Ernie Banks was born on Saturday, January 31, 1931, in Dallas, Texas. Banks was 22 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 17, 1953, with the Chicago Cubs. His biographical data, year-by-year hitting stats, fielding stats, pitching stats (where applicable), career totals, uniform numbers, salary data and miscellaneous items-of-interest are presented by Baseball Almanac on this comprehensive Ernie Banks baseball stats page.
"It's a shame that a lot of GREAT ball players never even got a chance to play in the World Series. Players like Ernie Banks. I heard him say once that he'll always have an open feeling in his heart because of not playing in a World Series." - Gossage, Rich. [Ernie Banks Quotes]
Ernie BanksErnie Banks Autograph on a 1988 Pacific Legends Baseball Card (#36 | Checklist) |
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Biographical Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ernie BanksErnie Banks Pitching Stats |
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Year | Age | Team | G | GS | GF | W | L | PCT | ERA | CG | SHO | SV | IP | BFP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | IBB | SO | WP | HB | BK | HLD |
- | - | Did Not Pitch | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Career | G | GS | GF | W | L | PCT | ERA | CG | SHO | SV | IP | BFP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | IBB | SO | WP | HB | BK | HLD |
Ernie BanksErnie Banks Hitting Stats |
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Year | Age | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | GRSL | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | SH | SF | HBP | GIDP | AVG | OBP | SLG |
1953 | 22 | Cubs | 10 | 35 | 3 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .314 | .385 | .571 |
1954 | 23 | Cubs | 154 | 593 | 70 | 163 | 19 | 7 | 19 | 0 | 79 | 40 | 3 | 50 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 11 | .275 | .326 | .427 |
1955 | 24 | Cubs | 154 | 596 | 98 | 176 | 29 | 9 | 44 | 5 | 117 | 45 | 6 | 72 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 16 | .295 | .345 | .596 |
1956 | 25 | Cubs | 139 | 538 | 82 | 160 | 25 | 8 | 28 | 0 | 85 | 52 | 18 | 62 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | .297 | .358 | .530 |
1957 | 26 | Cubs | 156 | 594 | 113 | 169 | 34 | 6 | 43 | 0 | 102 | 70 | 11 | 85 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 12 | .285 | .360 | .579 |
1958 | 27 | Cubs | 154 | 617 | 119 | 193 | 23 | 11 | 47 | 0 | 129 | 52 | 12 | 87 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 14 | .313 | .366 | .614 |
1959 | 28 | Cubs | 155 | 589 | 97 | 179 | 25 | 6 | 45 | 2 | 143 | 64 | 20 | 72 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 18 | .304 | .374 | .596 |
1960 | 29 | Cubs | 156 | 597 | 94 | 162 | 32 | 7 | 41 | 1 | 117 | 71 | 28 | 69 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 14 | .271 | .350 | .554 |
1961 | 30 | Cubs | 138 | 511 | 75 | 142 | 22 | 4 | 29 | 1 | 80 | 54 | 21 | 75 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 11 | .278 | .346 | .507 |
1962 | 31 | Cubs | 154 | 610 | 87 | 164 | 20 | 6 | 37 | 0 | 104 | 30 | 3 | 71 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 19 | .269 | .306 | .503 |
1963 | 32 | Cubs | 130 | 432 | 41 | 98 | 20 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 64 | 39 | 16 | 73 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 7 | .227 | .292 | .403 |
1964 | 33 | Cubs | 157 | 591 | 67 | 156 | 29 | 6 | 23 | 1 | 95 | 36 | 11 | 84 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 16 | .264 | .307 | .450 |
1965 | 34 | Cubs | 163 | 612 | 79 | 162 | 25 | 3 | 28 | 0 | 106 | 55 | 19 | 64 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 16 | .265 | .328 | .453 |
1966 | 35 | Cubs | 141 | 511 | 52 | 139 | 23 | 7 | 15 | 0 | 75 | 29 | 10 | 59 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 15 | .272 | .315 | .432 |
1967 | 36 | Cubs | 151 | 573 | 68 | 158 | 26 | 4 | 23 | 0 | 95 | 27 | 8 | 93 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 20 | .276 | .310 | .455 |
