RIP Ernie Banks

First game I saw: I was 6, Ernie hit a home run and the Cubs won. Major League Baseball has had a tough time living up to that day ever since.

@daynperry: Ernie Banks debuted on 9/17/53. Cubs should make 9/17 Ernie Banks Day and play an annual home doubleheader.

I agree, but it should be a real doubleheader not a day- night; and the teams should have to play their regular lineups in both games, no benchwarmers starting.

The actual Ernie saying is "Let's play three"

@daynperry: Ernie Banks debuted on 9/17/53. Cubs should make 9/17 Ernie Banks Day and play an annual home doubleheader.

That is a great idea.

Wonder if we could make a formal suggestion, like a petition.

Ernie Banks and Mickey Mantle in HR Derby 1960. Watch Ernie bat!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWD9w5PyzCM

RIP ERNIE!!!
Sincerely and with condolences,
Delivery Boy...

Now cracks a noble heart. And flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest.

Even Shakespeare would have been a fan of Mr. Cub.

Ernie had a far nobler heart than Hamlet. If it had been his play, Denmark would have prevailed.

We should honor the passing of HOF'ers like Ernie with SOM issuing their best season not already carded. As it turns out, we don't even have his best season.

We should honor the passing of HOF'ers like Ernie with SOM issuing their best season not already carded. As it turns out, we don't even have his best season.

We do have his best season 1959? His OPS was only .01 behind his second best season of 1958 but the decline in errors from 32 in 1958 to 12 (career best fielding percent at SS of .985, relatively important in shortstops) in 1959 not only gave him a career best WAR and his second MVP season but also a career best in RBI's and OBP and was only 2 off the 1958 HR total.

The idea of a real doubleheader every year in his honor is a real good idea. The idea of adding best season not carded is good too.

Great idea about the doubleheader. If the Reds are going to honor Bench, Rose, and Anderson by having as few double headers as possible, then, the Cubs can honor Banks with a doubleheader.

You may have seen this scouting report on Ernie Banks:

https://twitter.com/Schlanghole/status/559028469703925761/photo/1

Bank's 1958 season was his best for ATG certainly. His peak avg and hr's +slg. pct. The '58 card is more valuable for ATG. Banks slugged significantly better against righties that year, yet his OBP and BA are better against lefties. He would be probably be a 1r or E in 1958 vs the 3L of 1959. Here are the comparison splits for the two years:

1958 vs R .307 .360 .630 .990
vs L .331 .384 .578 .962

1959 vs R .288 .355 .583 .938
vs L .364 .440 .657 1.097

Pretty sure the 1958 card would be his premier card, and the go to card with ATG.