Ernie Banks Biography

Ernest Banks, nicknamed Mr. Cub and Mr. Sunshine, played as a shortstop and first baseman for the Chicago Cubs from 1953 to 1971. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977 and named to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team in 1999. After serving in the U.S. military, he began his National League career with the Chicago Cubs in September 1953. Banks was selected as a National League All-Star for 11 seasons starting in 1955, appearing in 13 of the 15 All-Star Games held during that span. In 1970, he hit his 500th career home run at Wrigley Field. In 2013, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama for his contributions to sports. While still in high school, he joined the Dallas Black Giants, a semi-pro baseball team, in 1949.