The Top 20 Cub HR Of All Time - #5 Ernie Banks 5/12/1970

by Al Yellon on Feb 8, 2008 8:40 AM CST in Baseball Stories

"Everybody on your feet! This is it!"

That's what Jack Brickhouse yelled into his WGN microphone on a gloomy, cool Tuesday afternoon, May 12, 1970, the day Ernie Banks hit his 500th career HR.

A meaningless game? Sure. The Cubs were in first place at the time, with a 16-12 record, but ultimately fell short of the division title for the second year in a row.

A meaningless HR? Not at all. First, the Cubs needed every run they scored that day; they had to come from behind in the bottom of the 9th on a Billy Williams HR to tie the game, and then won on a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 11th by Ron Santo. So the Banks HR gave them a run they needed.

But its meaning is beyond that, and may have been dulled by the passage of almost 38 years. Ernie is now tied for 19th on the all-time HR list (with Eddie Mathews, a great player nearly forgotten today), and will likely be passed by two or three players in 2008 (Jim Thome is only five behind, and Manny Ramirez and Gary Sheffield both have a chance to pass him). On May 12, 1970, though, only eight players in major league history (Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, Jimmie Foxx, Ted Williams, Mel Ott and Mathews) had hit more home runs than Ernie Banks. In writing about Ernie a year ago in the top 100 Cub profile on him, I noted that Ernie was a far greater player than people today might remember:

From 1955 through 1960, he hit forty or more home runs five times in six seasons. Since then -- a span of forty-six seasons -- only Sammy Sosa, Ken Griffey Jr., Harmon Killebrew and Alex Rodriguez have accomplished that feat; Hall of Famers such as Willie Mays and Henry Aaron, Banks' contemporaries, never did. In 1955, he hit five grand slams, a record that stood for thirty-two years (and still stands as the NL record). The climax to all this production was the back-to-back MVP awards he won in 1958 and 1959, the first time a National Leaguer had won two in a row.

Serious injuries derailed Ernie from becoming a Hall of Famer as great as Aaron or Mays -- had he continued on the path he'd paved from 1955 through 1960, he might have hit 600 or more home runs and rank fourth or fifth on the list even today.

Only 5,264 witnessed Ernie's 500th in person that rainy Tuesday. But Ernie had had a HR stolen from him on June 30, 1969 in Montreal. Read the play-by-play of how this happened:

CUBS 2ND: Banks doubled; DUROCHER ARGUES, IS EJECTED, PROTESTS GAME This was really a home run; umps lost it in bad lights; Staub kicked some dirt under the fence and convinced umps that the ball went under the fence; Durocher argues, is ejected and protests game; W. Smith flied out to center [Banks to third]; Hundley was walked intentionally; Young was called out on strikes; Lemonds struck out; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Cubs 1, Expos 0.

That's right, Rusty Staub claimed the ball had rolled under the fence and the umpires believed him. This should have been Ernie's 488th, and thus his 500th should have been on a sunny Saturday, May 9, 1970, a two-run job off Don Gullett in front of a near-capacity crowd of 33,168 (myself included).

Ernie Banks' greatness cannot be overstated. This HR represents an entire career of achievement.

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Comments

"Lets play two"

"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"

by wild bill on Feb 8, 2008 9:17 AM CST reply actions

I also

Believe that Ernie's contribution to the Cubs went beyond his stats. His upbeat nature and willingness to appease the fans was such a great attribute. Only wish we had more players around today that exemplify this quality.

"You can't take life to seriously, you don't get out of it alive"

by wild bill on Feb 8, 2008 9:30 AM CST reply actions

Nice recap Al!

MMMMM...Nutrisystem!

by Kinky Reggae on Feb 8, 2008 9:42 AM CST reply actions

Hey Al...

Jarry Park was a dump from what I hear. Didn't they just have a chain link fence for the outfield, just like ole Candlestick?

I pulled the Rusty Staub with my brother's once in my uncle's back yard...it works with chain link fences every once in awhile.

"You're fired." - Dallas Green to Billy Connors while Billy was staying in the hospital.

by jdoolsiu on Feb 8, 2008 9:57 AM CST reply actions

I actually saw a Cub/Expo DH at Jarry Park.

August 6, 1976.

Game 1.

Game 2.

The really bad Cubs swept the even worse Expos. Attendance was 13,145, about half full. The seats were all aluminum, both the box seats and what passed for bleachers, so any foul balls going into the empty sections clanged off the metal.

It was not much more than a glorified city park with 29,000 seats squeezed in. There was a public swimming pool beyond the RF wall.

