Monster Card Monday: 1957 Ernie Banks RIP

When I wake up in the morning, I feel like a billionaire without paying taxes.

–Ernie Banks

My friends probably know I don’t get very sentimental when comes to the deaths of celebrities or athletes.  I’m just that kind of guy.  But then Ron Santo passed on five years ago and that was a bit different.  As a Cub fan from before I can remember, I grew up with him watching him as a ballplayer and then listening to him as an announcer.  That meant more to me as a baseball fan.

Then Friday, I got the news that Santo’s longtime teammate Ernie Banks died at the age of 83.  I first found out from a Facebook post by Doug Schuyler and for a second or two, I was irrationally angry with Doug.  Ernie Banks is my favorite ballplayer of all time and I was a little upset with the messenger (don’t worry, Doug.  I’m over it now).

Because of my age, I missed Ernie Banks’ earlier years.  I inherited my love of the Chicago Cubs from my older brother, Bill.  I also inherited his love of Ernie Banks.  Bill would quote Ernie around the house, imitating his catchphrase “Let’s play two!”.  It wasn’t till I was a little older did I realize that Banks played shortstop.  I mean, he was rated as a 1B on all the APBA cards I saw, right?  The APBA reprint of his 1957 card is proof positive.

I’ve told this story plenty of times on this blog and elsewhere but my very first baseball memory involves Ernie Banks.  It was around 1969 and I was about five years old so the details are fuzzy.  One thing is crystal clear.  I saw Ernie Banks hit a grand slam at Wrigley Field.  Those who are familiar with Ernie Banks know that he hit his share of grand slams.  The memory is etched into my memory I suppose, because Mom had gone to the restroom and missed the whole thing.  I can imagine what I said.  “Mommy, you missed it!  Ernie Banks hit a grand slam!”.

Fast forward about eight years.  My parents took a 13-year old me to Cooperstown, NY on an August day in 1977 to see Ernie Banks inducted into the Hall of Fame.  My family bled blue and my parents always thought a lot of Ernie Banks.  We stood among the large crowd outside the Hall of Fame Museum and saw Ernie Banks give his speech highlighted by his trademark “Let’s play two!” phrase.  While we were waiting for the ceremonies to start, I remember a Chicago Tribune reporter roving the crowd and stopping to interview my family because we came “all the way from Illinois” to see Ernie Banks inducted.

Statistically, I remember two things about Ernie Banks as a child.  He reached 500 homeruns when it really meant something.  When he reached that mark, he was twelfth on the all-time list.   At least us Cub fans had something to cheer about.  With 512 homers (gosh, that was such a big number at one time), he still ranks tied for 22nd all-time despite the Steroid Era having passed us by.   Interestingly, Banks is tied in homers with third baseman Eddie Mathews who played around the same time.  Not only that, my brother took me out to Cooperstown in the following year to induction day and Eddie Mathews was one of inductees in the 1978 ceremonies.

Second, when his time to appear on the Hall of Fame ballot came, there was talk of whether he be inducted.  Would he be a first-ballot Hall of Famer?  He was.  Again, that was something that meant a lot more 40 years ago than it does now.

Ernie Banks career highlights

• 512 HR (22nd all-time)
• 2 time MVP
• 14 time All-Star
• 2 time HR champ
• Inducted Hall of Fame 1977

You could add up homers, rbis and ballot votes all you want.  It didn’t compare to what Banks contributed to the clubhouse, the game of baseball, and the town of Chicago.  He had an infectious personality which matched his effortless swing.  Like Santo, he played his entire career in Chicago and didn’t shy from being a representative that the city could be proud.  However, he was somebody that fans from the city as well as country folk, like my parents, could both identify.