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CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF
ERNIE BANKS
1931-2015
A Celebration of the Life of Ernie Banks
Fourth Presbyterian Church
Saturday, January 31, 2015
10:00 a.m.
Pastor
ORDER OF SERVICE
Prelude
Welcome. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reverend Shannon J. Kershner
Prayer
Solo, One Moment in Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Opal Staples
Remembrances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thomas S. Ricketts
Joe Torre
Billy Williams
Anthem, This Little Light of Mine . . . . Calvin Bridges’ Chicago Praise Ensemble
Reading, Psalm 23 .... . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .......... Ferguson Jenkins
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine ememies:
thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Reading, Matthew 5:1-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. Lou Brock
And seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain:
and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness:
for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake:
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you,
and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven:
for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Hymn, Amazing Grace
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come.
‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me; his word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’ve first begun.
Remembrances ........ .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Governor Bruce Rauner
Mayor Rahm Emanuel
Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr.
Solo, Stand by Me ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... Opal Staples
Homily .................. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reverend Shannon J. Kershner
Remembrances ........ .. . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... John Rogers
Jerry and Joey Banks
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Military Honors, Playing of Taps
Benediction ............ . . . . . .. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reverend Shannon J. Kershner
Recessional, O Happy Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . Calvin Bridges’ Chicago Praise Ensemble
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
Hank Aaron
Jerry Banks
Joey Banks
Glenn Beckert
Randy Hundley
Ferguson Jenkins
Ron Santo, Jr.
Billy Williams
Electronic guest books are available in the loggia (gallery). No flash cameras or videotaping of the ceremony permitted.
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“There’s sunshine, fresh air,
and the team’s behind us.
Let’s play two.”
- Ernie Banks
Ernest “Ernie” Banks, nicknamed “Mr. Cub” and “Mr. Sunshine,” was born January 31,
1931, in Dallas, Texas, to Essie and Eddie Banks. Ernie passed away on Friday, January 23,
2015, at 7:55 p.m. He was the second born of twelve children. In 1959, he married Eloyce
Johnson Banks, who preceded him in death, and together they had three children. His
brothers, Samuel Banks, Benjamin Banks, Glover Banks, Robert Banks, Eddie Banks Jr.,
and his sister, Frances Wilson, preceded him in death.
He leaves to cherish his memory and extraordinary legacy his wife Liz Banks, his twin
sons, Jerry Banks (Theresa) and Joey Banks (Norma Jean), two daughters, Jan Banks and
Alyna Banks, one grandson, Marcelo Banks, one granddaughter, Courtney Dozier Banks,
three sisters, Edna Warren, Estella Johnson and Evelyn Lockhart, two brothers, Walter
Banks and Donald Banks, and a host of nieces, nephews, family, friends and fans who
will always remember him with endearing charm and remarkable wit.
Growing up in Dallas, Ernie attended church and Sunday school at St. Paul’s Methodist
Church. In his family, the Bible was the book of choice. His mother hoped Ernie would
follow in his grandfather’s footsteps by going into the church ministry.
Ernie was a gifted athlete and played a number of sports. He attended Booker T. Washington
High School in Dallas and lettered in three sports – basketball, football and track. He was
also an avid swimmer. The high school did not have a baseball team, so he played softball
for the church team during the summer and served as a batboy for his father’s baseball
teams. Eddie was a catcher in the Negro Leagues.
While playing softball, Ernie was discovered by black newspaper publisher and ex-Negro
League pitcher, William Blair. Under Blair’s guidance, he joined the nearby Amarillo Colts,
a black semi-pro baseball team in Amarillo, Texas.
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Ernie played briefly with Amarillo before being recruited by the Negro Leagues’ Kansas
City Monarchs, a team whose alumni included Jackie Robinson and Satchel Paige. At age
19, Banks made his debut with the Monarchs after graduating from high school in 1950.
In 1951, Ernie’s time with the Monarchs was cut short when he was drafted for military duty
and served in the U. S. Army in Germany and Korea. He served as a flag bearer in the 45th
Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion at Fort Bliss. During his tour, he played with the Harlem
Globetrotters for a brief stint.
In 1953, he was discharged from the Army and returned home to play for the Monarchs. A
serious ankle injury led Ernie to stop playing baseball in the middle of the 1953 season, but
Monarchs manager Buck O’Neil persuaded
him to finish the season with the team. He
finished playing for the Monarchs with a
.347 batting average.
In September of 1953, the Chicago Cubs
bought Ernie’s contract from the Monarchs.
At the age of 22, he made his Major League
debut at Wrigley Field September 17, 1953,
and played in 10 games. He was the Cubs
first African American player and became
one of a handful of former Negro League
players who joined the Major Leagues.
Ernie was among the greatest and most
popular players in the history of the game of
baseball. Over the course of his 19 seasons,
Ernie was one of the most potent offensive
threats in baseball. He also delighted fans
with his charm and cheerful disposition.
He hit 512 home runs, surpassing the
40-roundtrippers mark five times. He hit
277 of his homers as a shortstop – a National
League record. He also holds the N.L. single-season mark for homers by a shortstop (47 in
1958). He was voted to the All-Star team 14 times and won the N.L. Most Valuable Player
Award following both the 1958 and 1959 campaigns, the first player to ever win the N.L.
MVP in consecutive seasons.
On December 1, 1971, Ernie retired as a player but served as a coach for the Cubs from 1967
to 1973. Following Whitey Lockman’s ejection May 8, 1973, coach Ernie Banks took over the
reins as manager becoming the first African American to manage a Major League team.
Ernie also was a roving instructor in the Cubs Minor League system (1974-1976), worked
in the team’s community relations department and served on the Cubs Board of Directors
following the death of Philip Wrigley. Ernie remained active with the Cubs, serving as
an honorary manager during the 1984 playoffs. He was a frequent attendee at special
events, including Opening Day and the annual Cubs Convention, and he represented the
franchise at numerous Major League Baseball and charity events.
During and after his career in baseball, Ernie ventured into civics, business and politics.
Ernie ran for alderman of the eighth ward in 1962 under the campaign motto “Put a
slugger into City Hall.” He bought into several business ventures and was one of the first
black owners of a U.S. Ford Motor Company dealership. Ernie served on the boards of
the Chicago Transit Authority, Jackson
Park Hospital, La Rabida Sanitarium,
Glenwood Home for Boys, Metropolitan
YMCA, Joint Negro Appeal, Woodlawn
Boys Club, Chicago Rehabilitation
Institute and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Ernie was elected into the Baseball Hall
of Fame in 1977 (first ballot). During
his induction speech, he reprised the
signature line he made famous with
his teammates during a sweltering 105
degree day in Chicago, “There’s sunshine,
fresh air, and the team’s behind us. Let’s
play two.”
Ernie became the first player in Cubs
history to have his number retired in
1982. His flag flies from the left-field
foul pole to this day. He was also voted
to Major League Baseball’s All-Century
Team and honored on the field at the
All-Star Game in Fenway Park in 1999.
He became the first player in franchise history to be honored with a statue at Wrigley Field
March 31, 2008. The following year, Ernie was named a Library of Congress Living Legend.
One of the proudest moments of his life came in 2013 when Ernie was presented with the
Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama, an award given to those who
have made “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of
the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”
It is the highest civilian award of the United States.
IN MEMORY
ERNIE BANKS
“Mr. Cub”
This reproduction of the funeral bulletin is
© 2015 Chicago Cubs
The “CUBS” watermark was added to each page of the online version
of this bulletin and did not appear in the printed program.