HR0312 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0312 LRB099 08559 GRL 33283 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Ernest "Ernie" Banks, who passed away on January 23, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Ernie Banks was born in Dallas, Texas on January 31, 1931; his parents were Eddie and Essie Banks; and

WHEREAS, Ernie Banks grew up in Dallas, where he attended church and Sunday school at St. Paul's Methodist Church; he was a gifted athlete, having attended Booker T. Washington High School and lettering in basketball, football, and track; he also played softball for the church team during the summer and served as a batboy for his father's baseball teams; and

WHEREAS, While playing softball, Ernie Banks was discovered by black newspaper publisher and ex-Negro League pitcher, William Blair; under Blair's guidance, he joined the nearby Amarillo Colts, a black semi-pro baseball team in Amarillo, Texas; he played briefly with the Colts before being recruited by the Negro Leagues' Kansas City Monarchs, a team whose alumni included Jackie Robinson and Satchel Paige; he made his debut with the Monarchs after graduating from high school in 1950; and

WHEREAS, In 1951, Ernie Banks' time with the Monarchs was cut short when he was drafted into the United States Army; he served in Germany and Korea and was a flag bearer in the 45th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion at Fort Bliss; while at Fort Bliss, he briefly played with the Harlem Globetrotters; and

WHEREAS, In 1953, Ernie Banks was discharged from the Army and returned home to play for the Monarchs; in September of 1953, the Chicago Cubs bought Ernie's contract from the Monarchs; on September 17, 1953, he made his Major League debut at Wrigley Field, and eventually played in 10 games; he was the Cubs' first African-American player and became one of a handful of former Negro League players who joined the Major Leagues; and

WHEREAS, Ernie Banks was among the greatest and most popular players in the history of the game of baseball; over the course of 19 seasons, he was one of the most potent offensive threats in baseball and was a fan favorite for his charm and cheerful disposition; he hit 512 home runs, surpassing the 40-roundtrippers mark 5 times; he hit 277 of his home runs as a shortstop - a National League record; he holds the National League single-season mark for home runs by a shortstop with 47 in 1958; he was voted to the All-Star Team 14 times and won the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 1958 and 1959, making him the first player to ever win the National League MVP in consecutive seasons; and

WHEREAS, On December l, 1971, Ernie Banks retired as a player, but served as a coach for the Cubs from 1967 to 1973; on May 8, 1973, he took over the reins as manager of the Cubs, becoming the first African-American to manage a Major League team; and

WHEREAS, Ernie Banks was a roving instructor for the Cubs Minor League system from 1974 to 1976; he worked in the team's community relations department and served on the Cubs Board of Directors following the death of Philip Wrigley; he also served as an honorary manager during the 1984 playoffs, was a frequent attendee at special events, including Opening Day and the annual Cubs Convention, and represented the franchise at numerous Major League Baseball and charity events; and

WHEREAS, During and after his career in baseball, Ernie Banks ventured into civics, business, and politics; he ran for Alderman of Chicago's 8th Ward in 1962 under the campaign motto "Put a slugger into City Hall"; he was a partner in several business ventures and was one of the first black owners of a U.S. Ford Motor Company dealership; he also served on the boards of the Chicago Transit Authority, Jackson Park Hospital, the La Rabida Sanitarium, the Glenwood Home for Boys, the Metropolitan YMCA, the Joint Negro Appeal, the Woodlawn Boys Club, the Chicago Rehabilitation Institute, and Big Brothers Big Sisters; and

WHEREAS, Ernie Banks was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977 on the first ballot; he was the first player in Cubs history to have his number retired in 1982; his flag flies from the left-field foul pole at Wrigley Field to this day; he was inducted as a member of the Major League Baseball's All-Century Team and was honored on the field at the All-Star Game in Fenway Park in 1999; he was the first player in franchise history to be honored with a statue at Wrigley Field on March 31, 2008; and

WHEREAS, In 2008, Ernie Banks was named a Library of Congress Living Legend; in 2013, Ernie was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, an award given to those who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural, or other significant public or private endeavors", by President Barack Obama; and

WHEREAS, Ernie Banks was preceded in death by his first wife, Eloyce Johnson Banks, whom he married in 1959; 5 brothers, Samuel Banks, Benjamin Banks, Glover Banks, Robert Banks, and Eddie Banks, Jr.; and a sister, Frances Wilson; and

WHEREAS, Ernie Banks is survived by his wife, Liz Banks; 2 sons, Jerry (Theresa) Banks and Joey (Norma Jean) Banks; 2 daughters, Jan Banks and Alyna Banks; a grandson, Marcelo Banks; a granddaughter, Courtney Dozier Banks; 3 sisters, Edna Warren, Estella Johnson, and Evelyn Lockhart; 2 brothers, Walter Banks and Donald Banks; and his many nieces, nephews, family, friends, and countless fans; and

WHEREAS, Ernie Banks will be honored for his countless achievements and his pioneering role in baseball history during the Chicago Cubs' opening night events on April 5, 2015; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of former Chicago Cub legend Ernie Banks, "Mr. Cub", who will forever emphatically be remembered for his famous line, "Let's play two!"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Ernie Banks as an expression of our sympathy.