Ernie Banks

Ernie Banks, born in 1931, American professional baseball player who established a major league record in 1955 by hitting five grand-slam home runs in a single season. He was the first player in the National League (NL) to be named most valuable player two years in a row (1958, 1959). The shortstop and first baseman played all of his 19 major league seasons (1953-71) with the Chicago Cubs and earned the nickname “Mr. Cub.”

Born Ernest Banks in Dallas, Texas, Banks excelled in high school baseball, basketball, and track and field. He pursued baseball, signing with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League in 1950. After a stint in the army from 1951 to 1953, Banks finished the 1953 season with the Monarchs. He then signed a contract with the Chicago Cubs, making him that team's first black player. In Chicago Banks became a favorite among fans when he hit 44 home runs in 1955—a major-league record for a shortstop. Three years later he broke his own record by hitting 47 home runs. For four consecutive years (1957-60) he hit more than 40 home runs, ending his career with a total of 512.

Banks was also among the best defensive baseball players. In 1959 his fielding average set an NL season record for shortstops. In 1969 (having moved to first base in 1962) his fielding average led all NL first basemen. A popular figure among fans, Banks possessed an infectious enthusiasm for the game and was known for his favorite saying: “Let's play two today!” He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.