1968 | 37 | Cubs | 150 | 552 | 71 | 136 | 27 | 0 | 32 | 1 | 83 | 27 | 4 | 67 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 12 | .246 | .287 | .469 |
1969 | 38 | Cubs | 155 | 565 | 60 | 143 | 19 | 2 | 23 | 1 | 106 | 42 | 7 | 101 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 15 | .253 | .309 | .416 |
1970 | 39 | Cubs | 72 | 222 | 25 | 56 | 6 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 44 | 20 | 3 | 33 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | .252 | .313 | .459 |
1971 | 40 | Cubs | 39 | 83 | 4 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .193 | .247 | .325 |
Career | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | GRSL | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | SH | SF | HBP | GIDP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ||
19 Years | 2,528 | 9,421 | 1,305 | 2,583 | 407 | 90 | 512 | 12 | 1,636 | 763 | 201 | 1,236 | 45 | 96 | 70 | 229 | .274 | .330 | .500 |
Ernie BanksErnie Banks Fielding Stats |
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Team | POS | G | GS | OUTS | TC | TC/G | CH | PO | A | E | DP | PB | CASB | CACS | FLD% | RF |
1953 Cubs | SS | 10 | 10 | 269 | 53 | 5.3 | 52 | 19 | 33 | 1 | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .981 | 5.22 |
1954 Cubs | SS | 154 | 154 | 4,120 | 821 | 5.3 | 787 | 312 | 475 | 34 | 105 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .959 | 5.16 |
1955 Cubs | SS | 154 | 154 | 4,129 | 794 | 5.2 | 772 | 290 | 482 | 22 | 102 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .972 | 5.05 |
1956 Cubs | SS | 139 | 139 | 3,684 | 661 | 4.8 | 636 | 279 | 357 | 25 | 92 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .962 | 4.66 |
1957 Cubs | 3B | 58 | 58 | 1,512 | 163 | 2.8 | 160 | 73 | 87 | 3 | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .982 | 2.86 |
1957 Cubs | SS | 100 | 98 | 2,683 | 440 | 4.4 | 429 | 168 | 261 | 11 | 59 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .975 | 4.32 |
1958 Cubs | SS | 154 | 154 | 4,083 | 792 | 5.1 | 760 | 292 | 468 | 32 | 100 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .960 | 5.03 |
1959 Cubs | SS | 154 | 154 | 4,114 | 802 | 5.2 | 790 | 271 | 519 | 12 | 95 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .985 | 5.18 |
1960 Cubs | SS | 156 | 156 | 4,127 | 789 | 5.1 | 771 | 283 | 488 | 18 | 94 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .977 | 5.04 |
1961 Cubs | 1B | 7 | 7 | 183 | 75 | 10.7 | 74 | 68 | 6 | 1 | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .987 | 10.92 |
1961 Cubs | LF | 23 | 23 | 599 | 36 | 1.6 | 35 | 33 | 2 | 1 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .972 | 1.58 |
1961 Cubs | SS | 104 | 102 | 2,650 | 550 | 5.3 | 531 | 173 | 358 | 19 | 68 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .965 | 5.41 |
1962 Cubs | 1B | 149 | 148 | 3,916 | 1,575 | 10.6 | 1,564 | 1,458 | 106 | 11 | 134 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .993 | 10.78 |
1962 Cubs | 3B | 3 | 2 | 54 | 5 | 1.7 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 2.50 |
1963 Cubs | 1B | 125 | 117 | 3,162 | 1,265 | 10.1 | 1,256 | 1,178 | 78 | 9 | 97 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .993 | 10.72 |
1964 Cubs | 1B | 157 | 153 | 4,032 | 1,707 | 10.9 | 1,697 | 1,565 | 132 | 10 | 122 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .994 | 11.36 |
1965 Cubs | 1B | 162 | 161 | 4,307 | 1,790 | 11.0 | 1,775 | 1,682 | 93 | 15 | 143 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .992 | 11.13 |
1966 Cubs | 1B | 130 | 127 | 3,334 | 1,269 | 9.8 | 1,259 | 1,178 | 81 | 10 | 88 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .992 | 10.20 |
1966 Cubs | 3B | 8 | 5 | 147 | 19 | 2.4 | 16 | 5 | 11 | 3 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .842 | 2.94 |
1967 Cubs | 1B | 147 | 146 | 3,848 | 1,484 | 10.1 | 1,474 | 1,383 | 91 | 10 | 111 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .993 | 10.34 |
