(N)opening Day-- Part 5: Some Famous Names like Gibson, Jenkins, Williams, Banks Santo and LaRussa, a Walk-Off Home Run and a Walk Off-Walk Off

Some More Cub Openers

APRIL 6, 1971

Billy Williams hit a walk-off home run off Bob Gibson with one out in the 10th inning to give the Cubs a 2-1 victory over the Cardinals at Wrigley Field.

Fergie Jenkins outdueled Gibson in a matchup of future Hall of Famers. Joe Torre's seventh inning homer accounted for the Card run.  This was the first time Ernie Banks wasn't in the starting lineup since 1953.

How about those names?

****************************

APRIL 6, 1973

Trailing 2-1 in the ninth the Cubs scored twice on bases loaded walks and beat the Expos 3-2 at Wrigley Field.  Rick Monday drew the game with two outs to score Tony LaRussa -- pinch running for Ron Santo -- for the winning run.  It was LaRussa's only appearance for the Cubs and his last in the majors as a player.

Some More Names.  --CootCub

Death of Cubs Pitcher Bill Hands-- Part 4: A Cubs Fan to the End

Bill Hands won 18 games in 1970, but the Cubs didn't contend.  In 1972, they traded him to the Minnesota Twins, but their owner, Calvin Griffith cut his pay by $4,500.  hands asked for a trade and he was.

He retired in 1975 and lived in Orient, New York, where he owned a gas station that became a favorite hangout for locals

A Cub fan to the end, he often wore a Cubs hat at the gas station.  It was so great that he finally got to see the Cubs win it all in 2016.

The 1969 Cubs team have lost Ernie Banks, Ron Santo and Jim Hickman in recent years.

Greatest Cubs Team Ever-- Part 9: Infield

From the September 11, 2016, Chicago Tribune "Greatest Baseball Team of All Time."

Fans voted for Frank Chance as Cubs All-Time Manager.

Like I said in today's earlier post, the Tribune did this for both the White Sox (my favorite team) and the Cubs (my second favorite team).  They then wanted readers to vote position by position for favorites at each position.  Voting, sadly, began and ended yesterday.  Results will be posted in the Sunday, September 25th, Tribune.

Here are the All-Time Chicago Cubs Infield:

1B    MARK GRACE--  Batted .308 and drove in 1,004 runs as a Cub  Four career Gold Gloves  Known for his good eye, had 946 walks as opposed to 561 strike outs for Cubs.

2B--  RYNE SANDBERG--  NL MVP for division-winning 1984 Cubs, batting .314, 19 HRs, 84 RBIs and major-league-best 19 triples.  Ten-time All Star, Nine-time Gold Glove and Hall of Fame Inductee.  Led NL in HRs with 40 in 1990 and had back-to-back seasons with exactly 100 RBIs in 1990 and 1991.

SS--  ERNIE BANKS--  Eleven-time All Star, "Mr. Cub," won back-to-back MVP awards in 1958 and 1959.  Hit at least 40 homers five times including four straight seasons 1957-1960.  Hall of Famer had at least 100 RBIs eight times, including 1969 when he was 38.  His 512 home runs are second in team history.

3B--  RON SANTO--  Fourteen seasons with Cubs, nine-time All Star, five straight Gold Gloves (1964-68)  Four seasons with 100 or more RBIs and hit 30 or more homers in four straight seasons (1964-67).  Had 337 home runs in career and 1,290 RBIs as Cub.  Played his last season with the White Sox.  Wasn't happy about it either.

I Agree With All These Choices.  --DaCubber

Greatest Cubs Baseball Team of All Time-- Part 1: From Banks to Sandberg to Grace

From the August 7, 2016, Chicago Tribune.

The voting has been going on for awhile.  Every Sunday the Tribune offers five Cubs players per position and during the next week readers vote on their favorite at chicagotribune.com/greatest.  They also have the White Sox players by position, but I will do that  later.

