CHICAGO The fall colors are beautiful at Graceland Cemetery right now.
On the north side of Lake Willowmere, there Jermar Jefferson Jerseys s a stunning maple tree in the midst of change, with bright red leaves on the outside, yellow leaves just beneath that outer edge and, near the trunk of the tree where the Chicago sunlight hasnt yet fully permeated, a few straggling green leaves.
On the south side of the lake which, in all honesty, is more of a pond theres a sprawling oak tree thats still in the proce s of morphing from green to yellow. Under the shade of that stately tree rests the ballplayer known to millions simply as Mr. Cub. is just a , and visiting Ernie Banks headstone, an understated shiny black obelisk about three feet high, has become a pilgrimage for Cubs fans during this World Series.
Ernie Banks died on January 23, 2015, almost 84 years after beginning a life we should all strive to emulate. He wasnt just the best of the ballplayers. Ernie Banks was the best of us.
MR. CUB:
On the field, Banks began his career in the Negro Leagues before signing with the Cubs in 1953. He became the franchises first African-American player and during his 19-year career in the majors, spent entirely with the Cubs, he hit 512 home runs. He won the NL Most Valuable Player trophy twice (in 1958 and 1959) and made the All-Star team 11 times. Despite his best efforts, though, his Cubs teams never made the playoffs.
Off the field, Banks will forever be remembered for his smile and engaging personality Jeff Okudah Jerseys . His Lets play two! credo became synonymous with his love for the game. After his retirement, Banks remained a standard-bearer for the ballclub, his unwavering optimism of better things ahead serving as the touchstone for Cubs fans who might have otherwise given up hope.
After watching the Cubs dispatch the Dodgers in the NLCS, fellow franchise legend Billy Williams couldnt help but wish his friend was there to savor the moment. You often think about them, guys who were here a long time and they wanted to see this kind of thing happen, you know, going to the World Series, Williams said. Its been 108 years.
It almost feels selfish to talk about my own interactions with this legend, because I know he meant so much more to so many more people. But everyone who had the privilege of interacting with Banks was left with a lifelong memory. Im one of those lucky people. I never met him in person, but I interviewed him on the phone a couple times early in my career with Sporting News.
They remain my favorite phone interviews ever, and I doubt theyll ever be topped. I never intended to keep Austin Bryant Jerseys this Hall of Famer on the phone for long, but conversations with Ernie Banks were intoxicating. Hed answer my questions with stories, of course, but hed also ask me about my life. And I knew he wasnt just being polite; I felt he really cared.
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He was the first person Id ever interviewed who actually started singing on the phone, because Ernie Banks loved life and singing naturally rose from that joy. And the thing that still amazes me is this: I Ifeatu Melifonwu Jerseys wanted to join in. I was always sad when the interviews were finished, because Id smiled so much while talking with him.
Heres a quick story: A co-worker of mine at the time, , called Banks in 2008 to do aninterview . After the official questions, they started talking about kids and marriage and the constant struggle to find time for all the important things in life, for the better part of an hour. Banks became so invested in Ken's life that he asked my friend if it would be OK for him to call Kens wife, Katy, so he could encourage her, and also talk about an idea for a T-shirt slogan that hed thought of during his conversation with Ken.
Ken gave him Katys number, then he gave Katy a quick heads-up, just in case the legendary Hall of Famer actually followed through with his promise. Fifteen minutes later, Katy called me and said, Youll never gue s who I just talked to,' Ken said.
Yep. That was Ernie Banks. When Ken called for another interview roughly a year later, without prompting, Banks asked how Katy and the kids were doing.
So before Saturdays Game 4 of the World Series, I visited his grave, in the shadow of that sprawling oak tree, to say thanks.
like so many have these past few days and weeks, I had to stop and pay my respects to the greatest Cub of them all, Mr. Ernie Banks.
Ryan Fagan (@ryanfagan)
Stafford Carpenter was there, too, with his daughter Brett and his son Chase, and Chases girlfriend, Ashley. Stafford was , Chase had Detroit Lions Jerseys on a Ron Santo shirsey.
Im a 60-year Cubs fans this year, and I was a fan of Ernie Banks at 4 years old, he told me.
Carpenter grew up on Chicagos North Shore, and like everyone in Chicagoland, he has his own personal Ernie Banks story. When Carpenter was in high school, he had the chance to play basketball against Banks one unforgettable day on the court.
Ron Santo and Ernie and a bunch of the Cubs were playing in the offseason. They were going around and playing high school clubs, Carpenter said. They were competitive. Honestly, I dont remember if we won or lost. I dont think it mattered. It was just a great experience.
Carpenter lives in Colorado now, and he flew into Chicago for this World Series with Brett, and Chaseand Ashley joined them from Salt Lake City. They didnt have tickets to Game 4 and they werent really even trying to get into the ballpark, not at the asking prices for these games.
Were just going to go hang out in Wrigley and catch the vibe, Carpenter said.
Because thats the thing about the World Series being on Chicagos North Side for the first time since 1945: Its only partially about the games themselves. Mostly, its about the experience.
And part of that experience, for so many Cubs fans Jason Cabinda Jerseys , has been making the trip to Graceland Cemetery to say Thank you to Mr. Cub, who would have loved this weekend.
He was a special guy, Carpenter said. He really was.
Truth. He really was.
