Title/Author:
“Let’s Play Two: The
Life and Times of Ernie Banks” by Doug Wilson
Tags:
Baseball, biography,
Cubs
Publish date:
February 15, 2019
Length:
272 pages
Rating:
5 of 5 stars (outstanding)
Review:
Ernie Banks was a Hall of Fame
player for the Chicago Cubs know primarily for three things: his happy
demeanor, his joy for the game of baseball, and oh, by the way, he was a pretty
good hitter as well. Banks’ story is
told in this excellent, complete biography by author Doug Wilson.
Every aspect of the life of “Mr. Cub”
is covered, from Banks’ childhood in Dallas to his life after baseball which
included health and financial problems up to his death in 2015. Even then, one of the most enduring
personality traits of Banks, his genuine desire to make others happy, still can
be evident despite the less-than-happy late stages of his life. Wilson illustrates the difficult childhood of
Ernie and the other Banks children as they grew up in segregated North
Dallas.
As for the baseball aspect of Banks’
life, that is completely explored and brought to the reader in excellent detail
as well. Banks was the first player to
go from the Negro Leagues, where he was playing well for the Kansas City
Monarchs, directly to the major leagues.
Signed by the Cubs, Banks immediately made his presence felt on field,
winning the job as the everyday shortstop for the Cubs.. It was common practice to have black players
roomed together at the time and Banks was roomed with another shortstop, Gene
Baker, when they were called up to the Cubs. Banks beat out his roommate for
the shortstop position, forcing Baker to learn how to play second base.
From there, Banks took off, winning
back to back MVP awards and becoming one of only eight men at the time to hit
500 home runs. The Cubs’ penchant for losing is also on display in the book
with a chapter on their failed experiment with a “college of coaches” running
the team instead of a manager. Their
1969 collapse after leading the National League East division is also well documented
– enough that a reader will either remember the events well or will feel like
he or she was there.
One other aspect of this time frame
in baseball and society that is covered well is the racism and prejudice that
Banks and other players of color faced at that time, especially in Florida
during spring training. Not only will
the reader learn about the mistreatment of black players by many (including
white teammates) but he or she will come away with a deeper appreciation of
Banks’ disposition through all the racism.
But, as Wilson also notes in the book, some of Banks’ measured comments
about civil rights were taken to mean that he wasn’t a good role model to use
his status as one of the best baseball players to speak out. This issue is written with a good amount of
sensitivity and insight and are stories that should be told.
Any reader who is a Cubs fan, interested
in baseball history or wants to learn more about “Mr. Cub” needs to add this to
his or her library. It is a thoroughly enjoyable,
easy read that should bring a smile to the reader as big as Ernie’s.
I wish to thank Rowman and
Littlefield for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Book Format Read:
Paperback
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