[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 2099]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        TRIBUTE TO ERNIE BANKS, AMBASSADOR FOR BASEBALL, MR. CUB

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Danny K. Davis) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate African 
American History Month, I rise to acknowledge and pay tribute to one of 
the most outstanding athletes in the history of baseball but also one 
of the most congenial personalities in public life, Ernie Banks, also 
known as Mr. Cub, Mr. Chicago, and Mr. Ambassador for Baseball.
  Ernie Banks was indeed a superior athlete, playing 19 years for the 
Chicago Cubs, named MVP in 1958 and 1959, named to the All-Star team 12 
times, hit .274 with 512 home runs, voted into the Baseball Hall of 
Fame on his first year of eligibility. But it was actually his cheerful 
attitude and his love of the game that made him such a popular player.
  Ernie was always the absolute optimist. You could always count on him 
to express a most positive attitude:

       Everyday was a good day; let's play two.

  No matter what the Cubs' record, this was the year that they could 
win the pennant and become World Series champions.
  After his playing days were over, Ernie became a coach and was active 
in the community. He founded a charitable organization, became the 
first Black Ford Motor Company dealer in the United States, and even 
ran unsuccessfully for the Chicago City Council.
  A few years ago, Ernie approached me about an effort he had underway 
to get young athletes who grew up in the inner city and depressed 
communities to pool some of their resources and reinvest in the 
rebuilding and redevelopment of these neighborhoods. He was an 
inspiration to stars like Magic Johnson, Isaiah Thomas, and others who 
are doing just that.
  In 1997, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame; in 1999, he 
was named to the Major League Baseball All Century Team; and in 2013, 
he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack 
Obama.
  Ernie Banks, we salute you, Mr. Cub, Mr. Chicago, Mr. Ambassador for 
Baseball, but most importantly, Mr. Cheerleader for Life and Positive 
Living.

                          ____________________