Mr. Cub passes 1931-2015

[burnsy]

One of the all time greats. One of the reasons kids like me loved baseball growing up...........Ernie Banks.

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/12219755/ernie-banks-former-chicago-cubs-great-dies-age-83

[Johnny V]

Banks was one heck of a ballplayer and a class act all the way. R.I.P Ernie

[horses4courses]

One of the all time greats. One of the reasons kids like me loved baseball growing up...........Ernie Banks.

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/12219755/ernie-banks-former-chicago-cubs-great-dies-age-83

Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, and Billy Williams were my heroes back then.
Terrific ball players. :ThmbUp:

[Ocala Mike]

There'll be a double-header in heaven today, for sure.

RIP; a true legend.

[burnsy]

There'll be a double-header in heaven today, for sure.

RIP; a true legend.

"Lets play two................"

[Marshall Bennett]

Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, and Billy Williams were my heroes back then.
Terrific ball players. :ThmbUp:
Mine as well. Was a huge Cubs fan back in the day. Add Fergie Jenkins to the mix.
Ernie Banks had a lot of power for his size. A lot like Griffey Jr. I saw him drill a line drive over the center field fence in the Astrodome (a very pitcher-friendly park). The ball couldn't have risen more than 40 ft. off the ground.
Rest in peace, tough guy.

[Valuist]

Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, and Billy Williams were my heroes back then.
Terrific ball players. :ThmbUp:

Mine too. And Fergie Jenkins.

I believe that playing 81 day games ultimately wore those teams down. Several Cub teams had leads at the All Star break only to collapse in the second half.

[ReplayRandall]

Here's what a superstar like Ernie Banks earned back in the old days:

Ernie Banks
Year - Team - Number - Salary
1953 Chicago Cubs 14 $2,000.00
1954 Chicago Cubs 14 $6,000.00
1955 Chicago Cubs 14 $10,000.00
1956 Chicago Cubs 14 $17,500.00
1957 Chicago Cubs 14 $20,000.00
1958 Chicago Cubs 14 $27,500.00
1959 Chicago Cubs 14 $45,000.00
1960 Chicago Cubs 14 $50,000.00
1961 Chicago Cubs 14 $57,500.00
1962 Chicago Cubs 14 $55,000.00
1963 Chicago Cubs 14 $55,000.00
1964 Chicago Cubs 14 $57,500.00
1965 Chicago Cubs 14 $52,500.00
1966 Chicago Cubs 14 $55,000.00
1967 Chicago Cubs 14 $65,000.00
1968 Chicago Cubs 14 $65,000.00
1969 Chicago Cubs 14 $60,000.00
1970 Chicago Cubs 14 $85,000.00
1971 Chicago Cubs 14 $85,000.00