Ernie Banks, who played for 19 seasons with the Chicago Cubs, passed away yesterday at the age of 83. After playing with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues, and a stint in the Army, Banks played a few games with the Cubs in 1953. The next year, he became their regular shortstop and finished second in the voting for National League Rookie of the Year. He won the league's Most Valuable Player award in 1958 and 1959, and a Gold Glove in 1960. In 1962, Banks moved to first base, where he played until his retirement after the 1971 season. During his career, he hit 512 home runs, drove in 1,636 runs, and played in 14 All-Star games. Banks was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977, and received a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013. He was affectionately known as "Mr. Cub" by fans of his team.
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