"Let's play two today!" That was one of Ernie Banks's favorite expressions. He was known as Mr. Cub. About every Cubs fan knows who he is. He was a great shortstop. He had a very positive attitude and had 512 home runs which was the Cubs' all-time record until Sammy Sosa hit his 513th.Ernest Banks was born on Saturday, January 31, 1931 in Dallas, Texas. He was signed by the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro League Association, then signed straight from Kansas City to the major league Chicago Cubs in 1953.
Ernie made his major league debut on September 17, 1953. He jacked his first career homer three days later. in '53 Banks played ten games, got eleven hits, thirty-five at bats, two homers, three runs, and six RBIs.
In 1954, unlike most players, Banks played a complete year in his sophomore year. He played one-hundred-fifty-four games, one-hundred-sixty-three hits, five hundred ninety-three at bats, nineteen homers, seventy runs, and seventy-nine RBIs.
1955 came, and Ernie was in the Cubs starting lineup. Ernie played one-hundred-fifty-four games, he had one-hundred-seventy-six hits, five hundred ninety-six at bats, forty-four homers, ninety-eight runs, and one-hundred-seventeen RBIs.
'56 came by, and Ernie's fourth season came into play. Banks played one-hundred-thirty-nine games, got one-hundred-sixty hits, five-hundred-thirty-eight at bats, twenty-eight homers, eighty-two runs, and eighty-five RBIs.
Up until this time Ernie played Shortstop, Ernie played one-hundred-fifty-six games all season in '57, fifty-eight of those games he played at 3rd base, one-hundred-sixty-nine hits, five hundred ninety-four at bats, forty-three homers, one-hundred-thirteen runs, and one-hundred-two RBIs.
1958 came, and Banks played one-hundred-fifty-four games, one hundred ninety-three hits, six-hundred-seventeen at bats, forty-seven homers, one hundred nineteen runs, and one-hundred-twenty-nine RBIs.
'59 rolled in and Ernie played one hundred fifty-five games, one hundred seventy-nine hits, five hundred eighty-nine at bats, forty-five homers, ninety-seven runs, and one hundred forty-three RBIs.
Ernie's eighth season was a slightly worse year than 1959. The year was 1960, and Banks played one hundred fifty-six games, one hundred sixty-two hits, five hundred ninety-seven at bats, forty-one homers, ninety-four runs, and one hundred seventeen RBIs.
Ernie continued to play Shortstop, but he tried out seven games at 1st base and twenty-three in the outfield. Banks played one hundred thirty-eight total games in '61, one hundred forty-two hits, five hundred eleven at bats, twenty-nine homers, seventy-five runs, and eighty RBIs.
In 1962 Ernie started the season at 1st, played one hundred forty-nine games there, then played three games at 3rd base. All together that year he played one hundred fifty-four games, got one hundred sixty-four hits, six hundred ten at bats, thirty-seven homers, eighty-seven runs, and one hundred four RBIs
In 1963 Banks Played 1st. He hit 18 Home Runs and had 64 R.B.I. Banks only played 125 games the whole season. Banks had four hundred and thirty two at bat and ninety eight hits. His best stat of '63 was he had 20 doubles.