RIP Ernie.

RIP Ernie

RIP Mr. Cub

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/108013200/ernie-banks-honored-during-memorial-service-in-chicago
Ernie Banks honored during memorial service in Chicago.
Pillars from all walks of life come together at Fourth Presbyterian Church to celebrate Mr. Cub.

When one of the great players of your childhood die, it takes away another that you were a fan of, and remembered alot more. Banks' back to back MVP's had fantasy numbers in the power department, and it was unheard of for a second division team player to win an MVP let alone two.

All the links here of Ernie, I did the same at espn when Bob Feller passed away, and Stan Musial, and Sparky.
A good portion of their great careers were before my love of the Tigers and Kaline.
Recent years the 1968 team lost Jim Northrup, Eddie Mathews, few others.

It will be 20 years this year, iirc, Mantle died, my second favorite player next to Al.
Roughly 10 years earlier mid-80's at an autograph and baseball card show Mick was signing for all the fans. I'll never forget meeting him and shaking hands, and of course Uncle Charlie, the lifelong Yankees fan in the family meeting his favorite player.

Same as when the two of us met and talked with Sparky at Fenway a couple of years earlier in 1983.

The greats from the 50's and 60's that I hold a bit closer in my past 'young mind's eye and heart' are; Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Frank and Brooks Robinson, and of course Al Kaline.
If I outlive Kaline, it will be as close to losing a family member as could be. I don't know how else to explain it, except that following his whole career since 1954 and his continued second, third, and fourth careers with the Tigers as a Spring Training Coach, Tigers' Game Announcer, and Advisor to the Tigers hiearchy of Dombrowski and Mr. Ilitch, he's always been there, like I have as a fan of his and our Tigers.