Ernie Banks facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids

Ernie Banks

Banks in 1969

Shortstop / First baseman

Born: January 31, 1931
Dallas, Texas, U.S.

Died: January 23, 2015 (aged 83)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Batted: Right

Threw: Right

debut

September 17, 1953, for the Chicago Cubs

Last appearance

September 26, 1971, for the Chicago Cubs

MLB statistics

Batting average

.274

Hits

2,583

Home runs

512

Runs batted in

1,636

Teams

Chicago Cubs (1953–1971)

Career highlights and awards

14× All-Star (1955–1960², 1961²–1962², 1965, 1967, 1969)
2× NL MVP (1958, 1959)
Gold Glove Award (1960)
2× NL home run leader (1958, 1960)
2× NL RBI leader (1958, 1959)
Chicago Cubs No. 14 retired
Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame
Major League Baseball All-Century Team

Baseball Hall of Fame

Induction

1977

Vote

83.8% (first ballot)


Military career
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1951–1953
Rank	Private first class

Ernest Banks (January 31, 1931 – January 23, 2015) was an amazing American baseball player. People called him "Mr. Cub" and "Mr. Sunshine" because he played for the Chicago Cubs from 1953 to 1971. He was a shortstop and later a first baseman.

Ernie Banks was so good that he was put into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977. In 1999, he was also named to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team, which honors the best players of the 20th century. Many people think he was one of the greatest baseball players ever!

He started playing professional baseball in 1950 with the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro leagues. After serving in the U.S. military for two years, he joined the Chicago Cubs in 1953. Ernie quickly became a star. He was a National League (NL) All-Star for 11 seasons. He won the Most Valuable Player award twice, in 1958 and 1959. He also won a Gold Glove Award in 1960 for his excellent fielding.

In 1962, Ernie Banks became the Cubs' regular first baseman. He even became a player-coach from 1967 to 1971. In 1970, he hit his 500th career home run. He retired from playing in 1971. In 1982, the Cubs honored him by retiring his uniform number 14, meaning no other player on the team would ever wear it again.

Ernie was also very active in the Chicago community. He started a charity and was the first black Ford Motor Company car dealer in the U.S. In 2013, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the highest awards a civilian can get in the United States.

Ernie Banks: Early Life and Baseball Start
Becoming "Mr. Cub": Major League Career Highlights
- Moving to First Base
- Final Seasons and Records
Ernie Banks: Life Off the Field
Ernie Banks: Later Years and Legacy
- Death and Remembrance
Images for kids
See also

Ernie Banks: Early Life and Baseball Start

Ernie Banks was born in Dallas, Texas, on January 31, 1931. He was one of twelve children. His father played baseball for black semi-professional teams.

When Ernie was young, he preferred swimming, basketball, and football over baseball. His father bought him a baseball glove and encouraged him to play catch. In 1949, while still in high school, Ernie joined the Dallas Black Giants, a semi-pro baseball team.

He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1950. His school didn't have a baseball team, so he played fastpitch softball for his church team. Scouts from the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League noticed his talent.

In 1951, Ernie joined the U.S. Army and served in Germany during the Korean War. He played baseball while in the army. After his service, he rejoined the Monarchs in 1953 and had a great season. Ernie later said playing for the Monarchs was like his "school" and "whole life."

Becoming "Mr. Cub": Major League Career Highlights

A 1955 Bowman trading card of Ernie Banks.

Ernie Banks signed with the Chicago Cubs in late 1953. He made his first major league appearance on September 17, at age 22. He was the very first black player for the Cubs.

When Ernie joined the Cubs, Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier in baseball, gave him advice. Robinson told Ernie to listen and learn. Ernie decided to keep quiet and focus on playing his best. He wanted to make a difference through his actions.

In 1954, Ernie's teammate Gene Baker became the Cubs' second black player. Ernie and Gene were the first all-black double-play team in major league history. Ernie hit 19 home runs in his first full season.

In 1955, Ernie had an amazing year, hitting 44 home runs and bringing in 117 runs. He became an All-Star that season. His 44 home runs set a record for shortstops. He also hit five grand slams, which was another record at the time.