So far these Cubs have been voted onto the team:

First Base--  Mark Grace

2nd Base--  Ryne Sandberg

Shortstop--  Ernie Banks

3rd Base--  Ron Santo

Left Field--  Billy Williams

This date, fans were voting for best center fielder.

These players were listed:

Bobby Dernier
Rick Monday
Andy Pafko
Corey Patterson
Hack Wilson

I would vote for Hack Wilson.

The Hacker.  --DaHack

Sports Stars Lost in 2015: Mr. Cub and Mr. Sox

From the Dec. 31, 2015, Chicago Tribune "2015 in Review: Unforgettable."

ERNIE BANKS--  Mr. Cubs.  Hall of Famer.  Died Jan. 23 at age 83.  Hit 512 home runs during 19-year career that included National league MVP in 1958 and '59.

STEVE MONTADOR--  Chicago Blackhawks defenseman on Feb. 15.

GORDIE GILLESPIE--  Illinois coaching, won 2,402 games at Lewis University and Joliet Catholic.  Died Feb. 28.

MINNIE MINOSO--  White Sox legend, known as "The Cuban Comet.  Died March 1 at age 90.  Chicago's first black major league player.  Played parts of 12 seasons for Sox, including a game in each of five decades.  Nine-time All-Star.  Mr. Sox.

--DaCoot

Final Goodbyes Said in 2015-- Part 1: "It Was Like Deja Vu All Over Again"

From the December 31, 2015, Chicago Tribune.

There were many more listed than what I have here, but these are the ones that meant more to me.

Baseball great Ernie Banks, 83   Mr. Cub

Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra, 90    I loved the Aflac Duck and him in that commercial.

Civil Rights icon Julian Bond, 75

Filmmaker Wes Craven, 76

"The Beverly Hillbillies" star Donna Douglas, 82   Ellie Mae.  She sure was a fine sight.

Pro Football Hall of Famer and sportscaster Frank Gifford, 84

Singer Lesley Gore, 68  One of the great Girl Singers.  "Its My Party"

"Bingo-Bango-Bilko"

Cubs announcer Bert Wilson nicknamed Ernie Banks "Bingo" while naming second baseman Gene Baker "Bango," insuring a lyrical double play combination with first baseman Steve Bilko--  a "Bingo-Bango-Bilko double play!"

Tinkers to Evers to Chance.  --DaCooot

Not Saying Current Baseball Playres Are Paid Too Much, But This Is What Ernie Banks Was Paid

From the Jan. 25, 2015, Chicago Tribune.

Ernie Banks "was an immediate hit, and in 1955 broke the all-time record for home runs from a shortstop in a season, 39, and finishing with 44, including five grand slams, another record that stood until 1987.

"Despite playing for awful Cubs teams, he earned the National League MVP Awards in 1958 and '59, and quickly became a household name.

"he made $27,500 in '58 and got a raise to $45,000 in '59.  In his final two seasons, 1970-1971, he earned $85,000 in each.

"(His salary as CTA board member, a post he held from 1969 to 1981, paid $15,000 annually.)"

Compared to Today's Salaries?  --Cooter

Mr. Cub Could Have Been Mr. White Sox, But...

"Ernie Banks might have wound up with the Chicago White Sox, if not for a rare bad defensive game in a Negro leagues All-Star Game at old Comiskey Park.  Legendary scout Hugh Alexander, then working for the Sox under general manager Frank Lane, told sportswriter Jerome Holtzman he was one of the first to truly scout Banks, traveling through Colorado, South Dakota and Kansas to see the skinny athletic shortstop.

"'When I got throug looking at him, Lane said 'What do you think?' Alexander recalled in the 'Jerome Holtzman Baseball Reader.'  I said 'I'm not sure he can play shortstop, but he can hit with power.'  Lane decided he'd take a look himself.  ...After the All-Star  Game, Frank told me 'I don't like as a ballplayer.'  I said 'By God, I do.  Why don't you like him?'

"Lane said 'He made two errors in the All-Star Game.'

