Ernie Banks

American baseball player known as 'Mr. Cub', beloved Chicago Cubs shortstop/first baseman who hit 512 home runs and won consecutive MVP awards in 1958-59.

Born in Dallas, Texas, on January 31, 1931, Ernest Banks grew up in a working-class family during the Great Depression. He developed his baseball skills playing in the Negro Leagues with the Kansas City Monarchs in 1950 before being signed by the Chicago Cubs in 1953. Banks made his major league debut on September 17, 1953, becoming one of the first African American players in Cubs history. Banks quickly established himself as one of baseball's premier power hitters while playing shortstop, an unusual combination for the era. His breakthrough came in the mid-1950s when he began producing consistently exceptional offensive numbers from a traditionally defense-first position. The peak of his career occurred during back-to-back National League MVP seasons in 1958 and 1959, when he hit 47 and 45 home runs respectively while driving in over 125 runs each year. His powerful swing and consistent production made him the cornerstone of Cubs teams throughout the 1950s and 1960s. During his 19-year career, all spent with Chicago, Banks accumulated 512 home runs and 1,636 RBIs while maintaining a .274 batting average. He was selected to 14 All-Star teams and won the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award in 1968. Banks transitioned from shortstop to first base in 1962 due to knee problems but continued his offensive excellence well into the decade. He became the first player in Cubs history to have his number retired when the team honored his #14 in 1982. Banks earned the nickname "Mr. Cub" through his unwavering loyalty to the franchise and infectious enthusiasm for baseball, epitomized by his famous phrase "Let's play two!" Despite the Cubs' struggles during his tenure, never reaching the postseason, Banks remained optimistic and devoted to the organization. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977 and continued serving as a Cubs ambassador until his death in 2015, cementing his status as one of baseball's most beloved figures.

Power-hitting shortstop with exceptional home run production

Hall of Fame shortstop/first baseman, Cubs icon, pioneering African American player

• National League MVP (1958)
• National League MVP (1959)