One of the players who I respected the most when I was growing up was Ernie Banks. I do not think I have ever seen anyone who enjoyed playing more than he did. He always had a great smile and the man could hit. The man loved the game. Ernest Banks was born in Dallas Texas, on January 31, 1931.
He was the second oldest of 12 children born to Eddie and Essie Banks. Eddie was a catcher who started his baseball career after WWI. He played for the Dallas Black Giants. They were a traveling team who visited Kansas City, Oklahoma City, and Shreveport among other cities. Eddie would play for them for 8 years. After his playing days were over, he was a chain store warehouse porter for 25 years.
Ernie got his first glove and ball at age eight. The elder Banks would come home from work and want to play catch with his son. Ernie was having none of that. Finally, his dad offered him a dime to play catch and after that, he would bribe the boy with nickels and dimes.
The bat came later and that almost wrecked everything. Line drives off of Ernie’s bat broke so many windows in the neighborhood that his dad was going broke paying for them. Banks went to Booker T. Washington high school. He excelled at football and basketball, but the school did not offer baseball as an extracurricular activity. To compensate, he played softball. Like many kids finding their way, he was introverted and shy. He thought talking to other people was something that would complicate things and make him uncomfortable. Instead of talking, he just watched people.
Bill Blair, a graduate of Booker T, spotted Bank’s ability on a softball field. In Blair’s opinion, if Banks could excel at softball, excelling at baseball was just not that big of a leap. Although only a sophomore, Blair appealed to his parents to let him join a traveling team. Johnny Carter, owner of the misleadingly named, Detroit Colts, a feeder for Negro League teams, visited the Banks household and promised that Ernie would be back for his junior year.
It was 1947, and Jackie Robinson had just broken into the major leagues a couple of months earlier. But the realization of others joining him was just a dream. “I didn’t understand anything about playing baseball,” Banks said. “I started playing and it was enjoyable, Most of my I played with older people on my team, my league. I learned a lot about life. Every day in my life I learned something new from somebody“. Many of the players he faced were in their thirties, some in their forties, and much more experienced in baseball and life.
The Colts traveled through Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska. For a teenager, such adventure was much better than getting up early to pick cotton, shine shoes, or do whatever other menial work Banks had back in Dallas. In the field, he excelled. He won the SS job after only a few days of training. The youngster who was skeptical about playing baseball hit a homer in the third at-bat of his first game.
Banks returned to the Colts following his junior year. He impressed Kansas City Star manager, “Cool Papa” Bell. with his poise both on and off the field. O’Neil promised him a spot with the Kansas City Monarchs if he completed high school. He had already told Monarch’s manager, Buck O’Neil about Banks. O’Neil was satisfied with his SS, Gene Baker, but in March 1950, Baker signed with the Cubs to be their first black player. Even though Baker was good enough to play in the majors, his talent did not approach Ernie’s,
The Monarchs offered Banks 300 dollars a month and Eddie and Essie gave their assent. For Banks, a whole new life opened up. He was lucky to be joining an organization with a history of success in the Negro Leagues. Kansas City was a pillar of black baseball. “Cool Papa” Bell was the first one who impressed me, Buck O’Neil helped me in so many ways” Banks later said.
In his first year with the Monarchs, 1950, he played SS and hit a reported .255. For him, the Monarchs were like a school, a total learning experience. His greatest thrill came later when he was offered the opportunity to tour with the “Jackie Robinson All-Stars” The team included Roy Campanella, Don Newcombe, and Larry Doby. He made $400 for the tour, but more importantly, he received lesson’s on turning a double play from Robinson.
He was then drafted into the Army and reported to Ft. Bliss Texas. His battalion sailed to Germany in early 1952 and he served out the rest of his two-year hitch there getting discharged in January of 1953. Although the Dodgers and Indians contacted Banks about tryouts, he made a beeline back to KC. But many blacks were now deserting the league for MLB opportunities, and O’Neil knew it was only a matter of time before his young star left too.
