Back to the St Louis Cardinals Newsfeed

Lou Brock has a message for his fans: 'It's great to be alive'

A move from a month-long stay at a local hospital to a rehabilitation center on Thursday marked the first step of Lou Brock's new life.

That step, unfortunately, was made without his left foot because his leg had to be amputated after a dangerous infection seized him last month. "It was a whirlwind. It just came on and it took us places we never had been before," said wife, Jackie, who added that Brock's life "definitely was in danger," before the amputation.

But it was an upbeat, 76-year-old Brock who greeted visitors Thursday.

"Today," deadpanned Brock, "is the day you have to make a decision – to keep the foot – or throw it away in the dumpster.