It had its charms, but it really had no business being a major league stadium.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Feb 8, 2008 10:04 AM CST up reply actions

Also...

... because it was built facing the wrong direction, the sun, in the peak of summer, would set over the left field corner. It would be right in the batters' eyes. They often had to delay games by thirty minutes or more for sunshine.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Feb 8, 2008 10:06 AM CST up reply actions

My Ernie story

It was a Saturday, April 25th same year 1970. My father suddenly decided the weather was good and we went and took the then 6 children and Mom to a Cubs game getting some of those day of the game seats, the old grand stands under the roof on the first base side.

It was packed even for an early season affair against the Astros and their rising star Jimmy Wynn, "The Toy Cannon". Jimmy ended his career very respectable with 291 HR's. That day Bill Hands (we called him the 'Good Hands' ala Allstate commercials) was pitching and in the first inning Wynn shot over onto Waveland like a crack in the 1st inning his 6th HR. Cubs responded with a 1st inning run.

The 3rd inning and second time through the order Jim Bouton pitching, (author of the book Ball Four) was getting hit hard. With 2 on 2 out Ernie steps up to the plate, he was homerless for 1970, but the crowd started chanting Ernie...Ernie....Ernie...Ernie.....

Each pitch it got stronger....my brother then 4 years old and a mindless Ernie fan was in his mother's arms going with the chant....3-2 count ('watch it'....I am sure Brickhouse said this at the moment up in the booth), and CRACK a blast to the left field bleachers! 3-RUN HR....

The crowd erupted it was Ernie's 498th and it was meaningful, he had to come out humbly to take a bow, while my baby brother was in tears, terrified by the sudden roar of the crowd and continued excitement. My mother as any protective parent would do took him downstairs to calm him down, coming back to admonish my father for bringing the boy to such an event...VBG she had to blame someone....

Cubs went onto win 11-5 with a Beckert HR and Williams 2-run HR to put icing on the cake.

May 9th vs Cincinnati

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Feb 8, 2008 10:06 AM CST reply actions

failed to finish

May 9th my father and went to the game together and witnessed Ernie's 499th together in box seats and my talked about the Staub story even then...he said too bad for we would have witnessed the 500th. He noted in 1970 Ernie was quickly becoming a shadow of his former self. He later believed that Ernie was actually older than originally stated for if he would have played a healthy career could have been as strong as Mays or Robinson.

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Feb 8, 2008 10:19 AM CST up reply actions

Ahh, memories...

I always enjoyed seeing Ernie come up to bat. Saw him hit quite a few out, too. One grand slam, if memory serves.

Talent, skills, and utter joy at taking the field for a game - what more can any true appreciator of baseball ask for in a player?

And for his spiking Ernie, just another thing I'll never forgive Pete Rose for, to this day.

Saw this one on TV, but I saw it...

Banks for the memories!

by MN exile on Feb 8, 2008 10:07 AM CST reply actions

Damn, my parents were not even married yet....

...sure it was great.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry "I strongly dislike Steve Stone." ---Hammer

by Hammer on Feb 8, 2008 10:29 AM CST reply actions

During the late 50s

Ernie was the only reason for anybody to go see the Cubs. The White Sox were contenders every year while the Cubs floundered in the depths of the second division. But PK Wrigley had settled on his formula for survival: one home run hitting star (Nicholson/Sauer/Banks) and "beautiful Wrigley Field" would keep enough people in the stands to remain profitable, as long as he didn't have to pay too many high salaries ($20,000 was big bucks in that era).

by Clark Addison on Feb 8, 2008 10:29 AM CST reply actions

Alas, I was at school when Ernie

hit this one. I remember coming home and turning on the TV as I did every day to watch the Cubs. I couldn't wait for the 10th Inning show to see the replay. I still have some old clippings celebrating his feat. Good times.

"WGN, Channel 9 Cubs Baseball, Excitingly, Importantly, Dramatically Yours." - Jack Brickhouse

by BigJohnAZ on Feb 8, 2008 11:04 AM CST reply actions

Ernie's injuries

As a Cubs fan for nearly half a century, I'm ashamed to say I never heard about the serious injuries you mention, Al. What happened and when? Thanks!

by Mike Vails Evil Twin on Feb 8, 2008 11:07 AM CST reply actions

1960

was really Ernie's last superstar type season. Starting in 1961, nagging knee injuries really started plaguing him. The Cubs tried him in the outfield before eventually deciding on 1st. 1961 was the last season with any time at SS and it wasn't due to poor fielding. His 1961 fielding numbers are good, it was the physical problems that forced the move.

