gold star for USAHOF

2. Ernie Banks

2. Ernie Banks
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: January 31, 1931 in Dallas, TX USA
  • Weight: 180 lbs.
  • Height: 6'1"
  • Bats: R
  • Throws: R
  • Debut: September 17, 1953
  • Final Game: September 26, 1971
  • TSN All-Star - 1955
  • Most Valuable Player - 1958
  • TSN All-Star - 1958
  • TSN Player of the Year - 1958
  • Most Valuable Player - 1959
  • TSN All-Star - 1959
  • TSN Player of the Year - 1959
  • Gold Glove - 1960
  • TSN All-Star - 1960
  • Lou Gehrig Memorial Award - 1967
  • MVP - 1954
  • MVP - 1955
  • MVP - 1956
  • MVP - 1957
  • MVP - 1958
  • MVP - 1959
  • MVP - 1960
  • MVP - 1962
  • MVP - 1967
  • MVP - 1968
  • MVP - 1969
  • Rookie of the Year - 1954
 
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188422610516610243272100 0.274
 

In terms of overall iconic status at Wrigley Field, Ernie Banks would be number 1. 

Of course, he would!  He is "Mister Cub" after all!

As popular as he was talented, Banks would spend his entire Major League Baseball career with the Chicago Cubs.  Debuting late in the 1953 season, Banks broke out in 1955, where he had a 44 Home Run season and went to his first of 14 All-Star Games.  Blasting 43 dingers the season after, the then Shortstop would have a career-high 47 Home Runs in 1958, this time winning the Home Run title and earning the National League MVP Award.  He would become the MVP again the season after where he would repeat his power with a 40 Home Run season and would lead the NL in RBIs, the second straight year he would do so.  At this point, Banks was the most potent power hitter in the NL.

Banks would win his second Home Run title in 1960 and switch to First Base for the second half of his career.  He would not have another 40 Home Run campaign but would have seven 23 or more years and would finish with 512 overall, making him one of the few players to hit 500 with one team.  The slugger would also accumulate 2,583 Hits and 1,631 RBIs and an even.500 in Slugging Percentage.

Banks would enter the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977 in his first year of eligibility.  Chicago retired his number 14 in 1982, and he was one of the many inducted into the Cubs Hall of Fame in 2021.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: First Base, Short Stop
  • Acquired: Signed as a Free Agent 9/8/53.
  • Departed: Released 12/1/71.
  • Games Played: 2528
  • Notable Statistics: 1,305 Runs
    2,583 Hits
    407 Doubles
    90 Triples
    512 Home Runs
    1,636 Runs Batted In
    50 Stolen Bases
    .274/.330/.500 Slash Line
    67.8 bWAR

    No Playoff Games
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    MVP (1958 & 1959)
    All-Star (1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1967 & 1969)
    Lou Gehrig Award (1967)
    Gold Glove (1960)
    Highest bWAR for Position Players (1959)
    Highest Defensive bWAR (1959)
    Highest Slugging Percentage (1958)
    Most At Bats (1958)
    Most Total Bases (1958)
    Most Home Runs (1958 & 1960)
    Most Runs Batted In (1958 & 1959)
    Most Extra Base Hits (1955, 1957, 1958 & 1960)
    Most Intentional Walks (1959 & 1960)
    Most Total Zone Runs (1959)
    Most Putouts (1962, 1964, 1965, 1967 & 1969)
    Most Assists (1959 & 1960)
    Most Putouts by a First Baseman (1962, 1964, 1965, 1967 & 1969)
    Most Assists by a First Baseman (1962, 1964 & 1967)
    Most Double Plays Turned by a First Baseman (1962)
    Most Putouts by a Shortstop (1960)
    Most Assists by a Shortstop (1959 & 1960)
    Most Double Plays Turned by a Shortstop (1960)
    Most Total Zone Runs by a First Baseman (1964)
    Highest Range Factor per Game by a First Baseman (1962, 1964 & 1965)
    Highest Fielding Percentage by a First Baseman (1969)
    Most Total Zone Runs by a Shortstop (1959)
    Highest Range Factor per Game by a Shortstop (1961)
    Highest Fielding Percentage by a Shortstop (1955, 1959 & 1960)

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