The 1964 Chicago Cubs season was the 93rd season of the Chicago Cubs franchise, the 89th in the National League and the 49th at Wrigley Field. The Cubs finished eighth in the National League with a record of 76âÂÂ86, 17 games behind the NL and World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals.
On February 13, Ken Hubbs, who had been the Cubs starting second baseman in 1963, was killed in a plane crash. He was replaced by Joey Amalfitano, who was acquired from the San Francisco Giants a few weeks later.
On June 15, the Cubs made one of the most infamous deals in baseball history, remembered today simply as "Brock for Broglio". There were six players involved in all, but the most prominent players involved were pitcher Ernie Broglio, who came to the Cubs from the St. Louis Cardinals, and outfielder Lou Brock, who went to the Cardinals from the Cubs. While Broglio was a serviceable starter for the rest of 1964, he would post ERAs over 6 in each of the next two seasons, and was out of baseball altogether by the end of 1967. Brock went on to star for the Cardinals for the next fifteen years, and eventually be elected to the Hall of Fame. It is to this day often held up as an example of a lopsided trade outcome.
The Cubs in 1963 had been a team that had arrived, finishing over .500 for the first time since 1946.
They had a great nucleus with Hubbs, Ron Santo, Billy Williams, Ernie Banks, pitchers Dick Ellsworth and Larry Jackson, and Brock. In 1963, the Cubs finished second in the league in ERA and second in giving up the fewest runs, earned runs, and walks.
With Hubbs on the team in 1964, it is highly unlikely the Cubs would have pushed the panic button and traded Brock. With Brock batting first, Hubbs second, followed by Williams, Santo, and Banks in 1964, the Cubs would have fielded a strong lineup, as they had in 1963.
That 1964 lineup featured three future Hall of Famers even without Hubbs and Brock. Left fielder Williams batted .312 that year with 33 homers and 98 RBI, and garnered some MVP votes. Third baseman Santo batted cleanup, with a .313 average, a major league leading 13 triples, a National League high 86 walks, and a league leading .398 on-base percentage. First baseman Banks was fifth in the lineup. He batted only .264 that year, but had 23 homers and 95 RBI.
With the cloud of Hubbs' untimely passing hanging over their heads, however, the Cubs finished ten games under .500.
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
<small>LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Treasure Valley</small>