ST. LOUIS -- Hall of Famer Lou Brock, who was diagnosed with blood cancer earlier this year, announced Friday that he has been declared cancer-free.
"To God be the glory!" Brock wrote in a statement. "Today, I received the greatest news ever. My doctor informed me that I am cancer-free. The battle against cancer is not easy. However, I remained hopeful. I would like to thank my family, friends and fans for all their prayers and support during the battle. With the power of Almighty God, all things are possible!"
Brock, who had part of his left leg amputated in 2015 due to complications from diabetes, made his cancer diagnosis public in mid-April. He underwent treatment for multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that starts in the bone marrow's plasma cells, in St. Louis, a city he made his home after playing parts of 16 seasons with the Cardinals.
The health complications have precluded Brock from making many public appearances this year. He did not spend time with the club at Spring Training and was missing from the Cardinals' Opening Day festivities. Brock was able to attend a May reunion with teammates from the Cardinals' 1967 World Championship club.
Brock, 78, was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985 after a 19-year career in which he stole 938 bases, still a National League record. He posted 12 seasons with 50 or more steals in a season, and he ranks 25th on the all-time list with 3,023 hits.
Brock was a member of two World Championship teams and established Major League records for highest career batting average (.391) and most stolen bases in a World Series with seven in both 1967 and 1968. His uniform number (20) is one of 12 that has been retired by the Cardinals.