From 1958 to 1959, Ernie Banks won the MVP Award two years in a row. He was the first player in the National League to do this! In 1958, he hit 47 home runs and had a great batting average of .313. The next year, he hit 45 home runs.

Moving to First Base

In 1961, Ernie had a knee injury from his time in the army. This caused him to miss some games, ending his streak of playing in many games in a row. The Cubs decided to move him from shortstop to left field, and then to first base. Ernie learned the new position with help from his coaches.

Ernie Banks in 1964.

In 1962, Ernie was hit in the head by a fast pitch and was knocked out. He spent two nights in the hospital. But just a day after returning, he hit three home runs!

In 1963, Ernie set a record for first basemen with 22 putouts in one game. Even though he had some health issues that year, the Cubs had their first winning season since the 1940s.

In 1966, Leo Durocher became the Cubs' manager. Ernie Banks became a player-coach in 1967. He continued to play first base and was selected for the All-Star Game that year.

Final Seasons and Records

A 1967 advertisement featuring Ernie Banks.

In 1968, Ernie Banks won the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award. This award honors players for their skill and good character. At 37 years old, he hit 32 home runs that season.

In 1969, the Cubs came very close to winning the National League pennant. Ernie made his final All-Star appearance that year. On May 12, 1970, he hit his 500th career home run at Wrigley Field.

Ernie Banks retired as a player on December 1, 1971. He continued to coach for the Cubs until 1973. He also worked in the Cubs' main office.

He finished his career with 512 home runs. At the time, his 277 home runs as a shortstop was a record. Ernie holds many Cubs records, including most games played (2,528) and most home runs. He was also an excellent fielder, winning a Gold Glove Award in 1960.

Ernie Banks holds a major league record for playing the most games (2,528) without ever making it to the postseason. Despite this, he loved playing for the Cubs and their owner. His positive attitude and popularity earned him the nicknames "Mr. Cub" and "Mr. Sunshine." He was famous for saying, "It's a beautiful day for a ballgame... Let's play two!", showing how much he loved baseball.

Ernie Banks: Life Off the Field

In 1953, Ernie married Mollye Ector. They later divorced. He then married Eloyce Johnson, and they had twin sons and a daughter. Ernie later married Liz Ellzey in 1997. They adopted a daughter in 2008.

Ernie Banks was involved in business. He worked for a bank and bought into several businesses. In 1967, he and Bob Nelson became the first black owners of a Ford Motor Company dealership in the U.S. He also served on the board of directors for the Chicago Transit Authority.

Ernie was also an ordained minister. He even performed the wedding ceremony for MLB pitcher Sean Marshall.

Ernie Banks: Later Years and Legacy

In 1977, Ernie Banks was voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. He was inducted on August 8. During his speech, he repeated his famous line, "We've got the setting – sunshine, fresh air, the team behind us. So let's play two!"

Ernie Banks' retired number 14 at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

The Cubs retired Ernie's uniform number 14 in 1982. He was the first player to have his number retired by the team. This was a huge honor!

After retiring, Ernie continued to be an ambassador for the Cubs. He often made appearances for the team. In 1999, he was named to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team.

In 2006, Ernie started a charity called the Live Above & Beyond Foundation. It helps young people and older adults with things like self-esteem and healthcare.

On March 31, 2008, a statue of Ernie Banks was put up outside Wrigley Field. That same year, musician Eddie Vedder released a song called "All The Way" about the Cubs, which Ernie had asked him to write.

Ernie Banks and Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts at the 2010 Chicago Pride Parade.

In 2013, Ernie Banks received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama. This is the highest award a civilian can receive in the U.S. He remained close to the Cubs team and often visited their spring training.

Death and Remembrance

Ernie Banks' grave monument in Graceland Cemetery.

Ernie Banks passed away from a heart attack in a Chicago hospital on January 23, 2015. He was 83 years old, just eight days before his 84th birthday. Many people, including Chicago's mayor and baseball stars, spoke at his memorial service.

After the service, a procession went from Downtown Chicago past Wrigley Field, his beloved home field. Ernie Banks was buried in Graceland Cemetery, which is only a few blocks north of Wrigley Field. During the entire 2015 season, the Cubs honored him by having the number 14 displayed behind home plate.