R.I.P. Ernie Banks

Ernie Banks, who was a 14 time All Star during a 19 year career(1953-1971) with the Chicago Cubs, died on January 23rd, 2015 at age 83. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed. Banks won consecutive National League Most Valuable Player Awards in 1958 and 1959; in ’58 he hit 47 homers and drove in 129 while hitting .313 and in ’59 he hit 45 homers, had 143 RBIS and hit .304. Those are astounding numbers for a shortstop, which is where Banks spent the first half of his career before moving to first base.

Despite those numbers, the Cubs finished fifth in the eight team National League in both those MVP seasons. During most of his time in Chicago, the Cubs were mediocre to bad, and it wasn’t until late in his career that the Cubs came close to making it to the post season. But close isn’t the same as making it, and Banks, who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977, never played in the World Series, or any other post season series. Follow this link for some other Hall of Famers who never played in the World Series).

But what endeared Banks to Cubs fans until the end of his life was his cheerfulness and optimism and love for the game. Nicknamed  “Mr. Cub”, he was the first African American to play for the Cubs, and his number was the first one retired by the organization. This video from the Baseball Hall of Fame sums up Banks nicely.