"I told him 'Frank, don't pay attention to that.  He can hit.  Anyway, he'll make a good third baseman.'

Alexander said Lane told him to contact the Monarchs owner and make a low offer.  Alexander knew Banks had gotten better offers, so he never contacted the owner."

That would have been something, Ernie Banks, Chicago Whire Sox.

Mr. White Sox.  Has a Nice Ring to It.  Doesn't It?  --Cooetr

Ernie Banks' Early Baseball Career: A Route 66 Connectin

From the Jan. 25, 2015, Chicago Tribune "The Greatest Cub."  Part of a two-page front section spread.

"'When I started to play baseball, I just had the natural quick hands,' Banks said.  'That was my extra advantage, my slight edge over everybody else.  ...I could wait until the last minute minute and hit the ball.'

"Banks' patented stance, that hypnotic wriggling of his fingers on the handle of his bat, one day would be emulated by legions of kids.  Those quick hands made Banks stand out among his peers, and at age of 17, with the help of former Negro leagues pitcher Bill Blair, he became part of a touring team based in Amarillo, Texas.  (Of course, Amarillo is on Route 66 and, playing in the National League his whole career, he would have played many games in St. Louis and Los Angeles, also on 66.)

"By 1950 Banks was playing professionally, albeit for $300 per month, for the Kansas City Monarchs, a Negro League team managed by Buck O'Neil.  After a couple of years in the Army, he returned to the Monarchs in 1953 and began making a name for himself.

Snapping That Bat.  --Cooter

Ernie Banks: Ever the Optimist

Here is a partial list of all of Ernie's predictions for the Cubs.  I sure wish I'd find a a complete list of those predictions.

"The Cubs are due in '62."

"The Cubs will come alive in '65."

"The Cubs will be heavenly in '67-ly."

"The Cubs will shine in '69."

"The Cubs will glow in '7-0."

"The Cubs will be illuminated in '88.  That's a little weak.  I'll have to do better."  (Referring to the lights installed at Wrigley Field.)

We'll Miss That Smile.  --Cooter

"Mr. Cub" Ernie Banks, Speaks-- Part 3

AFTER HITTING HIS 500TH HOME RUN:  "The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money."

AFTER RETIRING:  "I've never worked a day in my life."

AS A COACH IN 1976:  "I like my players to be married and in debt.  That's the way you motivate them."

IN 1977:  "Happiness is going eyeball-to-eyeball with those Cub fans.  That's really what I appreciated most about playing in Wrigley Field."

IN 2003:  "Sometimes when I'd hit a home run into the bleachers, I'd imagine the ball being caught by a kid and making his day.  Then, I'd think, 'Someday, I might have to ask that kid for a job.'  I can't imagine any of today's players needing to ask anybody for a job after baseball."

Wearing My Cubs Hat.  --Cooter

"Mr. Cub" Ernie Banks, Speaks-- Part 2

The Cubs resurgence in the late 60s led to his most memorable saying: "The Cubs will shine in '69."  And, they indeed did shine until September when that horrible thing happened which surely broke a lot of hearts.  (Not mine, though, as the Sox had done that to me with their fold in the final five games in '67.)

IN HIS OWN WORDS"

ERNIE BANKS' SIGNATURE QUOTE (though there are two variations):  "What a beautiful day!  Let's play two!"

IN 1955:  "I'm different from those that swing hard.  Can't follow the pitch if I try to slug.  I whip the bat with my wrists, with a snap.  This way I can wait longer to swing."

IN 1969, WHEN BANKS WAS NAMED TO THE CTA BOARD (Chicago Transportation Agency):  "For one thing, I want to make sure that the elevated always stops at Wrigley Field."

Da Man!

Ernie Banks, the Greatest Cub: Ernie Speaks-- Part 1

From the Jan. 25, 2015, Chicago Tribune.

Aside from his home runs, Banks was a perennial optimist known for his annual slogans assuring Cub fans their high hopes would be rewarded.