1968 Cubs | 1B | 147 | 145 | 3,696 | 1,473 | 10.0 | 1,467 | 1,379 | 88 | 6 | 118 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .996 | 10.72 |
1969 Cubs | 1B | 153 | 147 | 3,905 | 1,510 | 9.9 | 1,506 | 1,419 | 87 | 4 | 116 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .997 | 10.41 |
1970 Cubs | 1B | 62 | 57 | 1,513 | 567 | 9.1 | 563 | 528 | 35 | 4 | 53 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .993 | 10.05 |
1971 Cubs | 1B | 20 | 18 | 482 | 179 | 9.0 | 179 | 167 | 12 | 0 | 15 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 10.03 |
Career | POS | G | GS | OUTS | TC | TC/G | CH | PO | A | E | DP | PB | CASB | CACS | FLD% | RF |
1B Totals | 1,259 | 1,226 | 32,378 | 12,894 | 10.2 | 12,814 | 12,005 | 809 | 80 | 1,005 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .994 | 10.69 | |
SS Totals | 1,125 | 1,121 | 29,859 | 5,702 | 5.1 | 5,528 | 2,087 | 3,441 | 174 | 724 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .969 | 5.00 | |
3B Totals | 69 | 65 | 1,713 | 187 | 2.7 | 181 | 82 | 99 | 6 | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .968 | 2.85 | |
LF Totals | 23 | 23 | 599 | 36 | 1.6 | 35 | 33 | 2 | 1 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .972 | 1.58 | |
19 Years | 2,476 | 2,435 | 64,549 | 18,819 | 7.6 | 18,558 | 14,207 | 4,351 | 261 | 1,742 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .986 | 7.76 |
Ernie BanksErnie Banks Miscellaneous Stats |
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Baserunning Statistics | Other Positions | Common Hitting Ratios | Common Pitching Ratios | |||||||||
Team | SB | CS | SB% | PH | PR | DH | AB/HR | AB/K | AB/RBI | K/BB | K/9 | BB/9 |
1953 Cubs | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 17.5 | 7.0 | 5.8 | - | - | - |
1954 Cubs | 6 | 10 | .375 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 31.2 | 11.9 | 7.5 | - | - | - |
1955 Cubs | 9 | 3 | .750 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 13.5 | 8.3 | 5.1 | - | - | - |
1956 Cubs | 6 | 9 | .400 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 19.2 | 8.7 | 6.3 | - | - | - |
1957 Cubs | 8 | 4 | .667 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 13.8 | 7.0 | 5.8 | - | - | - |
1958 Cubs | 4 | 4 | .500 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 13.1 | 7.1 | 4.8 | - | - | - |
1959 Cubs | 2 | 4 | .333 | 1 | 0 | n/a | 13.1 | 8.2 | 4.1 | - | - | - |
1960 Cubs | 1 | 3 | .250 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 14.6 | 8.7 | 5.1 | - | - | - |
1961 Cubs | 1 | 2 | .333 | 6 | 0 | n/a | 17.6 | 6.8 | 6.4 | - | - | - |
1962 Cubs | 5 | 1 | .833 | 4 | 0 | n/a | 16.5 | 8.6 | 5.9 | - | - | - |
1963 Cubs | 0 | 3 | .000 | 7 | 0 | n/a | 24.0 | 5.9 | 6.8 | - | - | - |
1964 Cubs | 1 | 2 | .333 | 1 | 0 | n/a | 25.7 | 7.0 | 6.2 | - | - | - |
1965 Cubs | 3 | 5 | .375 | 2 | 0 | n/a | 21.9 | 9.6 | 5.8 | - | - | - |
1966 Cubs | 0 | 1 | .000 | 8 | 0 | n/a | 34.1 | 8.7 | 6.8 | - | - | - |
1967 Cubs | 2 | 2 | .500 | 5 | 0 | n/a | 24.9 | 6.2 | 6.0 | - | - | - |
1968 Cubs | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | 5 | 0 | n/a | 17.3 | 8.2 | 6.7 | - | - | - |
1969 Cubs | 0 | 0 | .000 | 6 | 0 | n/a | 24.6 | 5.6 | 5.3 | - | - | - |
1970 Cubs | 0 | 0 | .000 | 11 | 0 | n/a | 18.5 | 6.7 | 5.0 | - | - | - |
1971 Cubs | 0 | 0 | .000 | 19 | 1 | n/a | 27.7 | 5.9 | 13.8 | - | - | - |
Career | SB | CS | SB% | PH | PR | DH | AB/HR | AB/K | AB/RBI | K/BB | K/9 | BB/9 |
19 Years | 50 | 53 | .485 | 75 | 1 | n/a | 18.4 | 7.6 | 5.8 | - | - | - |
Ernie BanksErnie Banks Miscellaneous Items of Interest |
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Team | Roster | Uniform Numbers | Salary | All-Star | World Series |
1953 Chicago Cubs | 14 | $2,000.00 | - | - |
1954 Chicago Cubs | 14 | $6,000.00 | - | - |
1955 Chicago Cubs | 14 | $10,000.00 | Stats | - |
1956 Chicago Cubs | 14 | $17,500.00 | Stats | - |
1957 Chicago Cubs | 14 | $20,000.00 | Stats | - |
1958 Chicago Cubs | 14 | $27,500.00 | Stats | - |