In September of 1953, the Cubs offered KC $20,000 for the contracts of Banks and P Bill Dickey. Banks, who signed for $800 dollars a month, made his MLB debut on September 17, 1953. Gene Baker was called up from the LA Angels and made his MLB debut 3 days later. The main reason they signed Banks was that they knew they were calling up Baker and he was going to need a roommate. Len Merullo, who was working as the chief Cubs scout said later. You can’t isolate a guy.
But the Cubs were not paying $20,000 dollars simply for a roommate. Banks reported directly to manager Phil Cavarretta. He played the last 10 games of the 1953 season and did not sit again until August 11, 1956. At that point, he had played 424 straight games. In his second full season in Chicago, 1955, he vaulted into the national spotlight. He hit .295/44/117. He appeared in his first All-Star Game, and led all NL SS in fielding percentage, .972. He would appear in 14 All-Star games in his career. He also set a major league record with 5 grand slams on the season. The last one came in September off of St. Louis P Lindy McDaniel to break the former record.
His average went up a couple of points in 1956, but his power numbers were down as were his RBIs. He rebounded in 1957 to hit 43 long balls. He drove in 102. But in 1958 and 59, Ernie was on a different planet. He slugged .313/47/129 in 1958 to win the MVP award and in 1959 .304/45/143 to earn another MVP award. All this while playing for a pretty bad Cubs team. The Cubs finished 5th in both of those seasons. From his signing to 1966, the never finished higher than 5th place. He hit 41 homers in 1960, and that was the last time he would reach that level at age 29. But his enthusiasm for the game never waned no matter where the Cubs were in the standings. His 41 home runs in 1960 gave him four straight years with 40 or more. In 1961, the Cubs started working without a manager. The so-called college of coaches ran the team. Then head coach, Hedi Himsl, asked Banks if he would move to the outfield. Ever the team player Ernie went out there so they could play bonus baby Jerry Kindall. Ernie was a fish out of water out there. He went back to SS He made 23 starts in LF, and a few at 1st base before moving back to SS. His consecutive game streak ended at 717 on June 23rd. His knee was ailing, as he had banged it on the brick wall at Candlestick. The knee, originally injured while in the service, would continue to give him trouble.
Ernie’s offense began to suffer. He was hit in the head in Cincinnati by Moe Grabowski, although he did not lose consciousness, he spent a couple of days in the hospital for observation. When he got out, he hit 3 consecutive homers in a game against Milwaukee at Wrigley Field.
In 1963 he slumped badly. He was suffering from sub-clinical mumps, which stay in the body but never break out. He also had to deal with his ailing knee and a heel bruise. The revolving coach experiment was a sad failure, so they abandoned it after 1963. But Bob Kennedy, the so-called manager, had to deal with many different coaches over the next 3 years.
The Cubs had improved some in 1963, but promising second baseman, Ken Hubbs, the 1962 Rookie of the Year, was killed when he crashed into a frozen lake in Utah on February 15, 1964. He was 22 years old. To make matters worse, on June 15, 1964, the Cubs traded outfielder, Lou Brock, to the Cardinals, in a six-player trade. In 6th place, but only 5.5 games off the pace, the Cubs felt they needed to bolster their pitching. But Ernie Broglio, the centerpiece of the trade, had a bad arm. He would be out of baseball in two years. Brock, who the Cardinals allowed to use his speed would run his way all the way to Cooperstown. It was probably the worst trade in Cubs history.
In 1966, the Cubs hired Leo Durocher to be the manager. And most felt Leo’s rough style was just what the Cubs needed. Banks, who was now in his 14th season, and tired of losing, welcomed Leo with open arms. But apparently, it was not mutual. Durocher disliked Banks from the get-go. He was just too big a name for Leo. Ferguson Jenkins remembered that Durocher and Banks feuded constantly. Leo would give his job away, and Banks would win it back. In 1967, Ernie was named a player coach, and all the right things were said. Ernie felt it would be very satisfying to work with the young players.
