Blow Out the Candles -- Jan 31

If today is your birthday you share it with a trio of baseball's elite.

#42, Jackie Robinson was born on this date in 1919.

2009 Topps #PR-2

2009 Topps American Heritage #26

Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks is celebrating his 80th birthday today.

2008 UD Goudey #324

I grew up knowing Ernie as a first baseman.  Here are a couple of photos of him at this first position, shortstop.

May 5, 1960

August 15, 1955

Statue of Ernie outside Wrigley Field

Part of an interesting interview with Ernie

Nolan Ryan is 64 today.

1975 Topps #500

Nolan and Tom -- Then

Nolan and Tom -- Now

Gil Hodges, Koozman, Seaver and Ryan

Nolan was traded by the Mets to the California Angels after the 1971 season.  This picture was taken on April 27, 1973.

June 16, 1975

Nolan became an Astro in 1980.  This photo is from 1985.

May 1, 1989

Ryan joined the Rangers for the 1989 season.

Nolan liked the Rangers so much he bought the team.

Composer Philip Glass turns 74 today.

Acttess, Suzanne Pleshette was born on this date in 1937.

Suzanne (seen here with Tippi Hedren) played Annie Hayworth in Hitchcock's 1963 thriller, The Birds.

Suzanne was best known for her role as Emily Hartley on The Bob Newhart Show  which ran on CBS from 1972 to 1978.

Hall of Fame Teammates

Who are your favorite Hall of Fame teammates?  Loyal Cubs fan that I am, I'm going to start with these three:

1969 Topps #640

HOF Class of 1991

1969 Topps #450

HOF Class of 1987

1969 Topps #20

HOF Class of 1977

Ernie Banks and the Thunderbolt Kid

I came across a great little anecdote that involves the writer Bill Bryson and Cubs great Ernie Banks. It's in Bryson's memoir The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid.




"Once on a hot July afternoon I sat in a nearly airless clubhouse under the left-field grandstand at Wrigley Field beside Ernie Banks, the Cubs' great shortstop, as he autographed boxes of new white baseballs (which are, incidentally, one of the most pleasurably aromatic things on earth, and worth spending time around anyway). Unbidden, I took it upon myself to sit beside him and pass him each new ball. This slowed the process considerably, but he gave a little smile each time and said thank you as if I had done him quite a favor. He was the nicest human being I have ever met. It was like being friends with God."

Blow Out the Candles -- Mr. Cub

"Mr Cub", Ernie Banks turns 79 today. Happy Birthday, Ernie! Let's play two!

1954 Topps #94

Back in the 80's when my late Mom and Ernie were both working for New World Van Lines, Ernie was nice enough to autograph these promotional postcards for my Dad, my sister and me.

back

HOPE

FAITH

LOVE

Thanks, Ernie. Again, Happy Birthday and many more and may our beloved Cubs finally win in 2010.