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Ernie Banks gets tributes from Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Monarchs

By FanSided Staff

Apr 23, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs former player Ernie Banks walks off the field before the baseball game between the Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field. Today marks the 100th year anniversary of the stadium
Apr 23, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs former player Ernie Banks walks off the field before the baseball game between the Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field. Today marks the 100th year anniversary of the stadium /
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Chicago’s Blue Cross-Blue Shield building illuminate windows and Kansas City Royals deliver Monarchs hat in tribute to Ernie Banks

After the world discovered the tragic news that Ernie Banks had passed away, baseball fans everywhere mourned the loss of the beloved Chicago Cubs shortstop. The city of Chicago quickly came to show their admiration for Banks as they paid tribute for the Hall of Famer.

The Blue Cross-Blue Shield building illuminated the city on Tuesday evening with “Mr. Cub” spelled out on its windows.

The city of Chicago is also honoring Ernie Banks by moving his statue, which typically resides just outside of Wrigley Field behind home plate, to the Daley Plaza for the rest of the week. This will give an opportunity for fans to visit the statue and pay their own respects to Mr. Cub.

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When the Kansas City Royals heard of the passing of Banks, they too planned on honoring the shortstop. Banks started on the Kansas City Monarchs, a negro league team, in 1950 until he officially joined the Cubs in 1953.

On Thursday Morning, the Royals delivered a Kansas City Monarchs hat to the statue residing in the Daley Plaza.

Ernie Banks was not only known for his great career playing for the Cubs and Monarchs, but also his kind personality. Banks continually made trips back to Wrigley to sing the 7th inning stretch and enjoy the friendly confines. He never shied away from giving an autograph or a smile to young fans. These are attributes in baseball players that are often taken for granted by sports fans, but were only exemplified by Banks.

Banks was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013 by President Obama.

"“That’s Mr. Cub — the man who came up through the Negro Leagues, making $7 a day, and became the first black player to suit up for the Cubs and one of the greatest hitters of all time,” Obama said. “In the process, Ernie became known as much for his 512 home runs as for his cheer and his optimism, and his eternal faith that someday the Cubs would go all the way” (via MLB.com)."

Whether it was being inducted into the Hall of Fame, singing the 7th inning stretch during a cubs game, or being honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, baseball fans everywhere will remember Ernie Banks.

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