50 Years Ago Today: Ernie Banks Hits #500
On this date 50 years ago, Mr. Cub became the ninth player to join the 500 HR club.
SportsIllustrated - On May 12, 1970, a 39-year-old Banks launched his landmark 500th home run during the second inning of a 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves. The 19-year veteran, who was the first African American player in Cubs' franchise history, spent his entire career in Chicago and earned the nickname "Mr. Cub."
Banks would only hit 12 more homers in what would be the final game of his career.
The game was sparsely attended, with the official attendance being only 5,264. The combination of a rainy morning and pessimism still stemming from their 1969 collapse, lead to many empty seats for the historic swat.
One of the best players in Cub (and baseball) history never played in a postseason game and unfortunately passed away a year before the Cubs finally won a title in 2016.
A class act on and off the field, Ernie Banks was definitely one of the good ones in Cub history.
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