RIP Ernie Banks Mr. Cub

[kmac32]

just read this on line and verified it on WGN ans ABC Chicago. Baseball lost a legend at the age of 83. I met him a couple of times and he was always a gentleman. Used to love it when he said "Let's Play Two". He will be missed

Kmac

[Cowboy Fan]

That sucks. I met him twice at shows and he was always friendly and took time to say Hello while signing.

[Klrdds]

Just verified on MLB network. What a great guy , baseball has lost a great ambassador.

[kengoldin]

Oh crap
Are you kidding me?
Omg
He was the nicest player I ever dealt with. Every time I would talk to him he would ask how my mom was,he called me after my dad died , spoke to him 3 months ago and he asked how jennifer was ( my first wife the one he met). Couldn't believe he remembered her name. Made a joke when I told him I had a baby (at 48) . Would always tell me I am working to hard and enjoy life. Ugh.
Did not know he was ill. This is horrible.

[MacDice]

My dad spent some time as a kid in Chicago...Banks was his favorite player. Heard so many stories about him and Billy Williams growing up. Great player and great ambassador for the game. Condolences to Wrigglyville

[JollyElm]

Man, just earlier today I posted in the 'January Pickups' thread in the post-war section a scan of my newly acquired 1964 Topps Stand-Up Ernie Banks and I remarked how Mr. Cub added class to my collection. Wow. And now he passes away?? What a terrific human being and a terrible loss to the world.

[clydepepper]

Not many stars remained as great a gentleman as Ernie did.

We've all suffered a great loss, but...

They'll be playing two in heaven from now on...

[GrayGhost]

RIP to the Great Mr. Cub. I recall a show years back in Waterbury CT when there was a fairly good snow storm. I made it there, Show was on, about 40 collectors came in. Ernie had arrived nite earlier on first night of show, and comes down and says " Hey, thanks for coming in this storm, We should play two" then he lead everyone in Take me out to the Ballgame and told a couple stories before signing. Never forgot that experience. Wonderful Classy man..

[D.P.Johnson]

[Wildfireschulte]

Very sad - fly your flags at half mast - Ernie was one of a kind.

[kmac32]

met him at Cubs camp in 2007. Had some cocktails in the photographers room listening to his stories and he asked me who my boss was. Told him my wife was my boss. He had me call her and he chatted with her for maybe 10 minutes about her being the boss. Loved that call and we still talk about it.

[GoldenAge50s]

Last time I saw him he looked great--didn't even know he'd been sick, unless he just died suddenly from an attack or the like.

Too many of my '50's Heroes are leaving us.

[Fred]

Another class act has left the building... RIP Mr. Cub

[t206fix]

Let's play two!

[Iron Horse]

Sad night indeed. RIP Mr. Cub

[donmuth]

getting Banks' autograph at a card show in Memphis while I was growing up. He got up on stage and had the whole crowd doing stretches and jumping jacks before long. It was hilarious. He'll be missed.

[Kenny Cole]

I hate that. Always a class act. RIP Ernie.

[itjclarke]

Very sad to hear the news. I'd shook his hand as a young kid at a card show, and was lucky enough to run into him while out on a business dinner a couple years back. I didn't want to intrude, but had to at least tell him hello. Before I got a chance to allow him back to his evening, he was out of his chair and talking with me. He asked questions (what do you do? did you play ball? etc) and seemed genuinely interested in my responses. He then walked over to my table, which was full of colleagues and customers, and sat down with us. He engaged everyone at the table, talked hitting with us, saying "it's all in the wrists" while demonstrating by turning his hands over as if swinging a bat (still so quick and smooth). I doubt there will be many if any more sports stars like him. The game lost a true gentleman and ambassador.

[deadballfreaK]

Hope he is where the grass is green and they are playing two today!

[cardsfan73]

It's always sad a day when we lose one of the greats of the game that we all love so much. But sometimes it hits me a littler harder than others. It was almost two years ago today we lost Stan Musial and that one really hurt. Today we have lost another one of the true great men of the game with the passing of Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks. This one hurts too. Thank you Mr. Banks for being a great ambassador for the game and a great human being. Rest In Peace.

[Rickyy]

RIP Mr. Cub.

Ricky Y

[Sean]

I can't add to what's already been said about Ernie, so I'll just post this. It's the only card remaining from my boyhood collecting:


scan0001.jpg

[barrysloate]

I was at a card show, probably in the late 80's, when Ernie Banks walked towards me and initiated a conversation. He asked me how I was doing and how the show was. I hadn't even said a word to him! That was a special moment.

Great ballplayer, and a really good soul. RIP.

[the 'stache]

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!!!!!"

[Northviewcats]

I grew up a Yankee fan. My Dad was a Tiger fan. We lived and breathed baseball in the 60s. But we both agreed that Ernie Banks was one of the best players we ever saw.