"The Cubs will come alive in '65," he proclaimed before the team ended  with a dismal 90 losses and an eighth place finish.

Then in 1966, with new manager Leo Durocher, Banks announced "The Cubs will shoot from the hip with 'Leo the Lip,".  That was the year the Cubs finished last, in 10th place with 103 losses.

Then in 1966, he had some rhyming problems, but came out with "The Cubs will be heavenly in '67."  And, the Cubs did improve to third place and 84 wins.

--DaCoot

Ernie Banks Hitting Those Homers

Taken from his 1970 Topps Baseball Card.

  Later in 1970, he hit home run #500, making him only the 9th player in MLB history to that time to hit 500+ homers.

Starting with his first year with the Cubs when he played ten games in 1953:

1953--  2, 19, 44, 28,

1957--  43, 47, 45

1960--  41, 29, 37, 18, 23

1965--  28, 15, 23, 32, 23

Total to end of 1969 was 497.

Not bad for a guy who started out as a shortstop.

--Cooter

Out of the Mouth of Ernie Banks

I just listened to Lin Braemer's "Lin's Bin" which today was on Ernie Banks.  I sure teared up.  Lin, one of the biggest Cubs fans ever, said he had a hard time putting it together and it still got to him this morning.  It will repeat again in the 6 p.m. CST hour on WXRT which streams.

Anyway, Ernie Banks was famous for his quotes and I especially liked his annual predictions, and, of course, "Let's play two!"

Here are some quotes:

"It's a great day for a ball game; let's play two!"

"The Cubs are due in '62."

"The Cubs are gonna shine in '69."

"The only way to prove you're a good sport is to lose."

"The virtues of the game are in the thrills, not the money."

"Work? I never worked a day in my life.  I always loved what I was doing, had a passion for it."

We'll Miss Him.

Ernie Banks' 1958 Topps All-Star Selection Card-- Part 2

The card had a breakdown of how Ernie Banks played against each of the other seven National League teams in 1957.

He played his best against the Brooklyn Dodgers where in 83 at bats he scored 15 runs on 25 hits including 5 doubles and 11 HOME RUNS for a .301 batting average and 26 rbi and the Pittsburgh Pirates with 93 at bats, 33 hits and 8 HOME RUNS for a .355 batting average and 15 rbis.

His overall stats for 1957: 156 games, 594 abs, 113 runs, 169 hits, 34 doubles, 6 triples, 43 home runs, 103 rbis and .285 batting average.

Not bad for a shortstop, however, when I started watching the Cubs in 1964, he was always the first baseman.

A Great Has Left Us.

Ernie Banks' '58 All Star Selection Topps Card-- Part 1

After yesterday's sad news, I got out my Cubs baseball card display book and started looking at the Ernie Banks cards.  Unfortunately, they only go back to this card as the others were way too expensive when I was collecting them back in the 60s and then again in the late 70s-80s.

His cards go back to 1953, I imagine, since that was his rookie year with the Cubs where he played ten games and hit his first two of more than 500 home runs in his career.

The back of his '58 card reads:
Ernie Banks
Shortstop
NL
Chicago Cubs
Sport Magazine '58 All-Star Selection

The text "Ernie has inscribed his name in the record books bu clouting more homers than any other shortstop in history.  And when he comes to bat with the sacks loaded, pitchers shudder.  He blasted 5 out of the park with 3 men on in '56 for another all-time mark.  This year he hit 18 homers in the first seven weeks of the season.

Not bad for a shortstop.  --Cooter

Cubs Home Opener Today-- Part 3: Retired Numbers

Here is a list of Cubs retired numbers...all greats. Amazing how many of these number are from those great late 60s teams.

#10-- Ron Santo

#14 Ernie Banks

#23 Ryne Sandberg (manager of the Phillies who the Cubs are playing today and should have been the Cubs MANAGER!!!!)

#31 Fergie Jenkins and Greg Maddux.

Love Those Cubs. --Cooter