Art Ceccarelli

On this date in 2012, Art Ceccarelli passed away at age 82.

"It wears pitchers down. The winds are unbelievable. Willie Kirkland once hit a home run off me that Ernie Banks called for at shortstop." - on pitching at Wrigley Field  

Billy Williams

On this date in 1975, Billy Williams hit his 400th career home run.

"Billy had a saying, 'When fish open their mouths, they get caught.' Billy didn't say much. Billy just played." - Ernie Banks

Ernie Banks

On this date in 1970, Ernie Banks hits his 500th career home run.

"After he hits a homer, he comes back to the dugout as if he did something wrong." - manager Stan Hack on Banks' reserved nature

Ernie Banks

On this date in 1977, Ernie Banks is elected to the Hall of Fame.

"I like my players to be married and in debt. That's the way to motivate them." - as a minor league coach for the Cubs

Art Ceccarelli

On this date in 2012. Art Ceccarelli passed away at age 82.

"It wears pitchers down. The winds are unbelievable. Willie Kirkland once hit a home run off me that Ernie Banks called for at shortstop."

Sammy Sosa

On this date in 2007, Sammy Sosa hits his 600th career home run.

"I would just do what Mark McGwire did. Come clean with it. Explain it to them. 'This is what happened.' It is hard to do, to admit this. Just admit it and live with it and understand it. I am sure a lot of people will forgive him." - Ernie Banks on Sosa's alleged steroid use

Billy Williams

On this date in 1975, Billy Williams hit his 400th career home run.

"Billy had a saying, 'When fish open their mouths, they get caught.' Billy didn't say much. Billy just played." - Ernie Banks

Ernie Banks

On this date in 1970, Ernie Banks hits his 500th career home run.

"After he hits a homer, he comes back to the dugout as if he did something wrong." - Manager Stan Hack on Banks' reserved nature

Art Ceccarelli: 1930 - 2012

"It wears pitchers down. The winds are unbelievable. Willie Kirkland once hit a home run off me that Ernie Banks called for at shortstop." - on pitching at Wrigley Field

RIP

Billy Williams

On this date in 1975, Billy Williams hits his 400th career home run.

"Billy had a saying 'When fish open their mouths, they get caught.' Billy didn't say much. Billy just played." - Ernie Banks

Ernie Banks

On this date in 1970, Ernie Banks hits his 500th career home run off Pat Jarvis in the Cubs 4-3 victory over the Braves.

"After he hits a homer, he comes back to the dugout as if he did something wrong." - Manager Stan Hack on Banks' reserved nature

Ernie Banks

On this date in 1977, Ernie Banks is elected to the Hall of Fame.

"I like my players to be married and in debt. That's the way you motivate them." - as a minor league coach for the Cubs

Ernie Banks

On this date in 1959, Ernie Banks wins his second NL MVP Award in a row after hitting 45 home runs and 143 rbis.

"After he hits a homer, he comes back to the dugout as if he did something wrong." - Manager Stan Hack on Banks' reserved nature

The Cubs struck out 18 times, made 4 errors, allowed 5 stolen bases and won?

Let's play two!

Ernie Banks

Born on today's date, Ernie Banks.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money."

"Let's play two" wants to counsel Sammy Sosa

Fred Mitchell of the Chicago Tribune says that Ernie Banks would like to assist Sammy Sosa in coming forward to address allegations that he used steroids.

"I would say just do what Mark McGwire did," Banks said. "Come clean with it. Explain it to them....Just say. 'This is what happened.' It is hard to do, to admit this. Just admit it and live with it and understand it. I am sure a lot of people will forgive him."

He goes on to add that he would be willing to fly down to the Dominican Republic to meet with Sosa and have this conversation.

Hey Ernie! I know you mean well but to my knowledge, Sammy Sosa does not have any type of protection like Mark McGwire has with Tony LaRussa so I don't think there is much chance of him getting back into major league baseball in any capacity so he would not likely admit steroid use for this reason. He also knows that any steroid admission will not help his Hall of Fame chances (see Mark McGwire) so there is no incentive there for him to "come clean".

Right now, Sammy is a guy who is busy bleaching his skin and living the life of a man with a different skin pigmentation than he was born with. That has got be exciting. That said, he is not doing any steroid admissions for you or anybody else for that matter.

Save the plane trip.

Oh and Ernie? Sammy doesn't speak English.

Remember?