Ernie Banks’ career had just ended when I was born, so I never had the pleasure of seeing him play and I never had the pleasure of meeting him, but nevertheless he will always be the first player I think about when you say “Chicago Cubs.”
Ernie transcended his accomplishments on the field and that was not an easy thing to do. He didn’t get into the Hall of Fame just by having a good nickname and a catchphrase. He was a power-hitting shortstop when that wasn’t even a thing. He won back-to-back MVP trophies on two 5th place finishing teams in 1958 and 1959 while Willie Mays and Hank Aaron were in their primes.
But Ernie was Mr. Cub. There really could never be anyone else.
His positivity seemingly knew no boundaries. His enthusiasm for talking about baseball with anyone and everyone he met is legendary. And he loved the Cubs and their fans to the end.
Ernie was a big part of the reason that the Cubs could be so lovable, despite being perennial losers.
Joe Posnanski wrote a great post about Ernie almost exactly a year ago and this part is pitch perfect:
How could you not love Ernie Banks? How deep would your cynicism and disgust with life have to run to miss out on the wonder of Mr. Cub? Mr. Sunshine? He would take the dugout steps two at a time, and he would have this huge smile on his face every game, and he would famously say “It’s a beautiful day for a ballgame … let’s play two!”
Ernie was the heart and soul of the Cubs, both as a player and as the team ambassador. It was like Ernie was and always would be. How could he be gone? It just doesn’t seem possible.
It just isn’t fair that Ernie won’t get to witness a Cubs World Series. There was nobody who deserved to see it more.
Hopefully he’ll be able to see it where he is now, with Ronnie screaming “YESSSSS!!!” next to him.
—————————————–
Here are more farewells to Mr. Cub from around the interwebs, I’ll update as more pour in:
- Billy Williams via Carrie Muskat: Williams saddened by loss of former teammate, friend Banks
- David Haugh: Ernie Banks truly a man for all seasons
- Michael Wilbon: Banks was first among Chicago idols
- Tim Kurkjian: Saying goodbye to Mr. Cub
- Patrick Mooney: ‘Mr. Cub’ Ernie Banks dead at 83
- Paul Sullivan: For ebullient Ernie Banks, day at the ballpark was a day in paradise
- Fred Mitchell: Ernie Banks, legendary ‘Mr. Cub,’ dead at 83
- Rick Morrissey: Ernie Banks, Mr. Cub, leaves this world to play two, if not more
- Phil Rogers: Mr. Cub: A Life Like a Miracle
- Buster Olney: Ernie Banks always felt lucky
- Chris De Luca: The legendary Ernie Banks, Mr. Cub, passes away at 83
- NY Times Obit by Richard Goldstein: Ernie Banks, Hopeful Mr. Cub, Dies at 83; His Mantra Was “Let’s Play 2”
- Barry Rozner: There was more to Mr. Cub than meets the eye
- Bruce Miles: Ernie Banks remembered for his enthusiasm, sincerity
- The Cub Reporter: Hero
- Tim Baffoe: Ernie Banks and the Great Perpetual Cubs Hope <—— This one is really, really good.
Comments are closed.