Ernie Banks and politics
Monday, Jan 26, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Here’s something I didn’t know about Ernie Banks…
In 1963, he unsuccessfully ran for 8th Ward alderman as a Republican in Chicago.
In the summer of ‘69, he was appointed to the board of the CTA, which led to speculation in the Tribune he was planning to retire, “especially if the Cubs win the pennant and the World Series.” (Spoiler alert: They did not.)
* Banks explained his loss a couple of years ago…
“I ran for Alderman and Mayor [Richard J.] Daley was running the city,” Banks said. “Someone asked the mayor where that baseball player was going to finish in the race for the 8th Ward. He said somewhere out in left field. That is where I finished.”
He came in third place with just 2,028 votes.
I doubt he walked many, if any, precincts. and the organization was pretty darned powerful back then.
* Banks also wanted to talk Barack Obama out of running for president…
The Hall of Fame shortstop said he tried to talk to then-Senator Barack Obama out of running for this country’s highest office in 2007.
Banks, who was at Wrigley Field to be saluted by the Chicago Cubs for the presidential honor, said that he thought the then-junior Senator from Illinois probably would have a tough time winning.
“I met him at a Jesse Jackson dinner at Navy Pier,” Banks said. “He was there speaking. I wanted to say hi to him. I talked to his assistant and I said I have to talk to Barack.
“I got his card, and the next day he announced he was a candidate. I was going to tell him not to run. I said, ‘Do you really want to do this?’ “
- Soccermom - Monday, Jan 26, 15 @ 10:17 am:
Only a White Sox fan would expect Ernie Banks to walk.
- The Captain - Monday, Jan 26, 15 @ 10:24 am:
I wonder which assistant that was. I don’t think the timing works but former Obama assistant Julian Green now does communications for the Cubs. It would be a pretty strange coincidence if that was the staffer but I think Green left before Obama announced he was running for President.
- Amalia - Monday, Jan 26, 15 @ 10:24 am:
Cubs player runs as a Republican on the South Side of Chicago. Game over.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jan 26, 15 @ 10:26 am:
===Game over.===
Not too many black Sox fans back in those days.
Just sayin…
- Wordslinger - Monday, Jan 26, 15 @ 10:27 am:
Banks, Williams, Santo, Jenkins — any other team ever have a longtime core of four HOFers and never win a thing?
- Louis G Atsaves - Monday, Jan 26, 15 @ 10:34 am:
Republican candidate? Love him even more! I still have an “Ernie Banks” baseball bat gathering dust in my garage from my childhood days.
His impact on kids during the 60’s in Chicago was huge! In my neighborhood we all wanted to play first base and fingering the bat like Ernie.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Jan 26, 15 @ 10:49 am:
Pretty sad.
He couldn’t spare us from experiencing the ‘69 Cubs, or the Obama administration.
- okgo - Monday, Jan 26, 15 @ 10:59 am:
That Ernie Banks as a Republican aldermanic candidate article killed me. I love reading those old archives.
Also in that same edition:
http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1962/12/21/page/10/article/90-retarded-children-to-enter-center
http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1962/12/21/page/12/article/the-states-revenue-outlook-brightens
- Responsa - Monday, Jan 26, 15 @ 11:06 am:
After he retired from Cubdom Ernie did a lot of corporate personal appearances (meetings/retreats/seminars/conventions)in the Chicago area that had nothing to do with sports. I was lucky enough to be at a few of them and meet him. He was a magnet. He absolutely charmed people. His always positive attitude was infectious. This life long Sox fan says, RIP, Mr. Banks. You were a winner both in baseball and in life.
- William j Kelly - Monday, Jan 26, 15 @ 11:13 am:
I guess the obvious lesson here is if you a good natured, well liked and respected republican from the southside you should just quit while you are ahead and STAY OUT OF POLITICS! But yet he felt the call to public service, God bless him!
- Amalia - Monday, Jan 26, 15 @ 11:18 am:
“Not too many black Sox fans back in those days.” maybe not in the park, but that is not my experience.
- Concerned Observer - Monday, Jan 26, 15 @ 11:22 am:
Maybe not, Rich, but Minnie beat Ernie by over two years.
- Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner - Monday, Jan 26, 15 @ 11:23 am:
Banks was one of the first Chicago athletes to endorse marriage equality. He issued a public statement during the big push in 2013, along w/ Richard Dent.
- Concerned Observer - Monday, Jan 26, 15 @ 11:23 am:
My mistake - missed the word ‘fans’. Thought you said there weren’t a lot of black *players*. Sorry.
- Wordslinger - Monday, Jan 26, 15 @ 11:29 am:
Well, the Sox did have that unfortunate rain poncho promotion last year.
Bright white ponchos with pointy hoods. — looked like a Klan rally on TV.
Google “White Sox poncho night” and you’ll see what I mean.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Monday, Jan 26, 15 @ 11:32 am:
When Rich asked us for ideas to improve Illinois’ image a couple months back, I suggested carving Starved Rock with the heads of Dick Van Dyke, Jack Benny, Ernest Hemingway, and Ernie Banks.
I still think it’s a good idea.
- Stones - Monday, Jan 26, 15 @ 11:44 am:
Fascinating! I had no idea Ernie Banks ever dabbled in politics.
- Under Further Review - Monday, Jan 26, 15 @ 2:17 pm:
Banks, Williams, Santo, Jenkins — any other team ever have a longtime core of four HOFers and never win a thing?
The manager (Leo Durocher) also made the HOF, but his tarnished reputation also included stops elsewhere as a player and a manager. He did win one World Series title and two pennants outside of Chicago as a manager and one World Series ring as a player.
Durocher had the unenviable task of managing Banks when he was past his prime and trying to hold on as an athlete.
- Under Further Review - Monday, Jan 26, 15 @ 2:30 pm:
Since aldermanic races have been “non-partisan” since the 1920s, I wonder why Banks chose to emphasize that he identified with the Republicans?
Banks will be long remembered in Chicago. Who recalls the name of the Machine candidate who won the 8th Ward aldermanic race in 1963.
- a drop in - Monday, Jan 26, 15 @ 2:44 pm:
8th Ward Republicans should have nominated Billy Williams instead. He was already in left field.
- ??? - Monday, Jan 26, 15 @ 3:15 pm:
Wordslinger, I don’t remember the Sox Pointy Hood incident, but I saw something kind of similar last year or the year before, when the Chicago Trolley Company took some folks out on the double decker bus for a tour of downtown Chicago in the rain. The passengers were given white hooded ponchos. It was quite a shock to see what looked like a “Klanmobile” turning the corner on to Michigan Avenue.
- Anonymous - Monday, Jan 26, 15 @ 3:18 pm:
As a SABR geek, I have to tip my cap to Soccermom’s comment!
- DuPage Dave - Monday, Jan 26, 15 @ 7:03 pm:
I’m old enough to remember those days well, and my experience is that I knew more black people who were Sox fans than who were Cub fans. Looking at typical crowds today, I would say things haven’t changed much.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 27, 15 @ 5:10 am:
Ernie would say “What a great day to play TWO”