If you look Ernie's career from 1961 on, it is not HOF caliber. It was the period before that where he made his name. I think Al's point is that if he had been able to keep going at his late 50's pace into the 60's, his reputation would be more toward the elites of the elites (i.e., Aaron, Mays) rather than just HOF calibre.

by rlpete on Feb 8, 2008 11:46 AM CST up reply actions

The HR and RBI numbers continued....

albeit nowhere near his 1955-1960 pace. It was the batting average and OBP that went down and never really came back up.

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on Feb 8, 2008 11:49 AM CST up reply actions

RE: 1960

I remember him having bad knees at the end of his career, but never knew the reason. Was there one big injury, or several minor ones?

BTW, Ernie seemed like an old man at the end of his career even though he wasn't even forty. In fact, most ballplayers throughout the 20th Century looked like they were in their fifties by the time they were in their late thirties. Today's players not only seem to be more productive at that age than players of previous generations, but they look younger, too. Interesting.

by Mike Vails Evil Twin on Feb 8, 2008 12:24 PM CST up reply actions

Re; Ernie's injuries

I'm right there with ya. I'm curious about the injuries as well.

Hey Lou, we're long overdue.

by deadcatbounce on Feb 8, 2008 11:50 AM CST up reply actions

See the above comment...

... about the knee injuries.

Also, see the top 100 Cub profile I wrote about Ernie last year for more details. Ernie also suffered a broken hand in 1956; that might have prevented him from having six consecutive 40+ HR seasons.

In all of baseball history, only Babe Ruth, Sammy Sosa, and Alex Rodriguez have accomplished that feat.

One of the best modern comps for Banks' career is Nomar Garciaparra, who also began as a SS and through 2003, looked like he might be on a HoF track. Serious injuries have made Nomar a 1B, and a rather ordinary one, at that. But he might have been a 3000-hit guy; by the age of 29 he already had six years with 190 or more hits and 100 or more runs scored.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Feb 8, 2008 1:24 PM CST up reply actions

Thanks for the info......

Great comparison to Nomar, and you're absolutely correct in that Ernie Banks' greatness cannot be overstated.

Hey Lou, we're long overdue.

by deadcatbounce on Feb 8, 2008 8:01 PM CST up reply actions

If you remember...

...The ball Ernie hit for No. 500 was thrown into the Cubs' bullpen. Can you imagine that happening today?

by Bruce Miles on Feb 8, 2008 11:12 AM CST reply actions

Nice bit of info!

I had not remembered that. But you're right, Bruce -- there's NO chance that would happen today.

Further, even on a rainy, cool day, there would be a lot more than 5,000 people in Wrigley Field to see a Cub go for a 500th HR.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Feb 8, 2008 1:25 PM CST up reply actions

Great recap,

of all the good things you've written that last line .....(Ernie Banks' greatness cannot be overstated. This HR represents an entire career of achievement.) .....is a masterpiece. Simple and no hype, Ernie was that good and you said it in a way that distinguishes his career. Great job out of you!

This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).

by mrcubsfan on Feb 8, 2008 11:15 AM CST reply actions

I have to second that...

Ernie has always been my favorite player. When I was growing up, I used to "Play the Piano" on the bat handle when I batted like Jack used to say Ernie did. I have read on other Blogs and Cub boards how they feel Ernie is one of the most overrated Hall of Famers, but I have to disagree with them. He was one of the top players not only in his time, but of all time.

I remember watching this home run...I was home sick that day. It's something that I won't forget. My all time favorite player hitting a milestone home run.

Kasey

See the Cubs 2008 schedule with TV schedule at http://ignarski.tripod.com/sched2008.html

by kaseyi on Feb 8, 2008 12:00 PM CST up reply actions

Thanks to both of you.

Though I loved Ernie, the quiet consistency of Billy Williams made him my favorite player as a kid.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Feb 8, 2008 1:26 PM CST up reply actions

I'm with you

Billy was always my favorite. Ernie was also a bit past his prime when I became a fan, Williams was at his peak.

by rlpete on Feb 8, 2008 2:07 PM CST up reply actions

Too young to see Ernie in his prime, Sweet Swing'n

Billy Williams was also my favorite. He was the opitomy of the #3 hitter, power, average, OBP, left handed bat....

I used to imitate the batting styles of all the Cubs in back yard game we played...Kessinger, Beckert, Williams, Santo, Banks, Hickman, Hundley, and Adolpho Phillips all had unique styles.

