Happy Birthday, Ernie Banks

88 years ago today, Ernest Banks was born in Dallas. He was born exactly 12 years after Jackie Robinson as they both share the same birthday. It is hard to believe Ernie has been gone for four years already, but he still lives in the hearts and memories Chicago Cubs and baseball fans all over.

Ernie is one of the few Cubs greats who spent his entire MLB career on the corner off Clark and Addison. He made his debut at the age of 22 on September 17th, 1953 after serving in the Korean War and playing with the Kansas City Monarchs. Robinson even saw and talked to Ernie before his MLB debut against the Phillies at Wrigley Field. That MLB debut saw him go 0–3 in a 16–4 loss in front of 2,793 spectators.

The rest of his career would be history: 512 home runs, 1,636 RBI, .274/.330/.500 slash and 2,583 hits in 2,528 games. He is also a 63.3 career fWAR player with a career K rate of only 11.9%. Ernie was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1977, seven years after he hit his 500th homer at Wrigley Field.

Some fun facts about Ernie:

• First player to win back-to-back NL MVP awards
• Played for the Harlem Globetrotters before playing MLB baseball
• Ernie was on the CTA board from 1969–1981
• In 1958 he hit 11 triples
• 1969 was the only time he struck out more than 100 times (101)
• He his his final MLB homer on 8/24/71

Happy Birthday Ernie Banks, we miss you!