January 24, 2015

"He was the nicest human being I have ever met. It was like being friends with God."

Wrote Bill Bryson about Ernie Banks in "The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir":
My dad was a sportswriter for The Des Moines Register... Baseball, like everything else, was part of a simpler world in those days, and I was allowed to go with him into the clubhouse and dugout and onto the field before games.... Once on a hot July afternoon I sat in a nearly airless clubhouse under the left-field grandstand at Wrigley Field beside Ernie Banks, the Cubs’ great shortstop, as he autographed boxes of new white baseballs (which are, incidentally, one of the most pleasurably aromatic things on earth, and worth spending time around anyway). Unbidden, I took it upon myself to sit beside him and pass him each new ball. This slowed the process considerably, but he gave a little smile each time and said thank you as if I had done him quite a favor. He was the nicest human being I have ever met. It was like being friends with God.
Ernie Banks died yesterday at the age of 83.

22 comments:

Big Mike said...

I grew up near Chicago. The stories about the Ernie Banks suggests to me that "nice" doesn't begin to describe the man.

RIP, Mr. Cub.

David said...

Reincarnation would be nice in Ernie's case. "Let's play two."

Anonymous said...

Another article said that Ernie Banks treated everyone with respect. He never played a post-season game. A person who plays professional sports must be very competitive by nature but he did not let frustration show. Top people in every field keep their thoughts and emotions under control. What a gift that is to everyone around you. I have warm feelings about the Cubs and Wrigley Field from a distance of 1000 miles and 30 years, and Ernie Banks is a big part of that good memory.

Would there be a race issue to talk about if we all just treated everyone with respect?

jr565 said...

Would God be that friendly?

Ann Althouse said...

I think — from the evidence — we can figure that God is patient.

traditionalguy said...

Banks sounds very much like a man I have been around several times who was from that same generation of black players (and was a Milwaukee star first.) Hank Aaron.

William said...

It's said that the best revenge is living well. Banks got his revenge....The only thing you every really own in this life is your body. Banks had the good sense to appreciate his possessions and good luck.

jr565 said...

Althouse wrote;
I think — from the evidence — we can figure that God is patient.

he's also been known to be testy and fiery.

Bob Ellison said...

Nice testimony. Obviously a great guy.

I grew up as Hank Aaron was putting his mark on baseball history, and as traditionalguy says, Aaron is also known to be a good person. Then there's Jackie Robinson, who my (white) son has chosen as a personal hero.

Baseball really can teach kids about life sometimes.

Ann Althouse said...

"he's also been known to be testy and fiery."

When? Thousands of years ago? I thought he got over his rage-o-holism in the Old Testament.

FullMoon said...

William said... [hush]​[hide comment]

It's said that the best revenge is living well. Banks got his revenge....The only thing you every really own in this life is your body. Banks had the good sense to appreciate his possessions and good luck.


Revenge for what, or on who?

Wince said...

new white baseballs (which are, incidentally, one of the most pleasurably aromatic things on earth

Will they say the same thing about Tom Brady's balls?

Michael K said...

I met him in Mike Ditka's restaurant in Chicago a few years ago, It was his hangout and he was very friendly and a thoroughly nice guy. I used to listen to Cubs game when he was playing shortstop and the second baseman was Gene Baker. I forget the rest.

I think Hank Sauer and Ralph Kiner were on those teams.

B said...

"everything else, was part of a simpler world in those days"

I hate this nonsense. It wasn't simpler. The author was simply an ignorant child.

William said...

@full moon: There's always grounds for seeking revenge. Life is an endless string of grievances and injustices. You just haven't been paying attention.

m stone said...

How can Ernie Banks even stir up feelings of revenge and suggestions that God is testy?

William said...

I don't know all that much about Ernie Banks except that he was a nice guy who enjoyed life and playing the game. One notes, however, that he had to spend part of his career in the Negro Leagues and that most of his career occurred before the Curt Flood settlement and the big bucks. A more dyspeptic personality would find reasons to brood.

Curious George said...

Mr. Cub. My hero growing up.

We should all "play two today" in his honor.

Curious George said...

"David said...
Reincarnation would be nice in Ernie's case. "Let's play two.""

Yep, perfect!

Curious George said...

A generation of Chicago area boys held their bat high and wiggle their fingers to emulate Ernie.

Anonymous said...

He gets to play two everyday now.
God Bless.

Lnelson said...

My hero growing up. I always took number 14 if it was available and my batting stance mimicked his.
Not enough like him anymore.
RIP Mr Cub.