There are two things Ernie Banks could do better than almost anyone who has walked this earth: hit a baseball, and bring a smile to another person’s face.
Those are two pretty darn awesome qualities to have.
Baseball lost one of its legends on Friday when it was announced that Banks died at the age of 83.
Nicknamed “Mr. Cub,” Banks was the first black player in the history of the Chicago Cubs. The Hall of Famer hit 512 career home runs, was voted to 14 All-Star Games and won two MVPs, becoming the first player in history to win the NL MVP Award in consecutive years.
Banks incredibly never made the postseason, but that never got his spirit down. He was a beloved figure as he played his entire career — all 19 years — with the Cubs. He was known for his wonderful attitude, which was embodied by his famous quote, “Let’s play two!”
Banks led the league in home runs, RBIs and intentional walks twice, and he led the league in slugging percentage and total bases once — all while he was a shortstop.
Banks was a first-ball Hall of Famer who was elected in 1977 when he received 83.8 percent of the vote, which was more than any other player on the ballot that year.
Banks was one of the great players in the history of the game and will be missed. I’d like to add in a personal note about Banks. I am incredibly lucky to own his 1954 Topps rookie card (it was part of a complete set given to my as a gift by my father). That was one of the best sets in baseball history, and Banks’ rookie card is one of the biggest reasons why. And there is one more thing about Banks that I will never forget. In 2004, I spent the entire baseball season working for the Dodgers. Whether it was in the clubhouse, on the field, or in the press box, I came across many legends of the game. Vin Scully, Albert Pujols and Tommy Lasorda are just some of the people I won’t forget coming across. But there was only one time I was ever starstruck: the time I saw Ernie Banks in the press box. That smile was unmistakable, and it instantly made me happy. Ernie freaking Banks! Mr. Cub! He is a beloved baseball figure who will be missed.
