Just before Cubs Convention 2015, Chicago lost one of its most important figures in sporting history. Ernie Banks, “Mr. Cub,” passed on in January of last year, having lived an unbelievably full and extraordinary life than began way back in 1931, the year before the Chicago Cubs, legend has it, surrendered the infamous Babe Ruth “called shot” home run.
Ernie Banks is buried in Graceland Cemetery, a short walking distance from Wrigley Field. “Fly the W” towels, handed out at the World Series Game 3 in Chicago, lay across his gravesite.
Banks’ legacy lives on in full force. With the Cubs reaching their first World Series in 71 years, all Chicago Cubs memorabilia is sky-rocketing in value. We’ve already told you about the final out ball from the 1908 World Series, tossed by Orval Overall, going up for auction, with a starting bid of $25,000.
Now an Ernie Banks baseball card is taking flight in appraisal too.
Prior to this season, the most ever paid for an Ernie Banks card sold through Heritage Auctions was $22,705. But a mint-condition 1954 Banks card already has a bid of $44,000, and with more than 17 days remaining in the Nov. 17-19 auction, the eventual selling price is expected to soar.
Ernie Banks drilled 512 home runs in his career, the second-highest total in team history. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977, and was named in 1999 to the Major League All-Century Team.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous radio and television talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram and Sound Cloud.