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Jan 23, 2015 · • Banks was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1977. In '99, he was one of three shortstops named to Major League Baseball's All-Century team, joining Honus Wagner and Cal Ripken Jr. • Banks' 2,528 games are the 11th most in history for a player who spent his entire career with only one team.
- Legacy
- Early career
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- Notable players
Ernie Banks reprised his signature line at his Hall of Fame induction speech in 1977. His sunny disposition was perfect for the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field, last outpost of exclusively day baseball. Perhaps no player defines his team as thoroughly as Mr. Cub, who played with joy and immense talent for the Cubs from 1953-71, though never maki...
A native of Dallas, Texas, 19-year-old Ernie Banks debuted for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro leagues in 1950. After two years in the Army, Banks returned to the Monarchs, who sold his contract to the Chicago Cubs in 1953. His debut on September 17th marked the first appearance of an African-American player for the franchise.
Banks started every game at shortstop for the Cubs in 1954, finishing 2nd in NL Rookie-of The Year voting and 16th in MVP voting. Banks would go on to win Most Valuable Player Awards in 1958 and 59.
Banks was an excellent defensive player at two positions, shortstop from 1953-61, and first base from 1962-71. At the former position, he led the league in fielding percentage three times, picking up a gold glove in 1960, when he led all NL shortstops in fielding percentage, double plays, games, put-outs, and assists. As a first baseman, he led the...
It was with the bat that Banks really shone, however, hitting over 40 homers five times and leading the league twice in homers and twice in RBI. He was a three-time .300 hitter who compiled a lifetime batting average of .274, along with 2583 hits, 1305 runs scored, and 1636 runs batted in. On May 12, 1970, he hit the 500th home run of his career, b...
Banks was a member of 11 NL All-Star teams. In a 1969 Chicago Sun-Times fan poll, he was voted the Greatest Cub Ever. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1977. Along with Honus Wagner and Cal Ripken, Jr., he was one of three shortstops named to Major League Baseballs All-Century Team in 1999.
Hall-of-Fame manager Leo Durocher, Banks skipper with the Cubs from 1966-71, was famous for asserting that Nice guys finish last. But he made an exception for Mr. Cub: Banks is one nice guy who finished firstbut he had the talent to go with it.
He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977, and was named to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team in 1999. Banks is regarded as being one of the greatest players of all time. He began playing professional baseball in 1950 with the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro leagues.
- .274
- 512
- 2,583
- 1,636
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Our Stories. Banks set tone for Class of 1977 in Cooperstown. Written by: Connor O'Gara. It was a picturesque August day in Cooperstown. Newly inducted Hall of Fame infielder Ernie Banks stepped up to the microphone with the same happy-go-lucky attitude that earned him the lifelong nickname of “Mr. Cub.”
Baseball Hall of Fame (inducted in 1977) Gold Glove. 14x All-Star. (Show more) Ernie Banks (born January 31, 1931, Dallas, Texas, U.S.—died January 23, 2015, Chicago, Illinois) was an American professional baseball player, regarded as one of the finest power hitters in the history of the game. Banks starred for the Chicago Cubs from 1953 to 1971.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Apr 6, 2019 · Let's play two was the motto by which Ernie Banks was known for keeping his sunny disposition through his career with the hangdog Chicago Cubs, during which he was a two-time most valuable...
Jan 23, 2015 · In 1977, the 11-time All-Star was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Banks passed away on Jan 23, 2015. Bridget Gadoury was a public relations intern in the Frank and Peggy Steele Internship Program at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
