(Story by Marco Stoovelaar)
 Baseball-legend Ernie Banks passed away
Nederlands
IN MEMORIAM 
...Ernie Banks...
(1931 - 2015)
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 CHICAGO, Illinois (USA) -
Baseball-legend Ernie Banks has passed away on Friday, eight days before he would have celebrated his 84th birthday.
Banks was a much-loved and respected person in Chicago, where he played 19 seasons for the Chicago Cubs.
'Mr. Cub', which was his nick-name, was a true baseball-ambassador for the 'Windy City'.
Ernest Banks was born on January 31, 1931 in Dallas, Texas, having eleven siblings, ten of them younger.
While in school, Banks played softball in the summer for a church softball-team.
In school, which had no baseball-team, he played basketball, American football and track.
He was then scouted and went on to play professionall baseball for the Kansas Ciy Monarchs in one of the so-called Negro Leagues.
These leagues, which had a lot of very talented Afro-American players, were created during the time that no colored players played in the organized American baseball.
The first league was established in 1937 and the last one disbanded after the 1962 season.
Several players went on to play in the Major Leagues and became wellknown and respected players.
...The statue of Ernie Banks...
...in front of Wrigley Field...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
In 1947, Jackie Robinson broke the color-barrier when he made became the first Afro-American player in the Major League, playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
In 1953, after having served in the American military for two years, Banks was sold by the Monarchs to the Chicago Cubs.
In that same year, he made his Major League-debut to become the first Afro-American player who played for the Cubs.
Banks, who never played in the Minor League, went on to become a fan-favorite and stayed with the Cubs for 19 years.
Ernie Banks, who was the team's short stop, but also played a lot a first base, played his entire Major League-career for the Cubs.
In 19 seasons (1953-1971), Banks played in 2,528 games, hitting 2,583 basehits, including 512 homeruns, scored 1,305 runs and batted in 1,636.
Twice, Banks was named Most Valuable Player of the National League (1958, 1959).
He appeared in 14 All Stars Games.
In 1977, Banks was elected into the Hall of Fame when he was on the ballot for the first time.
In 1982, his uniform number 14 was retired by the Cubs, the first time the club honored a player this way.
In 1999, Banks was chosen in the Major League All-Century Team and in 2013, President Barack Obama handed him the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contributions to sport.
After his retirement, Banks returned to Wrigley Field, the home of the Cubs, frequently.
As a spectactor or a participant in an event, like throwing a ceremonial first pitch.
Banks was always approachable and optimistic.
Banks loved baseball so much that he frequently said 'Let's play two games today'.
In front of the main entrance of Wrigley Field stands a statue of Banks.
Of course with the inscription 'Let's play two'.
With the passing of Ernie Banks, the baseball-world has lost an icon.
(January 24)
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