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My long-range mission is to be the first athlete to win the Nobel Prize.
Ernie Banks
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I wanted to finish my career with one team, in one city, one mayor, one park, one owner. I did that. The Wrigleys owned the team. We played all of our home games at Wrigley Field during the daytime. So my career was very unique, and I am proud of it.
Ernie Banks
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It's a great day for a ball game; let's play two!
Ernie Banks
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When you do things to try to help people and share things, it really comes back to you. I try to do that.
Ernie Banks
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Playing for the Kansas City Monarchs was like my school, my learning, my world. It was my whole life.
Ernie Banks
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Spring training means flowers, people coming outdoors, sunshine, optimism and baseball. Spring training is a time to think about being young again.
Ernie Banks
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I'd like to get to the last game of the World Series at Wrigley Field and hit three homers. That was what I always wanted to do.
Ernie Banks
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I own stock, and I also insure my car with Geico.
Ernie Banks
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I didn't understand anything about playing baseball. I started playing, and it was enjoyable. Most of my life, I played with older people on my team, in my league. I learned a lot about life. Every day in my life, I learned something new from somebody.
Ernie Banks
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No, I think the pitching today has more depth.
Ernie Banks
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I was thinking when he hit his 500th home run about my mother and dad, about all the people in the Chicago Cubs organization that helped me and about the wonderful Chicago fans who have come out all these years to cheer me on. They've been a great inspiration to me.
Ernie Banks
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The measure of a man is in the lives he’s touched.
Ernie Banks
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I like my players to be married and in debt. That's the way you motivate them.
Ernie Banks
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During my time, there might have been one pitcher or two that were top pitchers on a team. Teams that won maybe had three, but today they have a lot of depth. They have a lot of long relievers, short relievers, and the strategy is different.
Ernie Banks
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Did you hear that? I didn't hear anything. Put that question another way.
Ernie Banks
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I don't think it's up to black athletes to get involved in political or racial issues.
Ernie Banks
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I hit a home run in my first game, and they told me to go into the stands and pass my cap around. I made six dollars in nickels, dimes, and quarters.
Ernie Banks
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It's a kind of philosophy of my own life, to create the energy enough to keep on going.
Ernie Banks
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My theme is, 'The spirit of friendship is the balance of life.' Not money. Not the World Series. It's friendship. The relationships I have with people, that's enough to keep me happy.
Ernie Banks
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I thought talking to human beings was just something that could make things complicated and unpleasant. So I didn't talk much. I just watched people.
Ernie Banks