Ernie died last night. So did my dad. In my mind heaven received two Hall of Famers.

Joe

[ethicsprof]

I loved watching him play when I was a kid. He was truly one of the greats.
my condolences to family,friends and fans.

Barry

[Kenny Cole]

Joe,

I am so sorry for your loss. My dad died August 1 of last year. I think about him every day. My prayers go out to you and your family. Best,

Kenny

[BanksFanForever]

Got the news this morning, I'm truly grateful for all that he did for Baseball and the Cubs. It is an honor super collecting his different items. These post are a reminder of why I picked him to make my PC based. You will be truly missed but we will celebrate and never forget the tremendous achievements you made. "Lets play two"

Check out my thread if you like photos viewing.

http://www.blowoutcards.com/forums/v...c-pickups.html

[familytoad]

Joe
Prayers and blessings go to you during your grief period.
It's so sad to lose our heroes.

Many of us on the board are getting to that time when we lose our family, friends and sports heroes as time catches up with them.

Maybe we should live like our own heroes did.

[packs]

RIP Mr. Cub. One of my favorite signed cards in my collection.

[byrone]

Ernie Banks 1954 Topps rookie card is one if the nicest cards ever made

He looks like the embodiment of an excited and thrilled rookie in that image

[uffda51]

One of the very first cards I ever owned was a 1956 Topps Ernie Banks. It came in a shoe box collection of about 400 cards that my mom bought at a church rummage sale for 10 cents. Ernie was one of the best people to ever play the game. A sad day.

[SteveMitchell]

Ernie Banks, "Mr. Cub", will be greatly missed.
img013.jpg

[forazzurri2axz]

To me, he was "Mr. Baseball"....If you wanted a team with all the attributes of one player, on and off the field, there would be no better choice than Ernie Banks
that's why to me he's "Mr. Baseball"

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Northviewcats

I grew up a Yankee fan. My Dad was a Tiger fan. We lived and breathed baseball in the 60s. But we both agreed that Ernie Banks was one of the best players we ever saw.

Ernie died last night. So did my dad. In my mind heaven received two Hall of Famers.

Joe

My heartfelt condolences, Joe. May your dad rest in peace.

And may Mr.Cub rest in peace too.

[the 'stache]

Joe,

I am very sorry to read of your father's passing. It sounds like the two of you shared a lot of great baseball memories together. May the recollection of those happier times help ease your pain.

My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family during this very difficult time.

Bill

[ValKehl]

Here's the link to a really good read about Banks by Tom Boswell, the dean of Washington, DC, sports writers, that appears in today's Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports...cb4_story.html

[mark evans]

Great column, Val. Thanks.

Nice to see you at the D.C. meet-up the other night.

Mark

[jason.1969]

Chicago will host a public tribute Wednesday at Daley Plaza. Am guessing noonish but will update as I learn more. Also presuming many Cubs greats will share in the tribute. Happy to meet up and go for a beer after. Or in honor of Ernie, might get two! Message me if interested.

[Rocky]

I met Ernie Banks back in 1968 in an elevator at the Hilton Hotel in Pittsburgh. My Dad took us to a weekend game during the summer. I'll never forget what a kind gentleman Ernie Banks was. I have his autograph around somewhere.

[jason.1969]

The Ernie Banks statue, having been "in the shop" for repairs, has been moved to downtown Chicago's Daley Plaza. Has been a great gathering place for fans. One gentleman dropped off a KC Monarchs ballcap, many brought flowers, and tonight I'll figure out which of my Ernie Banks baseball cards to part with.

crop.jpg

[kmac32]

Originally Posted by jason.1969

The Ernie Banks statue, having been "in the shop" for repairs, has been moved to downtown Chicago's Daley Plaza. Has been a great gathering place for fans. One gentleman dropped off a KC Monarchs ballcap, many brought flowers, and tonight I'll figure out which of my Ernie Banks baseball cards to part with.

Attachment 177014

thanks for sharing

[jason.1969]

Spent the evening making this framed 3D collage to donate to the Banks memorial. Hard to part with my 1956 Jet magazine...I sure hope the Cubs don't throw all this stuff out at the end.

[tjb1952tjb]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

Here's the link to a really good read about Banks by Tom Boswell, the dean of Washington, DC, sports writers, that appears in today's Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports...cb4_story.html

A very fine article.........much appreciated.

[jason.1969]

Mission accomplished!

[Beatles Guy]

Originally Posted by jason.1969

Mission accomplished!

Nice gesture on your part. Reminds me of when Musial died here in the Lou.

[freakhappy]

Looks great, Jason...it's refreshing to know we have guys like you on net54.

RIP Ernie


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