Ernie Banks
From BR Bullpen
Ernest Banks (Mr. Cub)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 1", Weight 180 lb.
- Debut September 17, 1953
- Final Game September 26, 1971
- Born January 31, 1931 in Dallas, TX USA
Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1977
[edit] Career
Ernie Banks delighted Wrigley Field fans with his long home runs, steady fielding and cheerful disposition. "Mr. Cub" belted 512 home runs, five times hitting over 40 in a single season. After smashing a record five grand slams in 1955, he belted 47 roundtrippers in 1958, the most ever by a shortstop. He also became the first National Leaguer to win the MVP Award in consecutive years (1958 to 1959).
Ernie Banks held the major league record for most consecutive games from the start of his career. After his debut, he played 424 consecutive games. The record was broken in 2005 by Hideki Matsui, whose streak ended at 518 consecutive games in 2006.
Even though Ernie was voted to the All-Century Team as a shortstop, he actually played more games at first base. His nickname was "Mr. Cub". He was also know widely for the saying, "Let's play two", which showed his enthusiasm to play the game.
Banks spent his later years with the club as a player/coach and spent two seasons as a full-time coach after retiring.
- Banks, who played more shortstop than anyone else on the 1957 Cubs, also played more third base than any other single player on the Cubs as ten different players each appeared for one or more games at third base.
Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on January 19, 1977 by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Uncle of Catcher Bobby Johnson
Banks's 19 home runs in 1954 was the record for National League rookie shortstops for 53 years. In 2007, Troy Tulowitzki broke his record.
Ernie Banks Quotations:
Each spring training, Ernie would be asked by Chicago sportswriters, how the Cubs would do that season. Many of his responses were memorable, but few of them were correct:
"The Cubs are due in 62"
"The Cubs will come alive in 65"
"Wrigley Field will be heaven in 67"
"The Cubs will be great in 68"
"The Cubs will shine in 69"
"The Cubs will glow in 7-0"
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 11-time All-Star (1955-1962, 1965, 1967 & 1969)
- 2-time NL MVP (1958 & 1959)
- NL Gold Glove Winner (1960/SS)
- NL Slugging Percentage Leader (1958)
- NL At Bats Leader (1958)
- NL Total Bases Leader (1958)
- 2-time NL Home Runs Leader (1958 & 1960)
- 2-time NL RBI Leader (1958 & 1959)
- 20-Home Run Seasons: 13 (1955-1962, 1964, 1965 & 1967-1969)
- 30-Home Run Seasons: 7 (1955, 1957-1960, 1962 & 1968)
- 40-Home Run Seasons: 5 (1955 & 1957-1960)
- 100 RBI Seasons: 8 (1955, 1957-1960, 1962, 1965 & 1969)
- 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 2 (1957 & 1958)
- Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 1977
| NL MVP | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1957 | 1958 | 1959 |
| Hank Aaron | Ernie Banks | Ernie Banks |
| 1958 | 1959 | 1960 |
| Ernie Banks | Ernie Banks | Dick Groat |
