OT: Mr. Cub Ernie Banks has passed

BleedCHI · Post #1 » by **BleedCHI** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 3:51 am

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/story/27928 ... -age-of-83

The greatest SS to play the game. He represented everything that was great about not only Chicago sports, but Chicago the city. May he rest in peace

JDRochholz · Post #2 » by **JDRochholz** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 3:53 am

Just heard........RIP Mr Cub.

Polynice4Pippen · Post #3 » by **Polynice4Pippen** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 4:12 am

R.I.P. Mr. Cub. The fact that Ernie Banks won back to back MVP's in the late 50's in a league with Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson, Duke Snider on mediocre Cubs teams as a short stop is crazy. I think he's become underrated as the years have gone by. He was a better player than Derek Jeter and Cal Ripken, Jr. We'll miss ya, Ernie. Life well lived. No one loved the game of baseball more than Ernie Banks.

Post #4 » by **Ben** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 4:16 am

Polynice4Pippen wrote:R.I.P. Mr. Cub. The fact that Ernie Banks won back to back MVP's in the late 50's in a league with Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson, Duke Snider on mediocre Cubs teams as a short stop is crazy. I think he's become underrated as the years have gone by. He was a better player than Derek Jeter and Cal Ripken, Jr. We'll miss ya, Ernie. Life well lived. No one loved the game of baseball more than Ernie Banks.

Well said all around. As a kid I had a book called "Unsung Heroes of the Major Leagues," and Banks was probably the best player in it (better than Jackie Jensen and Billy Williams, who were featured as well IIRC). I loved reading about his childhood. In the majors, he hit for power when shortstops just did not do that. If he'd been a young man with today's conditioning advances he would have been unstoppable. And on top of it all, on such lousy Cubs' teams, he was such a warm, positive human being. RIP indeed.

Gmoney3 · Post #5 » by **Gmoney3** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 4:25 am

Couple of my facebook posts about him I'm going to copy here.

Ernie Banks Six year stretch from 1955-1960 where he won 2 MVP's and averaged 44 HR, 184 hits, 123 RBI, and a 148 OPS+ while playing SS......... Goood God

Al Swearengen · Post #6 » by **Al Swearengen** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 4:25 am

All time great Cub. All time great ball player. All time class act. All time great person.

Wish he would have got to see the Cubbies win one.

Gmoney3 · Post #7 » by **Gmoney3** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 4:25 am

Met him at Chicago Cut Steakhouse, genuinely super nice, he was smiling the whole night. It was 3 years ago so he was 80 and still had a hell of a handshake. You could tell why he had some of the quickest hands in baseball history.

d boy gentleman · Post #8 » by **d boy gentleman** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 4:57 am

Eternal rest grant to him O Lord. Amen...

RoundMoundOfRebound · Post #9 » by **RoundMoundOfRebound** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 5:05 am

waffle · Post #10 » by **waffle** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 5:12 am

old enough to remember him. He was tremendous. Such a lovely swing. That team broke my heart again and again but was filled with top drawer men. Ernie deserved better but he never complained.

A sad day - for me for baseball for Chicago.

cubbiefan009 · Post #11 » by **cubbiefan009** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 5:24 am

I'm so sad [CRYING FACE]

Gmoney3 · Post #12 » by **Gmoney3** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 5:28 am

FoxIllinois.com says the family attorney says he did NOT die of natural causes and the death was not expected?

Does this pretty much indicate foul play?

Gmoney3 · Post #13 » by **Gmoney3** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 5:29 am

http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/23/us/ernie-banks-obit/

Chicago Cubs legend Ernie Banks died Friday in Chicago, family attorney Mark Bogan said. Banks was 83.

The circumstances surrounding his death were not immediately available.

"He did not die of natural causes," Bogan said. "His death was not expected."

The family has scheduled a news conference for Sunday.

kyrv · Post #14 » by **kyrv** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 5:31 am

Gmoney3 wrote:FoxIllinois.com says the family attorney says he did NOT die of natural causes and the death was not expected?

Does this pretty much indicate foul play?

Well in theory could be accident or heart attack etc?

---

Bummer news. Thanks for the wrigley pic roundmound.

RIP

Jo Jo English · Post #15 » by **Jo Jo English** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 5:34 am

Like most Cubs fans these days I have not been around long enough to watch Ernie play, but Chicago has lost one of its legends.

When I was a kid I can remember doing my best to negotiate a baseball card trade that would have netted me a 1955 Bowman Ernie Banks trading card for whatever I was offering from my (at the time) 1986-1988 collection. I was rebuffed and rightfully so.

R.I.P. Ernie. Cub nation mourns.

dumbell78 · Post #16 » by **dumbell78** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 7:07 am

Still got my baseball from 1969, signed by all the Cubs players. Ernie Banks sig stands out over all. RIP Mr Cub!

Jeffster81 · Post #17 » by **Jeffster81** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 9:48 am

RIP Mr. Cub. Only one person I know that loved baseball and more specific Cubs baseball as much as Ernie and now that man can get Mr. Cub at the pearly gates. Give #10 our best, Ernie.

SpinninHouse · Post #18 » by **SpinninHouse** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 1:06 pm

I'm heart broken. Mr. Cub - the greatest Cubs player in franchise history with a 1000-watt smile. It's so devastating knowing Ernie won't get to see us win a WS. Nobody wanted it worse than him and Ron Santo.

A huge loss. I hope he's watching from the above when it finally happens.

TankOverlord · Post #19 » by **TankOverlord** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 2:33 pm

Let's play two for the season opener. And then bring home a World Series for him. Very sad day but a wonderful man to celebrate. :hug:

molepharmer · Post #20 » by **molepharmer** » Sat Jan 24, 2015 2:44 pm

Very sad day. Grew up watching him and listening to Jack Brickhouse. Rest in peace Mr. Cub.