Ernie Banks, Hall of Famer known as "Mr Cub," dies at 83

[Zorro]

Source: CBS News

Ernie Banks, the legendary Chicago baseball player known as "Mr. Cub," has died, CBS Chicago reported. He was 83.

The announcement came Friday evening from attorney Mark Bogen, who said he was authorized by Banks' widow to confirm the news to the media. A news conference was planned for Sunday at noon in Chicago.

Known for his fun-loving, positive attitude, "Mr. Cub" broke into Major League Baseball for the Cubs in 1953, CBS Sports reported. Over the course of a 19-year career, all of which came with the Cubs, Banks would hit .274 overall with 407 doubles, 512 homers and 1,636 RBI. He also racked up 2,583 hits and 1,305 runs.

The 12-time All-Star and two-time MVP led the National League in homers and RBI twice each and is still one of the best power-hitting shortstops in history -- though he moved to first base for the second portion of his career due to knee issues.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ernie-banks-former-chicago-cubs-player-dies-at-83/

[elleng]

1. It's a beautiful day for a ballgame...

Let's play two!

[aggiesal]

12. lyrics

Let’s go!
Batter up!

We’re tak-ing the af-ter-noon off!

It’s a beau-ti-ful day for a ball game, for a ball game to-day
The fans are out to get a ticket or two
From Wal-la, Wash-ing-ton to Kal-a-ma-zoo

It’s a beau-ti-ful day for a home run,
But e-ven a tri-ple’s o-kay!
We’re gon-na cheer and boo and raise a hul-la-ba-loo
At the ball game to-day

Bat-ter up!
Strike one!
Hey! The game has just be-gun,
And the home team’s out to win!
There he swings!
Strike Two!
At the pitch-er’s dip-sy doo
Boy! That fast ball popped right in!

This is it! Strike three!
Fans are tearing up the chairs, but what the heck! Who cares?

It’s a beau-ti-ful day for a ball game, for a ball game to-day
If you and I are out of dol-lars and cents,
Oh hon-ey, we can al-ways share a lit-tle hole in the fence.

It’s a beau-ti-ful day for the la-dies,
So throw all your dish-es a-way

We’re gon-na cheer and boo and raise a hul-la-ba-loo
At the ball game to-day
At the ball game
The won-der-ful ball game to-day
WOW!”

[elleng]

14. Thanks!

READY!

PLAY BALL!!!

[braddy]

2. What a memory, RIP.

[msanthrope]

3. Rest well, Mr. Banks. You are Legend.

https://mobile.twitter.com/chicagosports/status/468891037533216768

[winstars]

4. "Lets Play Two" nt

[rdking647]

5. there is no joy in wrigleyville tonight

[marym625]

10. nope

Not a normal Friday night. Totally different mood

[840high]

6. Goodbye to a legend. RIP

[ballabosh]

7. Lifelong Cubs fan

Too young to ever have seen him play, but he was a great symbol for the Cubs and Chicago. If anyone deserved a world series ring, it was him. Farewell Mr. Cub.

[Cadfael]

8. RIP Mr. Cub

Truly one of the best, both on the field and off...

[aggiesal]

9. He is my all time favorite Cub ...

I'm in tears.
I met him once at a celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe,
and was privileged to get an autograph.

May he rest in peace.

[George II]

11. The man had a perpetual smile on his face.....a great baseball player and person.

[rdking647]

13. ernies 500th

[hibbing]

15. Baseball in sunshine

My nephew met him on the street in Chicago and said he couldn't be nicer, posed for a picture with him.

Peace

[Oldtimeralso]

16. RIP Mr Cub

At last Ernie Banks does not have to worry about playing two anymore!

Steve Goodman's A dying cub fans last request

[nevergiveup]

17. Ernie Banks and Stan Musial

My two favorite baseball players, ever. Both great ball players and both wonderful human beings. May they both rest in peace.

