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Ernest "Ernie" Banks (January 31, 1931 – January 23, 2015) nicknamed "Mr. Cub" and "Mr. Sunshine", was an American professional baseball player who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a shortstop and first baseman for the Chicago Cubs between 1953 and 1971. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977, and was named to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team in 1999. Banks is regarded by some as one of the greatest players of all time.〔(Ernie Banks, the Eternally Hopeful Mr. Cub, Dies at 83 ). ''The New York Times''. January 23, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2015.〕〔(Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks dies at 83 ). ''USA Today''. January 24, 2015. Retrieved January 24, 2015.〕〔(ESPN's Hall of 100 ). ESPN. 2014–2015.〕 He began playing professional baseball in 1950 with the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro leagues. He served in the U.S. military for two years, played for the Monarchs again, and began his major league career in September 1953. The following year, Banks was the National League Rookie of the Year runner-up. Beginning in 1955, Banks was a National League (NL) All-Star for 11 seasons,〔National Baseball Hall of Fame biographies, Ernie Banks (). Retrieved April 5, 2015〕 playing in 13 of the 15 All-Star Games held during those seasons. Banks was the Cubs' main attraction in the late 1950s, the National League Most Valuable Player in 1958 and 1959, and the Cubs' first Gold Glove winner in 1960. In 1962, Banks became a regular first baseman for the Cubs. In the mid-1960s, Cubs manager Leo Durocher became frustrated with Banks, saying the slugger's performance was faltering. Durocher said he was unable to remove Banks from the lineup due to the star's popularity among Cubs fans. Between 1967 and 1971, he was a player-coach. In 1969, through a Chicago Sun-Times fan poll, Cubs fans voted him the greatest Cub ever. In 1970, Banks hit his 500th career home run at Wrigley Field. He retired from playing in 1971, was a coach for the Cubs in 1972, and in 1982 was the team's first player to have his uniform number retired. Banks was active in the Chicago community during and after his tenure with the Cubs. He founded a charitable organization, became the first black Ford Motor Company dealer in the United States, and made an unsuccessful bid for a local political office. In 2013, Banks was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contribution to sports. Banks lived in the Los Angeles area. ==Early life== Banks was born in Dallas, Texas, to Eddie and Essie Banks on January 31, 1931;〔 he was the second of twelve children.〔 His father, who had worked in construction and was a warehouse loader for a grocery chain, played baseball for black, semi-professional teams in Texas.〔 As a child, Banks was not very interested in baseball, preferring swimming, basketball and football. His father bought Ernest a baseball glove for less than three dollars at a five and dime store and motivated Banks with nickels and dimes to play catch. Banks's mother encouraged him to follow one of his grandfathers into a career as a minister. Banks graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1950. He lettered in basketball, football and track.〔"Fete for Banks Here Tuesday." ''The Dallas Morning News'', October 9, 1955. Retrieved June 14, 2011.〕 Banks' school did not have a baseball team; he played fastpitch softball for a church team during the summer. He was also a member of the Amarillo Colts, a semi-professional baseball team. History professor Timothy Gilfoyle wrote that Banks' talent for baseball was discovered by Bill Blair, a family friend who scouted for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League.〔 Other sources say Banks was noticed by Cool Papa Bell of the Monarchs.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.coe.ksu.edu/annex/nlbemuseum/history/players/banks.html )〕 In 1951, Banks was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Germany during the Korean War.〔Banks and Enright, p. 55.〕 He served as a flag bearer in the 45th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion at Fort Bliss, where he played with the Harlem Globetrotters on a part-time basis. In 1953, he was discharged from the army and joined the Monarchs for the remainder of that season, achieving a .347 batting average.〔〔Banks and Enright, p. 57.〕 Banks later said, "Playing for the Kansas City Monarchs was like my school, my learning, my world. It was my whole life."〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Ernie Banks」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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