I got the above card a few months ago after having a talk with my dad about Ernie. He grew up in Chicago, and saw him play at Wrigley Field about fifty times. He was a Banks fan, but his favorite team was the Braves, and he would see them whenever they came in town. Well, I wanted to get something immediately, though I wasn't ready to spend a lot of money on his rookie just yet. But it didn't matter, and he didn't care about PSA, or book value. When it came in, he must have looked at the card for twenty minutes. He really enjoyed it. It's a 1968 Topps, near the end of his career. But I thought it was a great picture. Ernie with his big smile, and the bat that he used to maul baseballs onto Sheffield and Waveland Avenues. And we talked some more about Ernie. We talked about a few games he saw with the Pirates against the Cubs.
Just a few minutes ago, while talking with him about Banks, he told me about one game he saw in particular on May 15, 1960. Two days after Don Cardwell was traded by the Phillies to the Cubs, he no hit the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. I just saw the last two innings of that game are on You Tube, so we're going to watch them together tonight when we get together. What a game to catch, though. The Cubs had just acquired Richie Ashburn, so he was leading off for Chicago. Of course, Ernie Banks hit a home run, #7 on the season, #235 in his career. The Cardinals had Curt Flood in center field, Ken Boyer at third base, and Stan Musial, who had the day off, pinch hit in the eighth inning. That's a lot of Hall of Famers on those two teams-Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, Ernie Banks, Richie Ashburn, Billy Williams and Ron Santo. You have to wonder if Curt Flood didn't cost himself a chance at Cooperstown, too, by fighting the trade to Philadelphia. Of course, as is only fitting with an Ernie Banks discussion, the no hitter came in the second game of a doubleheader. The Cards won the first game on a pair of home runs by Ken Boyer.
When he told me last night that Ernie had died, I was shocked. Like some of you guys, I didn't know he was sick. It's the hardest I've ever seen my dad take the death of an athlete.
Ernie was one of a kind. He was one of a few players in my lifetime who have ever truly embodied the spirit of baseball, and everything that was good, and decent, and gentlemanly about sport. Ernie Banks was to the Major Leagues what the great Buck O'Neil was to the Negro Leagues- a goodwill ambassador par excellence. And as much love as the good people of Chicago gave to him, he gave back, and more.
So, I am greatly saddened this morning. But, at the same time, I can't help but smile a little now, too. Because Ernie has earned his rest, and now he can play two every day if he wants.
"Ernie with a deep drive to left field...it might be...hey hey hey!!!!!"