[malthaussen]

27. Yeah, I loved Stan too.

It's been two years since he died. Why do old ballplayers die in winter?

Well, they'll get to play for Marse Joe in Heaven. Too bad the Devil has all the umpires.

-- Mal

[Hoyt]

18. From when I lived baseball. RIP.

[Mnemosyne]

19. ...

[lovemydog]

20. Let's play 2!

Rest in peace Mr. Banks.

[gopiscrap]

21. I remember him

I was a young teen ager and awe struck at such a successful ballplayer. He came to Tacoma WA to play an exhibition game between the parent club Chicago Cubs and AAA Tacoma Cubs. I remember him as being sort of quiet, but also very kind towards me./ RIP Ernie!

[murielm99]

22. RIP, Mr. Cub.

I saw him play. He was a wonderful ball player and a wonderful human being.

Williams, Santo and Banks: the heart of the order. Now only Williams is left.

[BumRushDaShow]

23. R.I.P.

Definitely a legend!

[Rhinodawg]

24. Well that really sucks.

[douglas9]

25. Jack Brickhouse on Cub Ernie Banks

Memory lane....

[greatauntoftriplets]

26. I met him once, such a nice man.

RIP, Ernie Banks.

[CanonRay]

28. One of my childhood heroes

and I got to see him play many times, and speak with him once. A true gentleman. RIP Mr. Banks.

[malthaussen]

29. 498, 499, 500

Even if you weren't a Cubs fan, you had to love Ernie. A true all-time great.

-- Mal

[Gemini Cat]

30. Rest Peacefully Mr Cub!

This is sad news. I always liked him.

[Teamster Jeff]

31. Great Player. Better Person. Will be playing 2 in Heaven today. nm

[tabasco]

32. A giant.

A baseball player of the highest caliber and an even greater human being.

[tabasco]

33. I think many baseball fans in Chicago

feel today like we did in Pittsburgh when we lost our beloved Roberto.

[ballabosh]

36. Or St. Louis with Stan Musial

In Chicago, we lost our greatest Bear 15 years ago. Now, we've lost our greatest Cub.

[Martin Eden]

34. I had the honor of shaking Ernie's hand when he was a player

Don't remember the exact year, sometime in the mid-60's when I was about 8 years old. I was staying at my cousin's house on Chicago's south side just down the street from the Vincennes House (restaurant/club) where Beverly Ave intersects with Vincennes & 103rd street. They were friends with the parking attendants and got wind that Mr. Banks and his wife would be there that evening. We met the Banks' in the parking lot where Ernie was happy to shake our hands and sign autographs.

Rest In Peace, Mr. Cubs. You were a great example, a fine human being, and perhaps the most beloved sports icon in Chicago.

And I'm a loyal White Sox fan.

[rurallib]

40. Met him at an event in our little town

It was one of his MVP years. I was 10 - shook his hand and got an autograph. He was so nice - he had a short conversation with me.

My all time favorite player bar none.

[undeterred]

35. a wonderful athlete and human being...

RIP

[Jetboy]

37. RIP Mr Cub

There's never been a person who exuded joy like Mr Cub Ernie Banks. No matter the evidence, tomorrow was always gonna be great and of course the Cubs were gonna win!

[olddad56]

38. first maor league game I ever saw. 1958, Seals Stadium in SF, Mr, Banks hit an HR to bet my Giants..

Anyone but Ernie and I would have been pissed. Thank you for the memory, Ernie. Cubs won 5-3.

[dhill926]

39. hit me like a ton of bricks last night...

watched him many times at Wrigley. The best of the best, as a player and more importantly, as a person.

[BeyondGeography]

41. Awesome player...to put up those kinds of numbers in that NL era

You can't overstate his greatness, imo. Shortstop, too.

RIP, Ernie.

[LoisB]

42. Rest in Peace Ernie.

[Brigid]

43. Oh, no! Not Ernie!