Ernie Banks: The Eternal Optimist Who Redefined Cubs Greatness with 512 HRs and Back-to-Back MVPs.vc
November 1, 2025 – Chicago, IL – Ernie Banks, the Chicago Cubs’ eternal beacon of joy and power, remains baseball’s gold standard for passion meeting prodigious talent. Known forever as “Mr. Cub”, Banks etched his name in history as the first National League player to win consecutive MVP awards (1958–1959) — all while manning the demanding shortstop position with a smile that could light up Wrigley Field.
“Let’s play two!” — Ernie Banks’ iconic catchphrase, born from pure love of the game
A Legacy Built on Power, Positivity, and Perseverance
| Milestone | Achievement |
|---|---|
| MLB Debut | 1953 (Chicago Cubs) |
| Career HRs | 512 (11th all-time at retirement) |
| MVP Awards | 1958 & 1959 (1st NL SS to win back-to-back) |
| All-Star Selections | 14× |
| Gold Gloves | 1 (1960) |
| Hall of Fame | 1977 (1st ballot, 83.8%) |
| Cubs #14 Retired | 1982 |
Banks played 19 seasons — all with the Cubs — despite never appearing in the postseason. Yet his infectious enthusiasm turned every doubleheader into a celebration, every loss into a lesson, and every fan into family.
The First Shortstop Superstar
In an era when shortstops were defense-first, Banks redefined the position:
- 1958 MVP: .313 AVG, 47 HR, 129 RBI, 379 total bases
- 1959 MVP: .304 AVG, 45 HR, 143 RBI, led NL in RBI
- 5× 40+ HR seasons — a record for shortstops until Alex Rodriguez
“He had the sweetest swing I ever saw,” said Hall of Famer Hank Aaron. “And the best attitude in baseball.”
“Let’s Play Two!” — The Phrase That Defined a Generation
On a sunny August day in 1969, with the Cubs in a pennant race and a doubleheader looming, a reporter asked Banks how he felt about playing two games in the heat.
“It’s a beautiful day — let’s play two!”
The line wasn’t scripted. It was pure Ernie — a man who saw 162 games as a privilege, not a grind. That optimism became the soul of Wrigley Field, inspiring generations of Cubs fans through decades of heartbreak.
512 Home Runs: A Testament to Consistency
Banks retired with 512 career home runs — a staggering total for a middle infielder in the pre-steroid era. He:
- Led the NL in HRs twice
- Led in RBI twice
- Hit 40+ HRs five times
- Finished with a .274/.330/.500 slash line
His 2,528 games played rank 5th all-time among position players — a monument to durability and devotion.
Mr. Cub’s Lasting Impact
- Statue at Wrigley: Unveiled in 2008, inscribed with “Let’s Play Two”
- Congressional Gold Medal: Awarded in 2014 for civil rights contributions
- Ernie Banks Foundation: Supports youth education and baseball access
- Cubs Culture: His positivity lives in Pete Crow-Armstrong, Dansby Swanson, and every “Fly the W”
“Baseball is a game of failure,” Banks once said. “But it’s also a game of hope. And hope never takes a day off.”
The Final Verdict
Ernie Banks didn’t just play baseball — he loved it out loud. In a sport that chews up dreamers, he remained unshakably joyful, hitting moonshots and spreading sunshine in equal measure.
512 home runs. 2 MVPs. 1 eternal catchphrase. Zero regrets.
Let’s play two? Only if Ernie’s in the lineup.
