"Let's Play Two!"

 

Since we're playing a doubleheader, I couldn't resist. The great Ernie Banks, Mr. Cub, NL MVP, 1958-59—and the very first of the modern, slugging shortstops, about 25 years before his time.

He could've been Mr. Yankee. Banks made his professional debut for the legendary Kansas City Monarchs, in 1950. The old Negro Leagues were about at the end of their run then, and J.L. Wilkinson, the longtime owner of the Monarchs, was trying to get in good with the Yankees' ownership. He offered Banks' contract to the Bronx team—and pretty much anyone else they wanted—for next to nothing.

Unfortunately, GM George Weiss was an inveterate racist—one who had already passed on Willie Mays. So no Ernie.  

Banks averaged over 40 homers a year, 1955-1960. With him at short, the Yanks never would've lost in those years—and isn't that the whole point of baseball? The Yankees never losing? Would've been great for Banks, too, who probably would've appeared in at least 9 World Series or so, instead of being maybe the greatest player since 1900 NEVER to play in the Fall Classic.

Such are the greedy thoughts of the Yankees fan, on a two-game winning streaks!