| It is often difficult to compare the | | | | World Series would never again be played |
| legendary players of Major League | | | | in the confines of Wrigley field. |
| Baseball in that by making comparisons | | | | As the myth surrounding the validity of |
| based on statistics, the focus generally | | | | the curse grows with each passing |
| falls on the sheer performance on the | | | | non-contention season, it has a simple |
| field. It also tends to reflect on what | | | | and comfortable existence in baseball, |
| effect those numbers have had in the | | | | the sport that prefers urban myth, |
| teams' success and how an individual | | | | legend and superstition to logic. In |
| players' success has bolstered a team to | | | | 2003, the curse was nearly broken when |
| championship levels. Other players, no | | | | the Cubs matched up with the Atlanta |
| matter how individually successful, are | | | | Braves for the National League |
| too often viewed in an also-ran status | | | | Divisional Series. With a 3-game to 2 |
| because of the perception that their | | | | lead in the series and winning game 6 at |
| effort never was enough to allow the | | | | 3-0 in the top of the eighth inning |
| team to stand on a championship podium. | | | | against the Florida Marlins, the "billy |
| Baseball is a team sport, yet a team | | | | goat curse" infused itself once again. |
| sport loosely based on individual | | | | The Cubs lost game 6 and then eventually |
| effort. Looking past the numbers to the | | | | lost game 7, which meant no chance for a |
| intangibles of attitude and enthusiasm | | | | World Series game to be played at |
| for the game, the greatness of a player | | | | Wrigley Field. The Marlins went on to |
| cannot be judged merely on statistics. | | | | win the World Series in 2003. |
| Ernie Banks is one such player in MLB | | | | Ernie Banks never had the opportunity to |
| history. | | | | play in the League Championship Series, |
| Ernie Banks was one of the greatest | | | | the World Series, or any post-season |
| players, coaches and personalities to | | | | game. He did, however, take pride in |
| ever don a Cubs Uniform. Considered by | | | | himself, and his ball-club by |
| many to be the most popular player ever, | | | | consistently leading the league in many |
| Banks was known to be a likable fellow. | | | | areas. Banks was an all-star every |
| He was easy-going and was a friend to | | | | season from 1955 to 1962. He also made |
| everyone he knew. Some sources say that | | | | the all-stars cut in 1965, 1967 and |
| he originated the phrase "I never met a | | | | 1969. Setting an early standard for |
| man I didn't like." Banks was quiet and | | | | future Iron Men, Banks played in 424 |
| unassuming. He let his bat and his glove | | | | consecutive games from the day he became |
| do the talking for him. He had an | | | | a Cub, a record at the time. His longest |
| unending enthusiasm for the game of | | | | consecutive game streak stands at 717. |
| baseball. As the legend goes, after the | | | | He hit 40 homeruns in 1955, a record for |
| Cubs finished getting stomped twice in a | | | | MLB shortstops, and led the National |
| double-header, Ernie Banks reportedly | | | | League in homers in 1958 with 47 |
| suggested; "let's play three." On | | | | over-the-fence blasts. Banks hit 5 grand |
| numerous occasions, Banks was quoted as | | | | slams in 1955, and topped 100 RBIs. He |
| having said; "It's a beautiful day for a | | | | was awarded the NL Most Valuable Player |
| baseball game. Let's play two!" Any | | | | in 1958 and again in 1959. A |
| picture of Ernie Banks from his playing | | | | mind-blowing accomplishment if we take |
| days exudes the joy he derived from | | | | into consideration the fact that the |
| playing the game of baseball. There are | | | | Cubs were no where close to being in |
| none that don't feature that broad, | | | | contention for winning the division |
| infectious smile that he has become | | | | pennant. His 1959 MVP season boasted 45 |
| famous for. He was so popular, in fact, | | | | homeruns and led the League with 143 |
| he became known as Mr. Cub. Many sources | | | | RBIs. Ernie Banks earned the NL Golden |
| attribute the never-say-die and | | | | Glove award at shortstop in 1960, and |
| "baseball is fun" attitude of the Cubs | | | | had the fewest errors in MLB. He also |
| organization directly to Ernie Banks. | | | | led the National league in homers and |
| Even though the Chicago Cubs' last World | | | | RBIs that year. |
| Series triumph was in 1908 and their | | | | Over the course of his career, Ernie |
| last appearance in the World Series was | | | | Banks became the Cub's all-time leader |
| in 1945 (which they dramatically lost in | | | | in: |
| a seventh game), there still exists no | | | | * Games played (2,528) |
| greater hopeful and inspired team in MLB | | | | * At-bats (9,421) |
| than Chicago's "lovable losers". Hope | | | | * Total bases (4,706) |
| springs eternal, as they say, and after | | | | * Home runs (512) |
| nearly 100 years, "eternal" is starting | | | | Banks also established many NL records, |
| to live up to its reputation as being a | | | | entered into the MLB Hall of Fame in |
| very, very long time. | | | | 1977, and his number 14 was the first to |
| The woes of the Cubs have been | | | | be retired by the Cubs. When finished |
| compounded over the years. They produced | | | | with playing in 1971, he went on to |
| a twenty-year stretch (1947-1967) of | | | | coaching with the Cubs. In May of 1973, |
| finishing in the lower half of their | | | | when Cubs manager Whitey Lockman was |
| division for the regular season, partly | | | | ejected for arguing a call, Banks |
| during the Ernie Banks era. Yet, every | | | | managed the rest of the game. He was |
| new season brings with it the | | | | technically the first African-American |
| possibility of getting to the World | | | | to manage in Major League Baseball. |
| Series and finally breaking the "billy | | | | Infused into the heart of every Cub fan |
| goat curse", a curse put on Wrigley | | | | (and there are many) is the spirit and |
| field and the Cubs during the fifth game | | | | exuberance and the love for the game of |
| of the 1945 World Series. As the story | | | | baseball that was epitomized by Ernie |
| goes, a local Chicago bar owner attended | | | | Banks. He brought so much more than just |
| the game and was allowed entrance under | | | | outstanding performances and good |
| somewhat unusual circumstances. When | | | | statistics to the game. He did so with |
| ordered to leave Wrigley field for | | | | vigor, zest and a capacity to enjoy the |
| bringing his goat with him, reportedly a | | | | game that has incurably infected Cub |
| "foul smelling goat", Billy Sianis' | | | | fans all over this planet. |
| curse was issued to the effect that a | | | | |