60 YEARS AGO TODAY:
8/15/64 - Mayor Richard Daley declares today as Ernie Banks Day in Chicago
Between 1953 and 1971, he clubbed 512 home runs and amassed a career batting average of .274.
Starting his career as a shortstop, Banks eventually moved to first base, which is where I watched him as a kid growing up here in Chicago. He was a 15-time National League All-Star over eleven seasons (back then, some seasons held TWO All Star games!), making the All-Star Team as both a shortstop AND a first baseman over the years. Sadly, "Mr. Cub," as he was affectionately known throughout his time here, never got the chance to play in a World Series, as The Cubs seemed to portray the epitome of that whole "Lovable Loses" mystic. He was, however, voted into The Baseball Hall Of Fame in 1977.
Within the friendly confines of Wrigley Field, Banks was always the one to declare "Let's play two!" He LOVED the game of baseball ... and we loved him.
Ernie Banks was the first black player ever signed by The Cubs ... and later became the first Chicago Cubs player to have his uniform number (14) retired (in 1982.) He has been voted Greatest Cub Ever by Chicago baseball fans. We lost him in 2015 at the age of 83.
Also on 8/15, WEWS-TV in Cleveland, Ohio, airs a brand new teen dance and music program called “The Big 5 Show.” It will later be syndicated as "Upbeat" – which develops a huge cult following for decades to come
Also on 8/15, MGM signs The Dave Clark Five to an exclusive film contract. “Having A Wild Weekend” (aka “Catch Us If You Can”) will be released the following year.
