North: Banks was the ultimate winner
Most of us were blindsided by the death of Ernie Banks, and for kids like me who grew up with Ernie, it was especially sad and nostalgic.
I probably have the same story as many others, but I will share with you the impact he had on my young life.
Ernie started playing for the Cubs in 1953, and was the first African-American player for the club. I was born in '52, so Ernie was there as soon as I started to hear about baseball from my dad and uncles, and his impact on my life grew bigger and bigger as I watched him on WGN.
When the bell rang at St. Gertrude's school on the North Side, my buddies and I would gather to talk after school. That is, unless the Cubs were playing, and I tore home to see if Ernie would belt one of out the park.
It didn't matter to me if the Cubs were down 6-1. Banks was batting in the 8th inning and I wanted to see him bat. After a long day at school, and I had more than one, Banks could put a smile on my face.
When I was facing the wrath of the nuns, I always had Ernie. When my dad was mad at me, I had Ernie. No matter if the Cubs won or lost, we always had Ernie to boost our spirits.
Banks stopped playing in 1971, and right about then I was worried about being drafted. He was around throughout my childhood and beyond. Of course, there will never be another Ernie Banks.
I played Little League Baseball at Thillens Stadium on the North Side in 1963 and 1964. The biggest night of the summer happened when Banks and my favorite White Sox player, Nellie Fox, made an appearance there. Fox showed us fielding, bunting and hitting. Then Banks stepped into the batter's box and would put on a show as balls flew over left field into the canal at Devon and McCormack.
It was the thrill of my life to shake their hands afterward, and little did I know I would cross paths with Ernie many times down the line.
He loved life, loved the game, loved people and just could make you feel good. I'm so glad free agency didn't exist back then; he is the perfect argument for staying with one team for an entire career.
I got a call last Saturday morning from the Rev. Jesse Jackson. It was 7 a.m. and I was playing racquetball. I couldn't figure out why he was calling me at that time, but then he broke the news to me because I hadn't heard yet.
Jesse and I had worked with John McDonough, the former Cubs official who is now president of the Blackhawks, to have a statue erected to honor Ernie. While I had a minor roll in the whole thing, it wasn't minor to me. I got a chance to help do something for someone who brought so much happiness and joy to others.
Ernie Banks never played in the postseason, but he was still the ultimate winner. He was 100 percent class, totally approachable and a great man!
Program notes:
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