Mr. Cub Ernie Banks and Dean Smith to be honored with Presidential Medal of Freedom award

Apr 16, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs hall of famers Billy Williams (left) and Ernie Banks (right) stand with Cubs starting pitcher Edwin Jackson (center) before the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Texas Rangers in honor of Jackie Robinson day at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Let’s Play Two! Mr. Cub Ernie Banks and NCAA Men’s Basketball legendary head coach Dean Smith will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom award.

An award which is given by the President, Barack Obama will announce today that both Banks and Smith will be the recipients.

The award is the nation’s highest civilian honor. The White House will announce a time and date about when the medals will be awarded to them.

Ernie Banks, 82, is recognized as one of the greatest baseball players of all time. Appearing in 11 All-Star games, he was the first National League player to win back-to-back MVP honors. He’s a career .274 hitter, with 2,483 hits, 512 home runs and 1,636 RBI’s, playing his entire career with the Chicago Cubs from 1953-1971.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1977.

Coach Dean Smith, also 82 years of age, played for Kansas from 1949-1953 and coached from 19-53 to 1997 for Kansas, Air Force, North Carolina and US Men’s National Team back in 1976.

Coach Smith has a record of 879-254, two NCAA Men’s Division 1 championships, 11 Regional Championships, 17 ACC Regular Season champions, NIT Championship in 1971, 4x National Coach of the Year, 9x ACC Coach of the Year honors.

He was inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983, College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006 and FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007.

Home/Chicago Cubs