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Born in Dallas on January 31, 1931, Ernie Banks was the second of twelve children. A three-sport letterman in track, football, and basketball in high school, he did not play baseball because the school didn’t have a team.

He did, however, play fastpitch softball in a summer church league and later for a semi-pro team in Amarillo.

Banks started his professional career with the Kansas City Monarchs at age 19 in 1950 and was drafted into the army in ’51. During the Korean War he served in Germany then later at Fort Bliss, Texas.

In 1953, he was discharged from the army and joined the Monarchs before debuting with the Cubs in September. In ten games with Chicago Banks hit .314 with four extra-base hits – two of them homers.

The runner up in NL Rookie of the Year balloting in 1954, Banks began a run of eight-straight all star appearances in ’55. The National League’s back-to-back Most Valuable Player in 1958, and 1959, Mr. Cub remained at shortstop until switching to first base in 1961.

In a 1969 Chicago Sun-Times poll of the fans, Banks was voted the greatest Cub ever. The following season at Wrigley Field he clubbed his 500th career homer. He retired with 512 homers and 1,636 runs batted in after 1971 and became the first Cub player to have his uniform number retired.

The glaring omission on his Cooperstown resume is the failure to appear in the World Series despite playing alongside Hall of Famers Billy Williams, Ron Santo, and Fergie Jenkins.

Perhaps one of the more unique items in the collection is this handprint of Ernie Banks. After inking up his hand and fingers, Banks applied them to this sheet of paper which he later autographed.

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Ernie Banks, affectionately known as “Mr. Cub,” achieved remarkable success during his illustrious career, notably being selected as an All-Star for eight consecutive years from 1955 to 1962 and earning a total of 14 All-Star selections overall.

Throughout his All-Star appearances, Banks compiled impressive statistics, hitting .308 with three doubles, a triple, a home run, and three runs batted in. He consistently demonstrated his prowess against the best talent the American League had to offer.

Beyond the numbers, Banks brought an infectious enthusiasm to the field, famously declaring, “Let’s play two!” His legacy transcends statistics, as he inspired generations of players and fans alike. Even after his playing days, Banks remained a beloved figure in Chicago, embodying the spirit of the Cubs. His All-Star legacy is a testament to his skill, charisma, and enduring impact on the game of baseball.

Shown here is Ernie’s autograph with a Chicago postmark of September 10, 1957. That was a memorable day for Banks. At Wrigley Field he went 2-for-3 with a pair of homers, a walk, and four runs batted in. His performance spearheaded the Cubs 9-2 victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Twenty-one year old Sandy Koufax started the game for the Dodgers. Three of the first four Chicago batters reached base, including Banks via a base on balls. Koufax then allowed a single and a double that plated three runs.

In the inning, two of the Cubs three outs came on the base paths. Koufax did not come out for the bottom of the second. The loss dropped his career record to 9 wins and 10 losses.

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It’s only fitting that the first jersey number retired by the Chicago National League franchise was that of Mr. Cub. Ernie Banks #14 was permanently put on the shelf in 1982.

The all-time franchise leader in games played, and total bases, Banks ranks second in hits, homers, and RBI. By 2009 the Cubs also retired numbers of Banks’ teammates Billy Williams, Ron Santo, and Fergie Jenkins.

Ryne Sandberg and Greg Maddux also received the honor.

The great Cubs teams that won the World Series in 1907 and 1908 wore uniforms without numbers. The Cubs practice of using numbers started in 1932.

Shown here is an invitation to the 1987 Hall of Fame induction of sweet-swinging Billy Williams. That same year, the Cubs retired his #26.