The Best Way To Honor Ernie Banks Involves Playing A Doubleheader, In Some Manner
(CBS) Legendary Cubs infielder Ernie Banks passed away Friday at 83, prompting a sea of warm memories and touching tributes to the man dubbed "Mr. Cub."
In considering how to best pay tribute Banks moving forward, an awesome idea has surfaced on Twitter and elsewhere on the Internet: play an annual doubleheader in his memory.
Banks, of course, was famous for his "Let's play two!" line that was rooted in his pure joy for the game, even while toiling as the best player on often poor Cubs teams. So as many have pointed out, there's no better way to honor him than with a doubleheader, and the idea is gaining steam online.
Forbes.com published an article titled "Cubs and MLB shoulder consider an annual 'Ernie Banks Day' with a doubleheader." Soon after news of Banks' death circulated, CBSSports.com baseball writer Dayn Perry had the idea for the Cubs to play a doubleheader every Sept. 17 -- the day Banks debuted for Chicago in 1953. Iconic broadcaster Bob Costas has even endorsed a doubleheader of some sort.
From logistics to the collective bargaining agreement to competitive imbalance complaints, there would be many hurdles to scheduling a doubleheader, which are almost exclusively used nowadays for makeup games in MLB. No matter the form though, an annual doubleheader at Wrigley Field in memory of Banks would be touching -- and simply the best way to remember him moving forward.
