Broglio, Doug Clemens, and Bobby Shantz to the Cubs. In return, the Cardinals received Lou Brock, Jack Spring, and Paul Toth.
At the time, many thought the Cubs got the better deal. Broglio had won 18 games the year before and was a top pitcher. Lou Brock was fast but hadn't played as well as expected for the Cubs. However, the Cardinals knew about Broglio's arm problems.
After the trade, Lou Brock became a superstar for the Cardinals. He helped them win the 1964 World Series that very year. He played for 15 more seasons and set many records, including the career stolen base record.
Sadly, Ernie Broglio's arm problems continued with the Cubs. He had a record of 1 win and 6 losses in 1965. In 1966, he had 2 wins and 6 losses before being sent back to the minor leagues. Because of how well Lou Brock played and how Broglio's career ended, many baseball fans consider this one of the most "lopsided" (uneven) trades ever.
Career Statistics
Ernie Broglio played for eight years in Major League Baseball. He appeared in 259 games. He recorded 849 strikeouts and pitched over 1337 innings. His career earned run average was 3.74. Ernie finished his major league career with 77 wins and 74 losses.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders
