The late great Ernie Banks is now playing two!!!!!!!!!
Just a few days ago the baseball world lost an incredible person Chicago Cubs legend Ernie Banks passed away at the age of eighty three. Ernie Banks started his career in the year of 1950 in the Negro professional baseball league with the team Kansas City Monarchs. He had an incredible career playing in the Major Leagues he played a total of 19 seasons with the Chicago Cubs in his career he was a eleven time National League All Star along with playing in fourteen All Star games. Mr. Banks was considered by many as one of the all time greatest players to ever play the game. He played first base along with playing shortstop which many players don't even do which was amazing to read about. Ernie received his first two Most Valuable awards in the 1958 and 1959 season playing first base. He received a golden glove award which is given to the best defensive player at that particular position during the 1960 season. During the season of 1961 Ernie Banks played left field for a short time the Cubs Manager Leo Durocher made the decision to put him back at first base. The Cubs Manager was getting frustrated with Banks performance, and he wanted to pull him out of the lineup. Durocher realized he couldn't take him out of the lineup because of the popularity he had amongst the Cubs fans. Ernie Banks and Bob Nelson became the first African Americans to be owners of a Ford Company in the mid 50's.
Before being known in baseball Ernie grew up in Dallas Texas with eleven siblings ten of them were younger than Ernie. In his school they didn't have a high school baseball team so instead he played fast pitch softball in the summer. In high school he lettered in basketball, football, and track. Ernie Banks was discovered by a Bill Blair who worked for the Monarchs which lead to him playing professional baseball. Even though he got to one season with the Monarchs in 1951 he was drafted in the United States Army and served in Germany during the Korean War. During his basic training he suffered a knee injury which lead to a knee injury but he was able to recover with rest and relaxation. While serving as the flag bearer in the 45th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion at Fort Bliss he played part time with the Harleem Globetrotters. After serving two years with the military he returned back to play with the Kansas City Monarchs. What was interesting is that Ernie Banks was reluctant to join the Cubs because of how much love and support he had playing for the Monarchs. While playing Shortstop with the Cubs he and another African American by the name of Gene Baker became a dangerous double play pair that was unbelievable.
He Had a career average of being the mid 200's and five hundred and twelve homeruns, along with 2,583 hits. One of the famous quotes Mr. Banks had was " It is a beautiful day for a ball game, let's play two" it was a way for him to express for the love of the game. When he was inducted into the baseball hall of fame he was the only one to be inducted by the baseball writers association of America. Ernie Banks was married twice but his marriage was interesting because of the way he proposed to her. He did it through a letter while serving in Germany while in the military. Shortly a few years later he divorced his wife and she came away with few valuables including his 500 career homerun ball.
While playing for the Cubs he held the most games played without reaching the postseason game which was 2,528. Ernie was always asked about playing with Cubs his response was " I never had any regret in playing for the Cubs rather than signing with a successful franchise". He was the first person to have his number retired by the team. What is also interesting but a respectful thing to do was giving a statue right outside of the stadium in showing their appreciation towards him. The Cubs fans say that even though they don't have a mascot they know they can rely on Mr. Banks being their mascot for the commitment he put into the organization and the way he represented himself outside of the ballpark. He wanted to run for alderman in the early 60's but lost that election because of the way people perceived him to be which was a ball player. He knew it would be impossible for him win that election because most didn't think he would be fit for the position. He was a huge community activist while playing for Chicago. He especially gave back to those living in the projects and suburbs in helping those who were unfortunate. He felt it was important to allow the younger children to have the chance in playing sports, and having the things they needed.
After he retired from playing baseball he served as the team ambassador though other reporters said he never was in position of authority or had any significant influence. The society of American Baseball research ranked Ernie Banks at number twenty seven out of one hundred players amongst the greatest of all time. What is interesting is that he was wanting to part of the people who owned the Cubs. He along with other people formed a group in wanting to buy the Cubs when they were up for sale. as he got older he made appearances at all star games and hall of fame induction ceremonies. In 2013 he received the medal of freedom award from President Obama he was one of the thirteen people that had the honor to get the award. As a show of appreciation he gave the President a bat that belonged to Jackie Robinson. What was also interesting about Ernie Banks was he was a ordained minister and he presided the wedding of a former major league athlete Sean Marshall.
Most people who grew up watching Ernie Banks they said he was an incredible hitter as well as an amazing fielder. Many people enjoyed watching him at shortstop in how smooth, and clean he played the position. He didn't have much power but he was a very smart hitter who made it impossible for pitchers to get him out. His patients at the plate drove a lot of pitchers insane because of how competitive he was. On January 23, 2015 Ernie had passed away from an heart attack just a few days before his 84th birthday. Ernie was an incredible leader for the game of baseball, and for the city for Chicago. Many people enjoyed his optimism and his eternal faith and that one day the Cubs will go all the way and win the World Series. He leaves a huge whole in the game of baseball that we will never forget. Since I was to young to ever see him play the game looking up videos of how he played the game made it very exciting. I know myself and other fans of baseball will truly miss him and still cant believe he is gone. Everyone should think anytime you step on the field and it is a beautiful day for a game just think what Ernie Banks would say " Lets Play Two".
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