Talk:Ernie Banks

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[edit] Homers

Cal Ripken Jr. only had 431 homers, he didn't surpass Ernie Banks at 512. User: 64.131.184.221 05:25, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

• Roughly half of Ernie's 512 homers came after he had switched to first base. Wahkeenah 06:22, 12 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] NPOV and Sources

I fixed some of the NPOV issues that were in the article. Here is a summary of what I changed or noticed:

• In 1955, he set the record for grand slams in a single season, at an amazing 5. - The amazing comment is definitely an opinion. While it is a tremendous feat, the tone should remain neutral.

• Banks won the National League Most Valuable Player Award twice, in 1958 and 1959. This feat is amazing, since the Cubs were never pennant contenders during Banks' career and this award is usually given to players who contribute substantially to their teams' championship drives. - Again this is an opinion.

• A contemporary sportswriter remarked that, "Without Ernie Banks, the Cubs would have finished the season in Albuquerque!" - If this is true, then it needs a citation, right now it is just an unreferenced claim.

• Despite never having appeared in a postseason game, Banks is regarded as the most popular baseball player in Chicago history, leading to his nickname of "Mr. Cub." - Regarded by who, again, this needs to be referenced.

• Ernie Banks has been rumored to be part of a group looking into buying the Chicago Cubs, in case the Tribune Company decides to sell the club, as is also rumored. - This needs to be cited as well.

In the next couple of weeks (depending on my schedule) I would like to improve and expand this article. As a Cub fan, I would love to see his page reach featured article status.--Cyrus Andiron ^t/_c 14:00, 23 February 2007 (UTC)

The article could use some improvement and expansion, for sure. You were right to remove the hype, as it's redundant, at the very least. Ernie's stats speak for themselves. I found the Albuquerque quote. I had forgotten who said it. Dykes is the one attributed, which stands to reason, as he was a player and manager on the rival Sox for many years, and was often good for a quip. To say Ernie "is the most popular player" is a stretch at this point, since a generation or two never saw him play. A lot of them never saw Sandberg play, and I think he was being called "The New Mr. Cub" at one point. Sandberg wasn't outgoing like Ernie, though. "Among the most popular" is certainly fair. I had to relocate the Crain's article which I think was my original source for the comment about Banks looking into acquisition of the Cubs. That article is 8 months old, but as far as I know the Trib company is still looking at divestiture possibilities... of the Cubs, of WGN, of anything that they think will somehow make them wealthier in the short run. Wahkeenah 14:36, 23 February 2007 (UTC)