1970 HEADLINE: Ernie Banks Joins The ’500 Home Runs Club’

1970 HEADLINE: Ernie Banks Joins The ’500 Home Runs Club’

On this day in 1970, Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks crushed his 500th career home run!!!

Ranking at #21 on the All-time home run list with 521 career round-trippers, Banks’ ranking continues to drop as more players overtake his career achievement of 521. It’s quite possible that Banks will drop 2 to 3 more spots over the course of the next 4-5 seasons, but one thing is for sure – ERNIE BANKS’ STATUS WILL NEVER FADE AMONGST CUBS FANS!!!

Banks personifies what Cubbie Baseball is all about, and he is without a doubt the most popular baseball player to ever call Wrigley Field home.

Happy Anniversary Mr. Banks!! We Still Love You!!!!

Ernie Banks 2003 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Classic Chicago Cubs Manufactured Patch Card

Ernie Banks 2003 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Classic Chicago Cubs Manufactured Patch Card

Would you believe that I paid just $1.99 for this card?  Well, I did.  Actually, I paid $2.49 if you divide my shipping costs and apply them equally to the four cards that I bought from this seller.

When I found this one, I thought that the Buy It Now price was a mistake.  Maybe the seller put the wrong price?  Maybe he missed a digit?  But, after searching his other listings, I saw that most cards were priced to sell, and I pounced!!

I picked up four cards in total, all at $1.99 each!

And this one of Banks looks great.  It comes from the 2003 Upper Deck Sweet Spot Classics set.  And it features a very nice, and bright Chicago Cubs patch as the centerpiece.

This card is uber-thick, quite possibly the thickest card in my collection…

Have a look:

Nice, huh??

Wait until you see the other cards that I picked up from this seller.  You’re gonna love it – I know that I do!!!

Ernie Banks 2011 ’60 Years Of Topps’ – 1968 Topps Design

Ernie Banks 2011 ’60 Years Of Topps’ – 1968 Topps Design

I don’t own too many vintage baseball cards of Ernie Banks.  Of all of the former Cubs legends – his cards draw the most money, and they seem to maintain their value pretty well.

Of the few cards of Banks that I do have in my collection that were issued during his playing days, I have his 1968 Topps card.  It is in pretty good condition, and is probably my favorite card of the very small collection.

And now, I have a re-print of the same card.

This one comes from the 2011 Topps ’60 Years Of Topps’ set.  And while the corners are more crisp, and the image is sharper, I will say that I still prefer the one that is now 45 years old!!

Happy Birthday To ‘Mr. Cub’ Ernie Banks!!!

Happy Birthday To ‘Mr. Cub’ Ernie Banks!!!

Amazingly, Ernie Banks is turning 82 years old today. 

I have seen recent pictures of Ernie at various Cubs and baseball related events and he looks great!!  Still has the famous smile of his!!!

‘Mr. Cub’ will always be the most popular and respected player from the Chicago Cubs organization.  His 19-seasons of perfection in a Cubs uniform still remain as fond and vibrant memories for the ‘North Siders’.  Banks’ 512 career home runs and season after season of MVP caliber baseball earned him a Hall of Fame induction in 1977 on the first ballot.

Unfortunately Banks never played 1 single inning, never batted 1 time, never took the field 1 time in the playoffs.  For someone who means so much the sport of baseball and specifically to the city of Chicago, it would have been great to see Ernie Banks play when the games counted the most.

Happy Birthday Mr. Banks!!

1977 HEADLINE: Ernie Banks Elected To Baseball Hall Of Fame

1977 HEADLINE: Ernie Banks Elected To Baseball Hall Of Fame

‘Mr. Cub’ will always be the most popular and respected player from the Chicago Cubs organization. His 19-seasons of perfection in a Cubs uniform still remain as fond and vibrant memories for the ‘North Siders’. Banks’ 512 career home runs and season after season of MVP caliber baseball earned him a Hall of Fame induction in 1977 on the first ballot.

