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Banks receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, 2013

Ernie Banks (January 31, 1931 – January 23, 2015), nicknamed "Mr. Cub" and "Mr. Sunshine", was an American professional baseball player who starred 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 began playing professional baseball in 1950 with the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro leagues. He served in the U.S. military, returned to the Monarchs, and began his major league career in September 1953. The following year, Banks was the Rookie of the Year runner-up. From 1955, Banks was a National League (NL) All-Star for 11 seasons, playing in 13 of the 15 All-Star Games held during those years. He was named the National League Most Valuable Player in 1958 and 1959, and the Cubs' first Gold Glove winner in 1960.

Banks 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 and Chicago areas. (Read more...)