Ernie Banks MVP Award (1959)

Lore & Background

Banks became the first NL player to win back-to-back MVP Awards, leading the league in RBI in both 1958 and 1959. The Cubs finished 74–80 in 1959, the closest they came to a winning season since Banks' arrival.

In Their Own Story

The wind whipped off Lake Michigan, biting at the exposed skin in Wrigley Field as the final out of the regular season settled into the history books. Ernie Banks stood near the dugout steps, the wooden bat resting casually against his shoulder, watching the scoreboard flicker with the final standings. The crowd was a mix of jubilation and heartbreak; they had made it to the pennant race for the first time in fourteen years. A teammate clapped him on the back, shouting over the roar of the fans that he was the best player in baseball. Banks just smiled, his eyes reflecting the stadium lights. He knew the numbers didn't lie: forty-five homers, a league-leading RBI total, and now, the MVP trophy waiting for him. For a moment, the weight of years of losing lifted, replaced by the electric certainty that this was their time.

Reader's Guide

Banks' 1959 MVP season was part of a historic run; he was not the first Cub to win the award—Phil Cavarretta won in 1945—but Banks was the first to win it twice in a row.

Did You Know?

• Banks led the NL in RBI in 1959 with 143.
• The Cubs finished 74–80 in 1959, 13 games out of first place.
• Banks was the first NL player to win back-to-back MVP Awards.