Legendary Chicago Cubs shortstop Ernie Banks passed away at the age of 83 on Friday, Banks’ wife told the Chicago Tribune.
The Hall of Famer, known adamantly among Cubs fans as “Mr. Cub,” is beloved in the city of Chicago. So beloved, in fact, that a statue in his likeness stands outside Wrigley Field and his No. 14 jersey was retired when he stepped away from the game as a player.
Banks became the first African-American to play for the franchise on Sept. 17, 1953, per the Tribune, and played all 19 Major League seasons (1953-1971) with the Cubs. He earned back-to-back MVP awards in 1958 and 1959 and was an 11-time All Star. He also won a Gold Glove at shortstop in 1960.
Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts released a statement Friday evening:
"“Words cannot express how important Ernie Banks will always be to the Chicago Cubs, the city of Chicago and Major League Baseball. He was one of the greatest players of all time. He was a pioneer in the major leagues. And more importantly, he was the warmest and most sincere person I’ve ever known.“Approachable, ever optimistic and kind hearted, Ernie Banks is and always will be Mr. Cub. My family and I grieve the loss of such a great and good-hearted man, but we look forward to celebrating Ernie’s life in the days ahead.”"
Among Cubs all time, Banks is the greater ever. He had five seasons with 40 or more home runs and twice led the league (47 in 1958 and 41 in 1960), finishing his career with 512. He also compiled 2,583 hits and drove in 1,636 runs. He was finally elected into the Hall of Fame in 1977.
He was well known for his love for the game of the baseball and renowned for his famous quote: “Let’s play two.” His positive disposition even earned him a Presidential Medal of Honor, awarded to him at the White House in November of 2013.
Ernie Banks was everybody's favorite person, let alone baseball player. Curious, courteous, uncommonly considerate and funny. RIP, Mr. Cub.
— David Haugh (@DavidHaugh) January 24, 2015
Banks was a phenomenal fielder, remembered as a shortstop despite playing more games at first base (1,259 at first, 1,125 at shortstop) over the last 11 years of his career. Though he won just that one aforementioned Gold Glove, he was among his primary position’s top 10 in fielding percentage in 16 of his 19 Major League seasons.
Despite playing in 2,528 games, Ernie Banks never once had the opportunity to play in the postseason and holds the record—albeit an unfortunate one—for that feat. Born in Dallas in 1931, Banks would have turned 84 on Jan. 31.