The Cubs finished in 3rd place in 1967 and 1968. This was uncharted territory. They had a pretty decent DP combo in Don Kessinger and Glenn Beckert. But they still finished far behind the leaders. 1969 loomed as the year the Cubs would finally break the drought. The Cubs had not been in the postseason since losing the World Series in 1945. 69 was also the year that Ernie uttered the phrase, “Let’s Play Two“. Looking to inspire his teammates in 100-degree heat, Sportswriter Jim Enright reported it and credited Ernie.
The leagues had split into 6 team divisions in 69, and the Cubs were in the NL East. At the end of August, the Cubs held a 4.5-game lead over the New York Mets. A two-game series with the Mets at Shea in early September featured the Met’s best, Seaver and Koosman, against the Cubs Jenkins and Bill Hands. The Mets won both, cutting the lead to 1/2 game. The Cubs never recovered, going 8-12 the rest of the way and finishing in second, 8 games back. Durocher lamented, “We played some of the worst baseball I have ever seen, but that does not discount the fact that the Mets played like hell They got hot, and just could not lose.”
The Cubs made a strong push for the playoffs again in 1970 but faded down the stretch once again. In 71, Ernie was mostly a reserve for the first time in his career. And he was disrespected by Durocher who once sent Jim Hickman up to pinch-hit for him against a lefty. Hickman told Jack Brickhouse, the Cubs broadcaster, that it was the hardest thing he ever had to do. Banks retired at the end of the 1971 season. He finished his career with a .274/512/1636 slash line. He was elected to the Hall of Fame the first time on the ballot in 1977 with 83.8% of the vote. He was named one of the SS on the MLB All-Century team in 1999 along with Cal Ripken Jr. and Honus Wagner.
After retiring, he coached with the Cubs in 1973 and 1974. He worked for the Cubs on a personal services contract for over 20 years. He also owned a sports marketing firm and was employed by World Van Lines for over 20 years. He owned a Ford dealership in 1967, becoming the second African-American to own one in the US. The Cubs named him to the Board of Directors in 1978.
In 1982, the Cubs retired his #14. In 2008 a statue of Ernie was unveiled outside of Wrigley Field. In 2013 Banks was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama. That’s Mr. Cub. the man who came up through the Negro Leagues making 7 dollars a day, became the first black player to suit up for the Cubs, and became one of the game’s best hitters along the way. In the process, he became as well known for his optimism that the Cubs would someday go all the way, as he was for his 512 homers. That is something even a White Sox fan like me can respect. He is just a great gentleman and an icon of my hometown”.
Ernie lived the last years of his life in Southern California with his wife, Liz. He spent his time playing golf with his sons, Joey and Jerry, and also tasting the creations of his daughter, Jan, a local chef. He planned his future and lived comfortably. In the 1960s, owner P.K. Wrigley offered Ernie a chance to invest in a trust fund. He put aside half his salary, and at age 55 cashed in more than 4 million dollars. He was the only player who took up Wrigley’s offer. Mr. Cub passed away on Jan 23, 2015, at the age of 83.
The one thing I remember about Banks the most is that almost every time I saw him play, he was smiling. His love of the game was evident. It is truly a shame that fans never got to see Ernie play in the big show. I feel the same way about Ted Williams, who only appeared in one World Series. His BoSox just could not beat the Yanks. Ernie played most of his career on teams in the lower half of the division.
I do remember a story I heard about Banks concerning Koufax’s perfect game. At the time, there were rumors about Sandy having a sore arm. The rumors were true of course, and Koufax was icing his arm after every start. Anyway, on that night, it seemed like it took Koufax a couple of innings to really find his rhythm. What many people forget, myself included, was that going into that game, Sandy had not won a game in three weeks. Not since Marichal had clubbed Roseboro with a bat.