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Feb 8, 2008 2:56 PM CST up reply actions

Whenever I read about this era...

by this era I mean roughly 1967-1971, when the Cubs were competitive, it's just a shame that they never had a chance to play in the postseason. I know this has been chronicled many times, but jeez, the guys on those teams deserved it so much. And so did the fans who had stuck it out during the 20-year stretch of purgatory (1946-1966), especially when the Sox were contenders through most of the 1950's. I know Ernie, Santo, and Billy Williams speak reverently about P.K. Wrigley, and I'm sure he was a good person, but as a baseball owner, it's hard to imagine there has ever been a worse one. Had he been more like his father, who was a businessman but also a true sportsman, I don't think the Cubs would have ever gone into the funk that they did. In any case, it's always great to read about moments like this since I did not live through them myself.

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on Feb 8, 2008 11:34 AM CST reply actions

Living through 1969 as a kid

scarred me for life. I'll never forget that season. I'm sure younger people feel the same about some other disappointing seasons but that season with those HOF's and neear-HOF's was supposed to be the year.

by rlpete on Feb 8, 2008 12:55 PM CST up reply actions

I'm right there with you.

I was 12. My dad told me he'd (somehow) get playoff tickets that year. We were going all the way.

Sigh.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Feb 8, 2008 1:29 PM CST up reply actions

Not that I advocate this sort of thing...

...but please tell me a Cubs pitcher gave Rusty Staub something to think about the next time he came to the plate. What he did was just absolutely shameful.

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008 Chicago Cubs starting outfield: Soriano-Pie-Fukudome. Let it be.

by daver on Feb 8, 2008 12:00 PM CST reply actions

Attendance

With the possibility of Mr. Cub hitting his 500th home run, how is it even possible that only 5k people were at that game??? Despite the tragedy of 1969, its not like the Cubs were horrific at that time...I don't care if it was a gloomy Tuesday, thats pathetic.

by NashvilleBlue on Feb 8, 2008 12:12 PM CST reply actions

re: Attendance

Yeah, baseball game attending public of 1970, you suck!

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008 Chicago Cubs starting outfield: Soriano-Pie-Fukudome. Let it be.

by daver on Feb 8, 2008 12:21 PM CST up reply actions

LOL

Keep in mind a couple of things. The Cubs sold very few season tickets in those days -- maybe only a few hundred of them. Even in 1969, with the team that almost made it, the average attendance that year was only a little over 20,000 (remember also, all day games). That team set a team attendance record that stood till 1984.

And, until 1993 NL teams announced turnstile count, not tickets sold.

It was a different time.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Feb 8, 2008 1:27 PM CST up reply actions

Attendance

Heck, even in the late-70s and early 80s, I remember games at Wrigley where they closed the upper deck because they couldn't sell enough tickets.

Al, I am extremely jealous of you and everyone else on this site who had the chance to watch Ernie Banks play. I was born the year he retired (1971).

I guess with time going by, we're going to start seeing posters on this site who are too young to remember players like Ryne Sandberg and Andre Dawson.

"Have Keith Moreland drop a routine fly. Give everybody two bags of peanuts and a frosty malt, And I'll be ready to die." -Steve Goodman

by danimal15 on Feb 8, 2008 1:46 PM CST up reply actions

And then

you'll start feeling old :-)

by rlpete on Feb 8, 2008 3:11 PM CST up reply actions

However

Even though games were poorly attended in that era -- it set the stage for us baby boomers to eventually flock to Wrigley Field, as we were weaned on WGN and the Cubs every afternoon when we came home from school, and of course -- into the summer.

We didn't miss many games (except for road games of course) because they were 'on too late.'

But -- since many times The Three Stooges followed Cubs baseball on Channel 9 -- and, since both (at least until 1969) were in B & W on my TV, it was hard to tell the difference between the two presentations.......

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Feb 10, 2008 9:25 PM CST up reply actions

And I would gather that

90% of those small crowds were true baseball fans, Cubs fans, it just wasn't a place to go and drink beer.

"WGN, Channel 9 Cubs Baseball, Excitingly, Importantly, Dramatically Yours." - Jack Brickhouse

by BigJohnAZ on Feb 8, 2008 5:46 PM CST up reply actions

Old Ern'

Ernie also had some eye problems in '63 which sidelined him for quite a bit of that season. I remember watching a Cub-Card game that year where he was still out of the lineup, but was available to pinch hit. With the Cubs down in about the 7th or so, he came off the bench to hit. It seems like he'd been out for quite a while, so I thought he'd be very rusty. He picked on one the 1st pitches from a guy named Ed Bauta & homered to give us the lead. Even in his later, less productive years, he had a penchant for getting the big hit.

"It's a funny old world. Man's lucky if he gets out of it alive." W.C. Fields

by KedzieKid on Feb 8, 2008 1:50 PM CST reply actions