Sports Illustrated dedicated a cover in memory of the late Ernie Banks.
Sports Illustrated’s tribute to the late Ernie Banks was as dignified as the way “Mr. Cub” was revered by the legions of Chicago’s Northside faithful.
For the first time since 1952, the Cubs will enter a spring training without the presence of Banks, who died on January 23 at the age of 83. The SI cover featuring the Baseball Hall of Famer and member of MLB’s All-Century team is now a popular sale on the Sports Illustrated website and can be purchased for $19.95. A frame (be it medium walnut or satin black) can be added on for $60.
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The tribute to Banks was the second time he appeared on an SI cover, although the previous appearance never came during his 19-year career with the Cubs (1953-71) in which he hit 512 homers and was twice selected as the Most Valuable Player in the National League.
Banks was the featured ex-athlete in SI’s annual “Where Are They Now?” issue, which hit outlets last July 7.
While Banks’ statute was moved to downtown Chicago (with the Royals contributing a Kansas City Monarchs cap in honor of his time with the team in the Negro Leagues), the Cubs have not officially announced a dedication for Banks during the upcoming regular season, although it’s a near-certainty the franchise will have a day to honor the man who still remains the team’s career leader in home runs.
Few players will ever be as loved as Banks, to whom author Harry Strong wrote in 2o13, “the Chicago Cubs do not have a mascot, but they hardly need one when the face of the franchise is still so visible.”
Without that visible face, one that defined not just the Cubs, but the passion and love of the game, spring training loses a bit of its luster.
The beautiful thing is that Banks’ spirit will live on, not just on a magazine cover, but through the magic of video. When Banks hit his 500th career homer in July of 1970, he was only one of a scant few who had crossed the barrier at that time.
So let’s close with the memory of Banks going yard for the 500th time. As Black History Month moves forward, perhaps this brief piece of history can serve as an introduction to those who may not quite familiar with a man who blazed a trail while making baseball a more lovable sport.
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