[1] Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Brooks began his professional baseball career in 1924 with the Columbus Senators of the Tri-State League where he had 195 hits in 145 games for a .342 batting average.

[3][5] Brooks went on to be a regular for the Cubs that season, playing the second-most games of any outfielder.

It was a rather successful rookie campaign; Brooks trailed only future Hall of Fame member Gabby Hartnett for the club's lead in home runs with 14, good enough to finish tenth in the entire National League in that category.

[1] Brooks, however, fell victim to the Cubs' acquisition of star outfielder Hack Wilson and found himself all but useless in the 1926 season.

[1] Brooks returned to the minor leagues where he played for a number of teams before retiring in 1931 at the age of 33.