Willie Banks (baseball) facts for kids

Willie Anthony Banks (born February 27, 1969) is a former professional pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for several teams during his career, including the Minnesota Twins, Chicago Cubs, and New York Yankees.

Willie Banks was known for his strong pitching skills. He played in both American and Japanese baseball leagues.

Early Baseball Days

Willie Banks showed great talent for baseball from a young age. He attended St. Anthony's High School in New Jersey.

While in high school, he was an amazing pitcher. In two different games, he managed to strike out 19 batters. Each of these games lasted seven innings.

Major League Career

Willie Banks began his MLB career in 1991. His first team was the Minnesota Twins. He played for the Twins until 1993.

After that, he played for the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers. He also spent time with the Florida Marlins.

Later in his career, he pitched for the New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks. He finished his MLB career with the Boston Red Sox.

Career Highlights

Willie Banks was part of some exciting teams. He was on the 1991 World Series champion Minnesota Twins. This was a big win for the team and for him.

He also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers. That year, the Dodgers won the National League Western Division.

Facing Challenges

In 1996, Willie Banks had to take a break from baseball. He had shoulder surgery because of a nerve problem. He worked hard to recover and returned to play again.

Career Numbers

Willie Banks played for nine seasons in Major League Baseball. He pitched in 181 games during his career. He started 84 of those games.

Overall, he had a record of 33 wins and 39 losses. His Earned Run Average (ERA) was 4.75. He also recorded 428 strikeouts.