Ernie Banks, Portrait
Photo Image Source: Unknown, but assumed to be in the Public Domain
Photo Subject: Portrait of Chicago Cub, Ernie Banks in a travel uniform.
Fun Fact: Ernie Banks was a two-time NL home run leader (1958, 1960), two-time NL RBI leader (1958, 1959) and shares the NL record with Albert Pujols for the most grand slam home runs (5) in a season. Standing 6’ 1” tall and weighing 175 lbs., he did not have the look of a slugger who would whack 512 career home runs, but some of his batting prowess can be attributed to his bat.
Ernie was a wrist hitter, which was where his power came from. "I was using a thirty-four-ounce bat, and I couldn't get it around fast enough," Ernie once told a reporter. “The pitchers were stopping me on outside pitches”.
Then one day in 1955, he picked up Monte Irvin’s bat and hefted it. 'Hmm,' he said to himself. 'This feels good.'" Monte Irvin used a thirty-one-ounce bat with a thin handle, a weapon against pitchers that Banks could use it almost like a buggy whip. After he switched to a lighter bat, Banks became a home run hitter.
A few years later, in 1958, Banks led the majors with 47 home runs. During the six years from 1955-1960 Banks hit 44, 28, 43, 47, 45, and 41 home runs, which topped the totals of Henry Aaron, Mickey Mantle, and Willie Mays for that time period. He ended his career with 11 All-Star Game appearances, two National League MVP awards and the undying admiration of millions of fans worldwide.
Painting Detail: Printed on 8½” x 11” canvas and painted using Schmincke Mussini and Marshall’s oil paints. Finer details were made using Prismacolor pencils.
Acknowledgement: Ernie Banks: The Original Power Hitting Infielder, Jim Rednour