Hubie Brooks was a professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues for 15 seasons. He was primarily a third baseman, but also played shortstop and outfield during his career. Brooks was known for his strong arm and solid defensive skills, as well as his ability to hit for power and average.
Brooks was born on September 24, 1956, in Los Angeles, California. He attended Arizona State University, where he played college baseball and was named an All-American in 1978. He was then drafted by the New York Mets in the first round of the 1978 MLB Draft.
Brooks made his Major League debut with the Mets in 1980, and quickly established himself as a solid player. He hit .307 with 16 home runs and 73 RBI in his rookie season, and finished third in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. He continued to play well for the Mets over the next few seasons, hitting over .280 each year and earning a reputation as one of the best defensive third basemen in the league.
In 1984, Brooks was traded to the Montreal Expos in a deal that brought catcher Gary Carter to the Mets. He played three seasons with the Expos, and continued to be a productive player. He hit a career-high 23 home runs in 1985, and was named to the National League All-Star team in 1986.
After the 1986 season, Brooks was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He played two seasons with the Dodgers, and then signed as a free agent with the California Angels in 1989. He played one season with the Angels, and then was traded to the Kansas City Royals in 1990.
Brooks played two seasons with the Royals, and then signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees in 1992. He played one season with the Yankees, and then signed with the Kansas City Royals again in 1993. He played one final season with the Royals in 1994, before retiring from baseball at the age of 37.
Over the course of his career, Brooks played in 1,612 games and had 5,499 at-bats. He hit .269 with 149 home runs and 824 RBI, and also stole 98 bases. He was a solid defensive player, with a career fielding percentage of .964.
After retiring from baseball, Brooks worked as a hitting coach for several teams, including the Montreal Expos, Florida Marlins, and Seattle Mariners. He also worked as a broadcaster for the Expos and Marlins, and was inducted into the Arizona State University Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.
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