Ernie Banks Essay

A Look into the Life of Ernie Banks

In 1953, a young man stepped out onto Wrigley Field for his first game in the major league, setting into motion an extensive career of record-breaking playing that would eventually earn him a legendary name in the history of baseball. This man, Ernie Banks, dazzled fans with his infectious optimism and unparalleled skill. His determination and sunny disposition brought him numerous seasons of remarkable success in his sport. As the first to integrate his major league team, he paved the way for racial integration throughout the entire league. Banks left a legacy in the world of baseball that no one could ever forget.

Ernest Banks, the second of the twelve Banks children, was born on January 31, 1931, in Dallas,

He started off his career earning 2 home runs over the 10 games he played in that first season. When the 1954 season rolled around, he was put in as a starter, playing shortstop. He would continue to play this position until 1961, when he was moved to first base. His fielding skills earned him a Gold Glove award in the year 1960. Better than his fielding skills, were his power hitting skills. In his golden years, a period of time spanning from 1955-1960, he racked up an average of over 40 home runs and 115 runs batted in (RBIs) per year. These statistics placed Banks among the top power hitters of his time. In his first 8 years of major league baseball, he achieved the highest number of home runs by a shortstop at the time, hitting a total of 277. His impeccable batting skills did not stop there; by the end of his career, Banks had hit a total of 512 home runs. When he hit his 500th home run on May 12, 1970, he became only the ninth player to ever reach that number. In two consecutive years, he hit his career-high home runs and RBIs. In 1958, he hit 47 home runs, and in 1959, he had 143 RBIs. These are also the two years that he was awarded with the National League Most Valuable Player (MVP) title. He became the first member of a losing team to receive this honor. As Banks’ career went on, his stats began to falter a bit, but he still maintained an

In 1971, he received the title of Greatest Cub Player of All Time, earning him the nickname “Mr. Cub.” He became a symbol of Chicago just as much as famed basketball player, Michael Jordan. Additionally, Banks outstanding performance earned him a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was inducted in 1977, which was his first year of eligibility for the title. Later in 1999, he was invited to be a shortstop for Major League Baseball’s All-Century Team. There he had the opportunity to play baseball alongside several other incredibly talented players. Banks had made such an impact on the Chicago Cubs that in 1982, his number 14 jersey became the first to be retired by the team and now flies on a flag placed on the left-field foul post. To further celebrate and memorialize his astounding accomplishments, a statue of him was placed at Wrigley Field in 2008. In 2013, President Obama recognized Banks’ national influence by awarding him with the highest honor that can be awarded to a United States civilian, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Sadly, two years after this, in 2015, Banks died of a heart attack at the age of 83. The countless number of awards and recognition that Banks received validate his title as the Greatest Cub Player of All