The Sports Bank, NBC5 Street Team
The Chicago Cubs franchise began play in 1876, but they didn’t erect a statue of “Mr. Cub,” Ernie Banks until opening day of the 2008 season. The magnificent sculpture by Lou Cella resides on the Corner of Clark and Addison near the world famous marquee of Wrigley Field. The inscription quotes the most famous “Banksism of all, “Let’s Play Two!” a statement Banks made in response to the gorgeous weather one day during his playing career. (“What a beautiful day for a ballgame, let’s play two.”) 
I picked a night with similarly mild weather to really observe the statue. I figured my first NBC5.com Street Team posting should feature the most famous person in Chicago history to share my last name. What truly separates this monument from the Harry Caray statue on the other side of the park is the placement of benches nearby. I sat down with my notebook and some reading material but then engaged in a little people watching. Many people, drunk, sober and every state in between, stopped by to view the statue. About half of them paused long enough to be in a picture alongside the Cubs’ all time leader in hits, games played, at-bats, and total bases. The most memorable was a group of four young women who felt the need to grab Ernie’s legs and position their face in between his ankles for their photo opportunity. Two of these women were rather….let’s just say the base of that statue got a stress test, and it is truly a very strong supportive structure.
This little place is quite popular and I think we should officially name it “Ernie Banks Plaza” or “Banks Square.” If this were in Lincoln Square, we could call it Banksplatz, in Little Italy “Piazza del Banks.” If you visit the National-Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in that Southside Chicago neighborhood, you can see the very picturesque Piazza DiMaggio complete with statue of the “Yankee Clipper.” Ultimately, I could see Banks Plaza becoming a very sacred place for me: a landmark close to my home for meeting up with people, yet also a place for me to relax, read, and write alone.
By the way, since this is my first post, I should probably introduce myself: my name is Paul M. Banks a.k.a. The Sports Bank.
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Paul – Nice atricle on the Ernie statue, but it sounds a little like nepotism. Congrats on joining NBC5’s Street Team!
Paul Banks aka the Sports Bank does his first story on Ernie Banks… very fitting… I expect an in-depth story on the Banks family from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in the near future…
Banks Plaza? I could work with that. More things in town should probably be named after him than already are, honestly. He hasn’t been meorialized nearly enough.
-G-
Wish I still lived an El ride away from Wrigley. You’ll have to read, write and people-watch in Ernie’s shadow for the both of us.
I share the name and am honored with it.
Though I am no ball player I am proud to see the original Banks honored by the city.
Go Cubs!
Great article, Paul! I love the new statue. I know they’re doing it on the South Side, but I’d love to see the Cubs have different statues of Cubs legends all over the area. Maybe one on each corner?
And Banks Plaza is a great idea! Way better than something corporate, like Wrigley Field at Chase Plaza!
I’m still waiting for the Ronnie Woo Woo statue, complete with a timely vocal recording (”Grace woo Dunston woo woo”) that would play in a loop for all of perpetuity to keep away the pigeons and tourists — which is the greater scourge, I’m not sure. And of course, the statue would have to go missing for a few days every now and then or suddenly show up in the 300 section of the United Center for a Bulls game in the winter for a game or two each season (”Jordan woo Rodman woo woo!”). If Ronnie ever decided to drop in some Dickey Simpkins, Kornel David, Manny Trillo, or Vance Law in between the wooing, then I would say he’s worthy of being a local institution and deserves a statue in the Daley Center Plaza next to the Picasso befitting his status as a living surrealist landmark. Someone suggest this to him if you are somehow able to achieve a coherent conversation on the street.
I recommend a Wesley Willis statue near the Guitar Center on Belmont as well and one at North Beach for the guy with the White Sox hat-wearing guy on Elimidate a few years ago who took his dates there and yelled “She gone!” after each elimination, until (I believe) he got cut himself by the final two girls who had had just about enough by the final round. The world never seemed more right. Paul can correct me if my memory is fuzzy since he’s the pop culture expert.
My suggestion for dealing with our Chicago civic heroes: stop rewarding greats like Ernie Banks and Ryne Sandberg who are already revered, and graceful in their humility about being adored. Start rewarding those who seek attention and some instant form of local celebrity the most, because that’s what America’s all about. Or at least that’s what my DOZENS of Facespace and Mybook friends (count ‘em, less popular folks) tell me on an occasional basis when they accidentally unblock me from sending them Youtube clips of kittens dancing (squirming, whatever) to Chris Brown songs while trapped in teacups and wine glasses. Salutations.
Thanks man. I look forward to seeing the Harold Baines statue when they unveil it. He was a player I enjoyed watching when I was growing up
I still think they should put up a Tuffy Rhodes Statue, he did hit three home runs opening day!!!
Paul,
I have only visited Wrigley Field once and it was amazing. Great story ….. let’s start the petition for Banks Plaza!
David Patrician
Ernie Banks Plaza sounds like a good idea. As a real estate mogul I can surround this Plaza with several high end stores for those beautiful Lincoln Park boys and girls.
As Borat would say, “Veray Niice”! I’ll have to make a daily withdrawal from the Bank
I second the idea for a Tuffy Rhodes statue.
How about an Ernie Banks themed bar right across the street: It’s a beautiful day, let’s drink TWO. Go CUBS!
Welcome to the Street Team!
So if it’s called “Banks Square”, would you be called “Square Banks”? Ba dum bum.
Slumpbusters at the statue. you would probably find a higher ratio down at the oscar gamble statue. piazza del banche works. good article.
Enjoyed reading your first column. Great job!!! and you share the Banks name, awesome.
GS
Great job. Even tho I am not a Chigagoan your artticle makes me want to see the statue and “Plaza” Platz” or whatever.
Keep it up
Natalie
Mr. Bursar or Dr. Bursar or however you wish to be addressed,
that’s quite an “interesting” post. No I have not seen that episode of Elimidate. I’ve only seen that show a couple times…and I don’t think I’m missing out on much by not having seen it more. You make a good case for future statue ideas.
thanks for the compliments everyone.
Imagine if they erected a statue of Ron Kittle, and the type of girls that would hang out for photo opps there. Like Borat would say “in my country, they would go crazy for these two…..this one- not so much.”
I wonder why they don’t have an honorary Ernie Banks street in Chicago yet? I mean they actually named the expressway in Tampa Bay after Lee Roy Selmon. Maybe I can find a way to get that “Banks Plaza” petition into Mayor Daley’s hands soon?
Interesting that as a lifelong Sox fan, you write your first article on this site about the Cubs. By the way, thanks for supporting the South side by wearing the Cubs hat in your picture.
Great job on the first article. I am looking to future articles about the South Side baseball team.
Good article, Banks. Banks Plaza sounds good to me.
wow, what an amazing write-up. i live in CA but i think if i go to chicago, i would definitely need to stop by, maybe even catch of glimpse of banks with banks. how about a carlos quentin story? from what i hear, wrigley sounds like a fun place. but it would be cool if there were bars/restaurants nearby, you know, like how SF or Boston has the setup.
Great work! I met Ernie Banks about 15 years ago and am all for a Banksplatz.
Thanks Hype. For you White Sox guys, don’t worry the Sox pieces are in the works!