Those immortal words belong to one man. And Ernie Banks meant it every time he said it.
The legendary Cubs slugger was a two-time MVP, a 14-time All-Star and hit 512 home runs (most all time by a Cubs player until Sammy Sosa hit 545 from 1992-2004) over a 19-year Major League career from 1953-71. One of the most beloved Cubs of all time — in fact, his nickname was “Mr. Cub” — Banks had many memorable moments throughout his illustrious career.
Here’s a look at 10 of them in chronological order:
1. A historic Major League debut: Sept. 17, 1953
Banks appeared in 2,528 games — all for the Cubs — during his career, and he loved to play. So much so that from Aug. 28, 1956-June 22, 1961, he didn’t take a single day off, playing in 717 consecutive games. That’s the 15th-longest streak in Major League history. But the first of those games came on Sept. 17, 1953, when Banks started at shortstop and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored against the Phillies at Wrigley Field. On that day, he became the first African American player in Cubs history.
2. First All-Star selection amid breakout season: 1955
Banks had a breakout campaign in 1955, belting 44 home runs — including five grand slams (a record until Don Mattingly hit eight in 1987) — with 117 RBIs and a .941 OPS for the North Siders, earning his first All-Star selection in the process. He also finished third in National League MVP Award voting.
In his best season to that point, Banks launched an MLB-leading 47 home runs in 1958, most by a shortstop in a single season until that mark was eclipsed by Alex Rodriguez in 2001. Banks also led the Majors with 129 RBIs and 379 total bases, and led the NL by slugging .614. It all led to the first of two consecutive NL MVP Awards.
4. Second straight MVP season: 1959
The following year, Banks hit 45 homers with a career-high 143 RBIs. He was brilliant defensively at short as well, and it all added up to an MLB-best 10.2 bWAR — that made him the third shortstop in MLB history to have a season of 10-plus bWAR, joining Honus Wagner (1905, ’08) and Lou Boudreau (1948). Since Banks in 1959, only three shortstops have produced more bWAR in a season — Robin Yount (1982), Cal Ripken Jr. (1991) and Rodriguez (2000). Banks became the first player in NL history to win back-to-back MVP Awards.
Banks was rewarded for his sparkling defense at shortstop with a Gold Glove Award in 1960, when he also led MLB in homers for the second time in his career (41) and posted a .904 OPS — that marked his fourth consecutive season with an OPS above .900.
6. A move across the diamond: 1962
Banks, to this point primarily a shortstop throughout his big league career, moved to first base, where he would play for the bulk of the remainder of his career. While he is remembered most often as a shortstop, Banks appeared at first base in more games (1,259) than at shortstop (1,125) during his career (he also appeared at third base in 69 games and in the outfield in 23 games).
7. A historic managerial moment: 1973
In the place of Whitey Lockman, who had been ejected from the game in extra innings, Banks took over as manager for the Cubs against the Padres on May 8, 1973, becoming the first African American manager in AL/NL history. Chicago beat San Diego that day, 3-2.
8. A first-ballot Hall of Famer: 1977
With 83.8% of the vote, Banks was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on his first ballot in 1977. Twenty-two years later, at the 1999 All-Star Game at Fenway Park, Banks was named as one of three shortstops (also Wagner and Ripken) on the MLB All-Century Team.
9. Another first, this time with No. 14: 1982
Banks’ No. 14 became the first number to be retired by the Cubs when they took it out of circulation in 1982. Since then, six others have had their numbers retired by the franchise — Billy Williams (No. 26 in 1987), Jackie Robinson (No. 42 in 1997), Ron Santo (No. 10 in 2003), Ryne Sandberg (No. 23 in 2005), Greg Maddux and Fergie Jenkins (both No. 31 in 2009).
10. A prestigious national honor: 2013
In 2013, Banks became one of eight professional baseball players in history to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the highest civilian award in the United States — having it presented to him at the White House by President Barack Obama.