Anyway, Sandy struck out two in the first inning. Beckett and Williams. In the second, he struck out Banks. In the third, he K’d pitcher Don Hendley. In the 4th, he got Williams for the second time. Banks was a victim in the 5th, and neither team had reached first base. Lou Johnson walked on a 3-2 borderline pitch, and Ron Fairly dropped a bunt that Hendley bobbled. On the first pitch to Lefebvre, Johnson stole third and Krug’s throw sailed into left-field, allowing Johnson to score.
In the top of the 6th, Krug hit a ball to Wills who threw it in the dirt to Wes Parker, who dug the ball out and saved the perfect game. Probably the closest Sandy came to losing the perfecto came in the 7th inning. His first pitch of the inning sailed to the backstop. He recovered and got Young to strike out. Beckett then flew out to left. Up comes Billy Williams. He took three straight balls from Koufax, Koufax fired two fastballs right down Broadway, and Williams took the first and fouled off the second. Williams then popped out on the next pitch. On the other side, Hendley had a no-hitter of his own going. But Lou Johnson hit a bloop that went behind the second baseman, by the time Banks got to the ball, Johnson was on second. But Fairly grounded out stranding him.
In the 8th, Koufax faced the meat of the order and struck them all out. Banks for the third time in the game. He would do the same in the ninth inning securing the Perfecto and the 1-0 win. This set a record for the fewest hits by both teams in a game. But the story I heard is when Banks went back to the bench after striking out for the third time, he told one of the reporters, “sore arm my eye“. I do not know if the story is true, but I like to believe it is. Ernie Banks, a real class act.
Future Dodgers Down on the Farm by MT
- OKC lost 10-3
- Miguel Vargas played LF AGAIN, and was 2-4 with an RBI
- Dellin Betances pitched a clean inning with 1 K.
- Not much good happened in this game.
- TULSA won 3-2
- John Rooney pitched 5 innings and allowed 2 hits and ZERO runs
- GREAT LAKES lost 1-0
- Eddys Leonard and Jose Ramos each had a single. That was it!
- Emmet Sheehan pitched 4 innings in relief, allowing 2 hits, 0 Runs, and 0 Walks. He struck out 6.
- 20-year-old 6′ 7″ Carlos Duran started and pitched 3 innings, allowing 2 Hits and 1 Run. He walked 2 and struck out 6 as well.
- RANCHO CUCAMONGA lost 9-2
- Nothing to say about this one.
Discussion (23)
Disagree, not disagreeable
My goodness, I barely survived this 9th inning!
Jake Lamb sure is helping out !
After 2 and a half years and all the excuses it is what it is with Bellinger. He’s a Mendoza man who strikes out and pops up in most clutch situations and blind squirrels 20 homers a year. There’s nothing to fix! The Dodgers can take it or leave it.
Reading people’s opinions on improving Bellingers at-bats is almost as funny as a Mitch Hedberg special
The Giants announced a quartet of roster moves, including the news that veteran left-hander Jake McGee has been designated for assignment
10:10 PM ET
Cubs (34-50)
Dodgers (54-29)
SP Clayton Kershaw L
5-2 2.57 ERA 56IP 59K
Confirmed Lineup
RF Mookie Betts R
SS Trea Turner R
1B F. Freeman L
DH Will Smith R
3B Max Muncy L
LF Jake Lamb L
2B Gavin Lux L
CF C. Bellinger L
C A. Barnes R
Clear-day
0% Rain
78° Wind 6 mph Out
… until next game.
If the Dodgers win, nothing will be said about Doc but if they lose, it is his fault!
Once again I have to take issue with the anti Roberts sentiment by some. It’s OK to have an opinion, but as I’ve said before, please base that opinion on some factual basis.
