The 1963 Cubs had unexpectedly finished over .500 at 82-80, their first winning season in 17 years.
So in 1964, when they were muddling around .500 in early June, general manager John Holland decided to make a move to bolster the pitching staff.
Ernie Broglio was 28 years old, had won 18 games in ‘63 (back when pitcher wins meant something). He had posted a 2.99 ERA that year and was coming off four seasons (1960-63) when he had finished third in Cy Young voting and posted 17.8 bWAR.
The Cubs thought they had a steal when they acquired Broglio, reliever Bobby Shantz and outfielder Doug Clemens from the Cardinals for pitchers Jack Spring and Paul Toth and an outfielder who never fulfilled his promise as a Cub, some guy named Lou Brock.