Ernie Banks was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on his first ballot. He received 321 of 383 votes cast.

Ernie Banks 2004 Donruss Team Heroes. If You Don’t Know Ernie Banks…

Ernie Banks 2004 Donruss Team Heroes.  If You Don’t Know Ernie Banks…

If you don’t know Ernie Banks, all you have to do to learn a little about him as a baseball player is look at his card from the 2004 Donruss Team Heroes set.

Luckily, I have the card in my collection now.  And I feel honored to share it with you:

Ernie Banks had/has an electric personality.  His love of playing the sport of baseball was obvious each and every time that he stepped onto the field.  Hell, look at that smile!!

In today’s game, they often talk about guys that are ‘Good Clubhouse Guys’.  I would have to guess that Ernie Banks ranks amongst the ‘Best Clubhouse Guys’ in the history of Major League Baseball!

Thanks You, Mr. Banks.

2001 Topps Archives – 1962 NL Home Run Leaders w/Aaron, Mays, Robinson, Banks, and Cepeda!!!

2001 Topps Archives – 1962 NL Home Run Leaders w/Aaron, Mays, Robinson, Banks, and Cepeda!!!

Jeez, talk about a who’s, who of power hitters from the 1960′s.  This re-printed baseball card from the 2001 Topps Archives set celebrates the National League’s home run leaders from the 1962 design.

The card features 5 Hall of Famers, and 4 members of the ’500 Home Runs Club’.

Now, let’s dig into the numbers.

Here is the leaderboard:
Willie Mays – 49
Hank Aaron – 45
Frank Robinson – 39
Ernie Banks – 37
Orlando Cepeda – 35

Not too shabby!!

The funny thing is that I have to now decide where to store this card.  And since I collect, and organize, my cards at the player level, I have three choices – Aaron, Banks, or Robinson…

Quite the pickle that I am in, huh??

I think that I am going to have to go with Aaron.  He is a focus of mine right now, and it is fitting to have a Home Run commemorative card going into his collection.  Sorry Ernie.  Sorry Frank.

Ernie Banks 2004 Upper Deck Timeless Talents – Legends

Ernie Banks 2004 Upper Deck Timeless Talents – Legends

This set is becoming a favorite at ’30-YOC’.  I like the plain design.  I like the full-size photo.  And I like the year that is highlighted under the player’s name.

As for this specific card, it is very hard to mention the Chicago Cubs and not think about Ernie Banks or the 1969 baseball season.  Banks is the greatest player in the team’s history, and 1969 was the last time that the club was truly poised to compete for a World Series title.

Here is the card:

My lone complaint is that the photo used was issued in a Black and White format.  The other cards that I have from this set: Palmer, Jenkins, Robinson, Puckett, and Carew, are all issued in color.

1971 HEADLINE: Cubs’ Banks Set To Retire!

1971 HEADLINE: Cubs’ Banks Set To Retire!

On this day in 1971 Chicago Cubs great, Ernie Banks, retired from major league baseball after 19 seasons.

‘Mr. Cub’ will always be the most popular and respected player from the Chicago Cubs organization.  His 19-seasons of perfection in a Cubs uniform still remain as fond and vibrant memories for the ‘North Siders’.  Banks’ 512 career home runs and season after season of MVP caliber baseball earned him a Hall of Fame induction in 1977 on the first ballot.

Unfortunately Banks never played 1 single inning, never batted 1 time, never took the field 1 time in the playoffs.  For someone that means so much the sport of baseball and specifically to the city of Chicago, it would have been great to see Ernie Banks play when the games counted the most! 

Ernie Banks 2003 Upper Deck Vintage

Ernie Banks 2003 Upper Deck Vintage

For as much as I love to see a baseball player truly show their love for the game, you will never find me doing a ‘Top Ten Smiles In Baseball’.  That is just not me…

But, if I was forced to do such a thing, I think that Ernie Banks would crack the list…