“People equate stealing a base to winning a game,” Brock would later say. “They don’t equate a home run or a single to winning a game. A stolen base is designed to go from one base to another. It’s part of the game.”
In 1974, at age 35, Brock set a major league record with 118 steals. Three years later, Brock eclipsed Hall of Famer Ty Cobb’s all-time mark when he stole the 893rd base of his career. When Brock retired in 1979, the six-time All-Star finished with a .293 batting average and 938 stolen bases – which remains the second-highest total in baseball history.
While Brock broke into the majors at age 22, Wilhelm pitched for 10 years in the minor leagues before finally receiving his big league chance at age 29. He was once released by a Class D team in Mooresville, N.C., and had even suffered shrapnel wounds in his pitching arm while fighting in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II.
Wilhelm’s inauspicious start, however, simply made the rest of his career all the more remarkable. Though he started just 52 games in his career, Wilhelm pitched for nine teams over 21 major league seasons and set the all-time record at the time by pitching in 1,070 total games. He compiled 14 seasons with an ERA under 3.00 and became the first pitcher to win ERA titles in both leagues in 1959.