Dodgerram stated we’d have 1-2 more championships if Bochy or LaRussa (to name 2) were managing the Dodgers. Here are the post season facts: Roberts 44 wins/33 losses, .571 winning %, LaRussa 71/61, .538, Bochy 46/36, .561. Yes those 2 have more championships but Roberts has only been doing this 6 years. He has 1 championship and it certainly could be argued he should have 2 (cheating Astros). I seriously doubt anyone could have done better.
Doc has the best regular season winning % in MLB history and a more than respectable post season winning %. Yes he has had great players but when compared to other Managers with great players (Sparky Anderson/Bobby Cox to name 2), he still has a better record.
It is certainly OK to criticize some of his moves but overall, he has done a great job.
Good work Bear. I love Ernie Banks. I met him once and he couldn’t been nicer. Thanks for the write up.
* William Shakespeare wrote “All’s Well That Ends Well” in 1623 so he wasn’t thinking about the Dodger’s fate at the time. But he’s been correct lately. We limp along through 5 innings and inevitably find a way to win. And it’s all good despite playing 7 on 9. It certainly makes for exciting, suspenseful baseball when we win with 6 hits.
* Our pitching, especially the bullpen was outstanding. Just too many poorly located change ups by Anderson in the end.
* Nice to see Caleb Ferguson in and having a clean inning. I was surprised he entered in this spot. I talked to him briefly at Spring Training and he was very nice. I root for him and glad he did well.
* How is it we get Jose Navas and Ryan Additon, 2 horseshit umpires behind the dish on back to back nights. The entire crew isn’t very good. Jordan Baker tonight is inconsistent and misses high strike and expands the corners. Not as bad as Additon I hope, who was beyond awful.
* Keegan Thompson had us eating out of his hand until Suzuki dropped Smith’s fly ball got him out of the game on 96 pitches. We missed more center cut pitches last night; just hittable pitches in the heart of the plate that we swung right trough. Or took. Keegan Thompson had a great game and I’m not sure if his stuff was that good. Maybe he has some movement we can’t pick up on TV. Betts, Trea and Bellinger swung right through what appeared to be center-cut, hittable pitches.
* Jake Lamb’s big fly and Lux’s triple were nice. But JT got he ball rolling with his base hit to start the 9th. Just a professional AB taking the ball to right without trying to hit a 2 run homer with nobody on.
* I still look for Ian Happ to get drilled. I would. The time wasn’t right last night but there will be a time. The Pete Rose style, bowling guys over, has been taken out of the game and especially on a pitcher when you’re out by 15 feet. Hard-nosed baseball back in the day but bad baseball by today’s rules, written or otherwise.
* I guess McKinstry is now considered and infielder but he only has 23 career games there. He has over 200 innings in left and right field. He also hasn’t seen the field since June 23rd. So if I was skippering this ship, after he pinch ran for JT in the 9th, I would have put him in left field and moved Lux back to 2nd. As it turned out, Freddie saved McKinstry’s ass on his tough pick at 1st, saving the go ahead run in the 10th. Doc tossed this kid in the grease. The guy hasn’t played in 2 weeks and you put him in that situation when the (should be) every day 2nd baseman stays in left field. Go figure.
* Phillips is still my pick to close games.
* Well, Will Smith isn’t wearing a BUZZER produced by Altuve Enterprises.
I think Mookie might have been constipated the other night. I blame Roberts!
Thanks again Old Bear for another good article. I grew up in those days and really thought that Ernie was a great player and a great person. Thanks for all the details of his life. You asked for requests for articles. I think an article on the on the 26 inning , 1-1 tie game between the Brooklyn Robins (Dodgers) and the Boston Braves (and the entire weekend) would be great. There must be many people here that don’t know the full story.
Last night’s game was such an enjoyable game to watch. I’m so happy for Will Smith getting that walk off hit. And that leaping catch by Muncy was great. I never thought he had that kind of athleticism. Freeman’s play on that bad throw in the 9th was really big. I must admit that I couldn’t tell from the replay if his foot had the bag or not. I’m looking for a sweep for the Dodgers and for the Giants to take at least 1 game from the Padres.