1959 Chicago Cubs | 14 | $45,000.00 | Stats | - |
1960 Chicago Cubs | 14 | $50,000.00 | Stats | - |
1961 Chicago Cubs | 14 | $57,500.00 | Stats | - |
1962 Chicago Cubs | 14 | $55,000.00 | Stats | - |
1963 Chicago Cubs | 14 | $55,000.00 | - | - |
1964 Chicago Cubs | 14 | $57,500.00 | - | - |
1965 Chicago Cubs | 14 | $52,500.00 | Stats | - |
1966 Chicago Cubs | 14 | $55,000.00 | - | - |
1967 Chicago Cubs | 14 | $65,000.00 | Stats | - |
1968 Chicago Cubs | 14 | $65,000.00 | - | - |
1969 Chicago Cubs | 14 | $60,000.00 | Stats | - |
1970 Chicago Cubs | 14 | $85,000.00 | - | - |
1971 Chicago Cubs | 14 | $85,000.00 | - | - |
Ernie Banks Stats by Baseball Almanac |
Ernest Banks was a Major League Baseball player who spent his entire 19-year Hall of Fame career with the Chicago Cubs (1953-1971). Did you know that Ernie, his nickname, was the first National League player to win consecutive Most Valuable Player Awards (1958 & 1959)? His American League counterpart is Jimmie Foxx, the first junior circuit player to win consecutive MVP Awards (1932 & 1933).
Ernie Banks Rookie Card | 1954 Topps Baseball Card (#94 | Checklist)
Baseball Almanac Research Library
The Back of the Baseball Card
ERNEST BANKS: After gaining recognition as the top ranking player in the Negro National League, Ernie came to the Cubs from the Kansas City Monarchs in September 1953. Seeing only limited service with Chicago last year, the former Army Artilleryman hit for 22 total bases and looks like a real hot prospect for a regular Bruin infield birth this season.
Did you know that Ernie Banks was the first African-American player in Chicago Cubs history to appear in a regular season game (Team-by-Team History)? Gene Baker was signed first, but an injury delayed his appearance, paving the way for Mr. Cub.
Did you know that Ernie Banks was the first Chicago Cubs player to win a Gold Glove Award? Mr. Cub won in 1960, at shortstop, followed by Ken Hubbs, who won a Gold Glove Award at Second Base, in 1962. The next Cubbie shortstop to win was Don Kessinger (1969 & 1970).
Did you know that Ernie Banks was the first player in baseball history to hit five grand slams in a single season? The history making grand slams were hit on: #1. May 11, 1955 (off Russ Meyer), #2. May 29, 1955 (off Lew Burdette), #3. July 17, 1955 (off Ron Negray), #4. August 2, 1955 (off Dick Littlefield), and #5. September 19, 1955 (off Lindy McDaniel). His Major League record was broken in 1987, by Don Mattingly who hit six (and was tied by Travis Hafner in 2006), but his mark still stands in the National League having only been tied, by Albert Pujols, in 2009.
Ernie Banks made his Major League debut on September 17, 1953, then played in 424 consecutive games — the Major League record for most consecutive games from the start of a career for 50-years! Hideki Matsui made his Major League debut on March 31, 2003, then played in a record breaking 518 consecutive games.
Ernie Banks consecutive games played from the start of a career streak ended due to an 18-day trip to the disabled list because of a hand infection. On August 28, 1956, Mr. Cub started a new streak, played in 717 consecutive games, but a nagging knee caused him to miss breaking the National League record (at the time) for consecutive games played set by Stan Musial (895 games, 04-15-1952 thru 08-23-1957).
Ernie Banks | National Baseball Hall of Fame Plaque | Class of 1977 (HOF)
Fourteen Major League players have stepped onto the field since 1903, played in 2,000+ games, and never once appeared in a postseason game. They are: #1. Ernie Banks (2,528), #2. Luke Appling (2,422), #3. Mickey Vernon (2,409), #4. Buddy Bell (2,405), #5. Ron Santo (2,243), #6. Joe Torre (2,209), #7. Toby Harrah (2,155), #8. Harry Heilmann (2,147), #9. Eddie Yost (2,109), #10. Roy McMillan (2,093), #11. Don Kessinger (2,078), #12. George Sisler (2,055), #13 Cy Williams (2,002), and #14. Adam Dunn (2,001).