Ernie Banks tribute

[rawaction]

Anybody watching (watched)? I thought it was great. Lots of people on hand, including Hank Aaron. I love the nostalgia of the old highlights. Wish I was around in the 60s to see that great talent play. Wrigley was beautiful and pure (no ads, no lights). As much as it would mean to me for the Cubs to win a World Series (and I would bawl like a baby), I can't imagine what it would mean to guys like Ernie, Santo, Billy, and Fergie.

[Chris]

Outstanding ceremony.

[swordsman]

Here are some pix of the statue/ceremony?

 

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/4193/37359609rx1.jpg

 

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/538/37359739ow1.jpg

[OleMissCub]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2008-03/37359347.jpg

[Wilson A2000]

"Is that me?" Banks repeated as he gazed at the statue

 

Ha!

[Wilson A2000]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2008-03/37359831.jpg

 

I think Ron wants a statue

[Jon]

The statue looks great.

[snoodmonger]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2008-03/37359831.jpg

 

I think Ron wants a statue

 

 

lol, he does look petulant there, though I'm sure that's not what's going on.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

lol, he does look petulant there, though I'm sure that's not what's going on.

I was thinking constipated

[rocket]

Here are some pix of the statue/ceremony?

 

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/4193/37359609rx1.jpg

 

 

that's either a tiny bat or ernie has some giant paws

[imb]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2008-03/37359831.jpg

 

I think Ron wants a statue

 

 

lol, he does look petulant there, though I'm sure that's not what's going on.

 

i want to know what reggie jackson and the "aint got time to bleed" guy from Predator are doing there with him

[Wilson A2000]

You mean Billy Williams and Fergie Jenkins?

[Connor McConnor]

 

that's either a tiny bat or ernie has some giant paws

 

He does. I shook hands with him in 1988 or 1989.

 

Could not believe the strength in his hands....and his forearms.

 

Hell of a nice guy too.

 

I dont think there was a kid in Chicago from 1967 through 1972 who didnt move his fingers on the bat the way Ernie did when he was at the plate.

[Yanksfan1523]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2008-03/37359831.jpg

 

I think Ron wants a statue

 

 

lol, he does look petulant there, though I'm sure that's not what's going on.

 

i want to know what reggie jackson and the "aint got time to bleed" guy from Predator are doing there with him

 

 

Thanks, now I have to clean up soda off the table. =D> :rotfl:

[imb]

You mean Billy Williams and Fergie Jenkins?

 

no, im talking about the two guys sitting next to him

[hardcorecubfan]

billy is my all time favorite Cub

[Roast]

I was standing on the ramp leading up to th 400 section looking down on the ceremony - it was awesome. When they unveiled it he walked around to everyone sitting in the front row (mostly politicians. The Governor, Dick Durbin I believe, Jesse Jackson, etc) and asked each of them "Is that me?"

 

It was really cool. I just wish they would have turned their speakers up a bit because I actually heard him more clearly when he was standing away from the mic asking people if that was him than I did when he was giving his speech.

[Roast]

Oh, and also I didn't know that technically, Ernie was the first black manager in baseball - that's pretty cool. I had no clue.

[JeffH]

Did anyone notice that the Cubs misspelled "Let's Play Two" as "Lets Play Two" on the statue?

 

Is there any lingering doubt that the Chicago Cubs organization is MLB's worst and among the very worst organizations of any type on the face of the planet?

[Wilson A2000]

Did anyone notice that the Cubs misspelled "Let's Play Two" as "Lets Play Two" on the statue?

 

Is there any lingering doubt that the Chicago Cubs organization is MLB's worst and among the very worst organizations of any type on the face of the planet?

 

Wow, I checked the video at chicagosports.com and yeah they forgot to put an apostrophe in there. I think they could probably chisel one in, but that is embarrassing.

 

Front page article on http://www.chicagotribune.com now

[snoodmonger]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2008-03/37359831.jpg

 

I think Ron wants a statue

 

 

lol, he does look petulant there, though I'm sure that's not what's going on.

 

i want to know what reggie jackson and the "aint got time to bleed" guy from Predator are doing there with him

 

lol, though Jesse the Body (blain) delivered that line, not Bill Duke (aka Mac).

[imb]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2008-03/37359831.jpg

 

I think Ron wants a statue

 

 

lol, he does look petulant there, though I'm sure that's not what's going on.

 

i want to know what reggie jackson and the "aint got time to bleed" guy from Predator are doing there with him

 

lol, though Jesse the Body (blain) delivered that line, not Bill Duke (aka Mac).

 

Ahh, damn, you're right. I'm thinking of the guy that shaved his face until he bled. I always attribute that line to him for some reason, and Ive been corrected before.

[snoodmonger]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2008-03/37359831.jpg

 

I think Ron wants a statue

 

 

lol, he does look petulant there, though I'm sure that's not what's going on.

 

i want to know what reggie jackson and the "aint got time to bleed" guy from Predator are doing there with him

 

lol, though Jesse the Body (blain) delivered that line, not Bill Duke (aka Mac).

 

Ahh, damn, you're right. I'm thinking of the guy that shaved his face until he bled. I always attribute that line to him for some reason, and Ive been corrected before.

 

well get your act together, you're making a fool of yourself

[NCCubFan]

Oh, and also I didn't know that technically, Ernie was the first black manager in baseball - that's pretty cool. I had no clue.

I learned that from one of the trivia quizzes cubbieinexile used to post on the cubs.com board. Robinson was the first black HIRED as a major league manager, but Banks was the first to ACT in that capacity. Similar to the common misconception that Jackie Robinson was the first black player in major league history (he actually was the first in the 20th century, but there was one in the 19th century).