Go Dodgers!
Great write up on Mr Cub , Bear!
Dodgers are winning despite so Many of Our Big hitters struggling all season
Muncy has one great game a week and then is an automatic out the rest of his games
Belli is tough to watch at the plate, some of his “swings” look right out of a local softball league
Dodgers probably need another big bat at the deadline
Pitching is superb, exception Kimbrel
If we get 3-4 arms out of Walker, May, Duffy, treinen , v- gone, kahnle back for the stretch run our pitching should be even better, no trade needed with Miller, stone and fuller knocking on the door too
Go dodgers!
Love bellinger, maybe a little benetendi talk could help bellies swing!
Thanks for the kind words, guys, I really appreciate them. Nice win last night. It is getting extremely hard to watch Bellinger and Muncy hit. I have always been a huge Belli apologist. I felt he deserved a little slack because of the shoulder and then leg issues. But he is healthy now and this is a HEAD issue. He needs to change his approach and change it a bunch. Missing high cheese, swinging at low and away pitches he couldn’t hit if he tried. Not cutting down his swing with two strikes. It is just not smart or good baseball. Yes, he is a defensive weapon. But his at bats are unwatchable. As for Max, I have no clue what the problem is. Except he is missing pitches he used to hammer.
I would like to see af bring back kyle farmer from the reds. Could play ss 3rd, or second, and be an emergency catcher. Love joc but farmer brings more versatility and hits right or left pitchers
How come Roberts is always an idiot when the bullpen doesn’t deliver but never a genius when it does?
Bear, what a fantastic write up on Ernie Banks! He was always one of my favorites when I was a kid. Besides being a great player he seemed like a cool guy. I felt bad for him having to play for the terrible Cub teams all those years. The Dodgers were a terrible offensive team in the 60’s and I thought it would be great if somehow the Cubs would trade Ernie to the Dodgers.
It’s time for Phillips to take over the closer role. Regardless of save numbers, the drama Kimbrel brings to almost every appearance is becoming exhausting. As has mentioned before Kimbrel looks good for a batter or two and then seems to lose concentration and can’t locate a pitch. I’ve seem enough for now.
Well, I guess Ferguson’s complaining to the media about his not being used paid off. A grease meets wheel situation. He looked good in his outing. Hopefully, he can stay healthy for the remainder of the season.
Another clutch hit for Will “the thrill II” Smith last night. He should be an All Star regardless of D’Arnaud’s vote count. D’Arnaud has ceded 22 games of catching duties with his teammate Contreras.
I think Kershaw should have gotten the nod for the legend spot in the All Star game instead of Albert. I think Albert has received this honor in the past and it’s time for let someone who is a “playing legend” as opposed to a player that “should be retired legend” be on the team. Especially, since to game is in LA for the first time in 40 years (which is absurd in itself). Thanks Boob Manfred.
I’d want Joc in my lineup in October.
However, Farhan knows that, and we won’t get him for a bag of nuts.
Great wright up on Ernie Bear
I met Ernie at Jim Murray’s memorial at Dodger Stadium in 1998. He wasn’t a speaker just an attendee like myself. As we were leaving, he must have overheard me mention to my friend that was Ernie Banks. He looked over at me and asked if I was a Cubs fan. I said no I’m a Dodger fan but I’ve always been an Ernie Banks fan. He said he really appreciated that, and we shook hands. I’ll always remember how strong his grip was
Philjones, here is some more info on the International Draft you were interested in:
Latest On International Draft Negotiations
By Darragh McDonald | July 8, 2022 at 7:06pm CDT
Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement on March 10, ending a lockout that froze the sport for more than four months. In order to reach that agreement, the two sides had to find the middle ground on a wide variety of issues, but there was one issue that both sides agreed to kick down the road and deal with at another time.
