Скачать или смотреть Remembering Ernie Banks

Mr. Cub

LET’S PLAY TWO TODAY AT THE FRIENDLY CONFINES
Ernie Banks was the greatest player in Chicago Cub history and no player is more associated with his team, in any sport. than Ernie Banks. One of the two greatest shortstops in National League history, Ernie was a two-time MVP, hit over 500 home runs and entered the Hall of Fame in 1977. But more than his play on the field, it was his infectious enthusiasm for baseball, Chicago, and especially the Cubs that endeared him to the fans. From his time in the Negro Leagues until he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Ernie Banks was a legendary Chicagoan.

Ernest "Ernie" Banks (January 31, 1931 – January 23, 2015), nicknamed "Mr. Cub" and "Mr. Sunshine", was an American professional baseball player. He was a Major League Baseball (MLB) shortstop and first baseman for 19 seasons, 1953 through 1971. He spent his entire MLB career with the Chicago Cubs. He was a National League (NL) All-Star for 11 seasons, playing in 14 All-Star Games.[1] Banks is regarded by some as one of the greatest players of all time.[2][3][4]
Banks, born and raised in Dallas, entered Negro league baseball in 1950, playing for the Kansas City Monarchs. He served in the US military for two years and returned to the Monarchs before beginning his major league career in September 1953. Banks made his first MLB All-Star Game appearance in 1955. He received two consecutive National League Most Valuable Player awards in 1958 and 1959, and received his first and only Gold Glove award for shortstop in 1960.
He was transferred to the left field position during the 1961 season followed by a final change to first base that year. Cubs manager Leo Durocher became frustrated with Banks in the mid-1960s, saying that the slugger's performance was faltering, but he felt that he was unable to remove Banks from the lineup due to the star's popularity among Cubs fans. Banks was a player-coach from 1967 through 1971. In 1970, Banks hit his 500th career home run. In 1972, he joined the Cubs coaching staff after his retirement as a player.
Banks was active in the Chicago community during and after his tenure with the Cubs. He founded a charitable organization, became the first black Ford Motor Company dealer in the United States, and made an unsuccessful bid for a local political office. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977. In 1999, he was named to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. In 2013, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contribution to sports. Banks lived in the Los Angeles area.
Banks signed with the Cubs in the fall of 1953. He made his major league debut at Wrigley Field on September 17 at age 22, and played in ten games. He became one of a handful of former Negro league players who joined MLB teams without playing in the minor leagues,[12] and was also the Cubs' first black player. In regard to Banks' view of race in baseball, authors Larry Moffi and Jonathan Kronstadt wrote that Banks "just was not the crusading type. He was so grateful to be playing baseball for a living, he did not have time to change the world, and if that meant some people called him an Uncle Tom, well, so be it. Banks was not about changing anyone's mind about the color of his skin; he was about baseball, pure and simple."
In 1954, Banks' double play partner during his official rookie season was Gene Baker, the second Cubs black player. Banks and Baker roomed together on road trips and became the first all-black double-play combination in major league history.[18] When Steve Bilko played first base, Cubs announcer Bert Wilson referred to the Banks-Baker-Bilko double play combination as "Bingo to Bango to Bilko".[19] Banks hit 19 home runs and finished second to Wally Moon in Rookie of the Year voting.[20] Banks became a participant in a trend toward much lighter baseball bats after he accidentally picked up a teammate's bat and liked how easy it was to generate bat speed.[7]
In 1958 and 1959, Banks became the first NL player to be awarded back-to-back NL MVP Awards. He hit .313 and led the NL with 47 HR in 1958 and hit .304 with 45 HR in 1959, and was the league's RBI leader with 129 and 143 RBI in both of those seasons.[26] In 1959, the Cubs came the closest to a winning season since Banks' arrival, finishing with a 74–80 record.[27] In 1960, Banks hit a league-leading 41 HR, had 117 RBI, and led the league in games played for the sixth time in seven years.[20] He also received the league's annual Gold Glove award for shortstop that year.