Chicago Cubs: Top 20 best hitters in franchise history

Nicknamed “Mr. Cub”, Ernie Banks spent his entire 19-year career with the Cubs. It’s extremely uncommon these days for a player to stick with one team for their entire career, but that’s exactly what he did. I’d say he did it quite well to boot.

Known for his phrases of “Let’s play two”, Banks led the National League in the number of games played in 1954 and 1955 and from 1957 to 1960. From 1955 to 1969, Banks would make the National League All-Star Team 14 times, while winning the National League MVP in back-to-back years 1958 and 1959.

In his 1958 season, Banks slashed an absurd .313/.366/.614 with 23 doubles, 47 home runs and 129 RBI. His total bases and slugging percentage led the National League. After 1953, Banks was discharged from the United States Army and played one season for the Kansas City Monarchs before signing with the Cubs.

Banks was the Cubs’ first black player and his double-play combination with Gene Baker in 1954 was the first all-black double-play tandem in franchise history. He was one of the best Cubs players, slashing .274/.330/.500 with 90 doubles, 512 home runs and 1,636 RBI during his tenure on the North Side.

Banks passed away before the 2015 season. All the players on that Cubs roster wore a No. 14 patch to honor “Mr. Cub”. He also is one of the few immortal flying on the flag poles during every home game.