Hubie Brooks facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hubie Brooks
Right fielder / Third baseman / Shortstop
Born: (1956-09-24) September 24, 1956 (age 68) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
September 4, 1980, for the New York Mets
Last appearance
July 2, 1994, for the Kansas City Royals
MLB statistics
Batting average	.269
Home runs	149
Runs batted in	824
Teams
New York Mets (1980–1984) Montreal Expos (1985–1989) Los Angeles Dodgers (1990) New York Mets (1991) California Angels (1992) Kansas City Royals (1993–1994)
Career highlights and awards
2× All-Star (1986, 1987) 2× Silver Slugger Award (1985, 1986)

Hubert "Hubie" Brooks (born September 24, 1956) is a former American professional baseball player. He played for 15 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Hubie was a versatile player, playing as a right fielder, third baseman, and shortstop.

He played for five different teams from 1980 to 1994. These teams included the New York Mets, Montreal Expos, Los Angeles Dodgers, California Angels, and Kansas City Royals. Brooks was chosen third overall in the 1978 Major League Baseball draft. He was also named an All-Star twice during his career.

Hubie Brooks' Early Baseball Journey

Hubie Brooks was first drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1974. This was when he was a senior at Manuel Dominguez High School. However, he decided to go to college instead. He attended Whittier College and then transferred to Arizona State University.

While playing for the Arizona State Sun Devils, Brooks played in two NCAA College World Series. His team won the championship in 1977. He was drafted several more times by different teams. Still, he chose not to sign with any of them.

After finishing his college career, the Mets drafted him in 1978. He was the third player chosen overall. Brooks started his professional career with the double A Jackson Mets. He later moved to play third baseman and some outfield.

Playing for the New York Mets

Hubie Brooks joined the New York Mets in 1980. He quickly became a starter at third base in 1981. Fans in New York City really liked him. He batted .307 with four home runs and 38 runs batted in (RBIs) that season.

He finished third in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. In 1984, Brooks set a Mets record. He had a 24-game hitting streak. During this time, he batted .398. He also set new career highs with 13 home runs and 61 RBIs.

Later in 1984, the Mets got another third baseman, Ray Knight. Brooks then moved to play shortstop for the rest of the season.

Time with the Montreal Expos

In December 1984, Hubie Brooks was part of a big trade. The Mets sent him and other players to the Montreal Expos. In return, the Mets received All-Star catcher Gary Carter. Brooks became a key player for the Expos.

He became a Silver Slugger Award–winning shortstop in 1985. He hit a career-high 100 runs that year. This was the second-highest among all major league shortstops. In 1986, he was batting .333 with 14 home runs and 54 RBIs. This earned him his first All-Star selection.

Unfortunately, he tore ligaments in his left thumb. This ended his season early. Despite the injury, he still won the Silver Slugger Award for the second year in a row. In 1987, Brooks was again injured early in the season. He fractured his right wrist.

When he returned, he continued to be a top slugging shortstop. He hit 7 home runs and drove in 30 runs. This earned him his second All-Star selection. In the All-Star game, he scored a key run in the thirteenth inning.

For the 1988 season, the Expos moved Brooks to right field. He had one of his best offensive seasons that year. He batted .279 with 90 RBIs and a career-high 20 home runs. He played one more season in right field for the Expos.

Playing for Other Teams

In 1990, Hubie Brooks signed with his home team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. He continued to play in right field. In his only season with the Dodgers, he batted .266. He also hit 20 home runs and had 91 RBIs.

After that season, he was traded back to the New York Mets. In 1991, his season was cut short by a pinched nerve in his back. He batted .238 with 16 home runs and 50 RBIs in 103 games.

In 1991, the Mets traded him to the California Angels. He was reunited with his former Expos manager, Buck Rodgers. Brooks played as the designated hitter. He batted .213 with 7 home runs and 30 RBIs before a neck injury sidelined him.

The Kansas City Royals signed Brooks in 1993. He played as a right-handed bat off the bench. He batted .303 as a pinch hitter. He continued in this role until he was released in 1994.

Career Statistics

Hubie Brooks played in 1645 games during his MLB career. He had 1608 hits and 149 home runs. He also drove in 824 runs. His career batting average was .269.

Brooks achieved career highs in home runs (20) in both 1988 and 1990. He had his highest RBI total (100) in 1985. In 1981, he finished 8th in batting average with .307.