The league wished to replace the existing international signing system with an international draft, suggesting that this would be a way of improving a system that has its fair share of problems. MLBTR’s Steve Adams took a look at many of the issues back in March, relaying reports from many sources who had concerns including players being evaluated even before they become teenagers and making verbal agreements as young as 13 or 14 years of age. Other concerns include steroid usage among those youngsters as well as corruption among the “buscones” who often arrange deals between the teams and players.
The players pushed back, however, with many pointing out that there are already rules against such behavior but little to no enforcement, and that the real motivation for MLB wanting the draft is to stifle the players’ earning power and ability to choose their employer.
The league tried to sweeten the pot by offering to get rid of the qualifying offer system in exchange, which has a negative impact on the earning power of players who receive one. But it wasn’t enough to get the union to bite. In the end, both sides agreed to putting this particular standoff on ice until July 25. If the two sides can agree on an international draft by then, the qualifying offer system will be eliminated. If not, the existing international system of hard-capped bonus pools will remain, as will the QO.
With that deadline now just over two weeks away, the sides met today to discuss proposals. Jeff Passan of ESPN was among the reporters to relay word of the meeting, noting that the two sides are separated by significant gaps in their proposals. Bob Nightengale of USA Today added that the union proposal involves a higher pool of money for the drafted players and noted that players from Puerto Rico and Japan would be excluded from the draft. (An earlier report from Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times noted that inclusion or exclusion of Japanese players was still being negotiated.) Hannah Keyser of Yahoo! Sports added that what the two proposals had in common was the same number of rounds and age limits.
Alden Gonzalez of ESPN then broke down the key differences when it comes to the numbers. MLB’s proposal is for a 20-round draft with hard slot values, meaning that the player and team would have no ability to negotiate for a higher or lower amount. The total pool of money for the draft would be $181MM, with undrafted players limited to a maximum bonus of $20K if they subsequently sign as free agents. The MLBPA counter proposal is also 20 rounds, but comes with no cap on player bonuses, a $260MM pool and a $40K limit for undrafted players.
For reference, the current draft includes players from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Each team is given a bonus pool, with those pools varying in size depending on which picks the team possesses. Each pick comes with a slot value, though teams are free to sign players for above or below those assigned slot prices, as long as the total price tag of those signings doesn’t exceed the value of their bonus pool. It’s not a hard cap, as clubs are allowed to exceed their bonus pools, though there are increasing penalties depending on the extent to which teams go beyond their limit.
In that existing draft system, players at least have some leverage in negotiations with teams. If a player doesn’t get a bonus to their liking, they can refuse to sign and play college ball instead, returning to the draft at a later date. It seems that the players value this bit of agency, as they are trying to implement it for international players as well. The league, on the other hand, is more interested is tamping down costs, both via hard slots and the smaller pool of total available money.
Whether or not the two sides can bridge those gaps and come to an agreement will have huge ramifications for many players, both current and future. As Evan Drellich of The Athletic points out, 28.2% of the 975 players on Opening Day rosters are foreign-born, with hundreds more in the minor league systems of each club and more joining every year. The current youngsters who will one day follow in their footsteps could be facing the status quo or looking to navigate a new system that is finalized in the coming weeks.
The agreement, or lack thereof, will also have a big impact on current players. It’s been known for years that the qualifying offer system has a drag on the earning power of free agents, as it’s tied to draft pick forfeiture. Most teams that are interested in signing a QO’d free agent will consider the loss of the draft pick as part of the acquisition cost and lower their financial offer accordingly. This only affects around a dozen or so players each year, however. It was 14 this year, for example. Although the union would surely love to be rid of the QO, the international draft impacts so many more players that they likely won’t accept an unsatisfactory draft framework just to eliminate it.
More news will be forthcoming as the two sides will surely continue negotiating over the coming weeks. Of course, it’s possible the two sides could agree to another extension and push the deadline beyond July 25, but that would come with complications. Players who are traded mid-season are ineligible to receive qualifying offers at season’s end, meaning teams will likely want to know whether the QO system is in place before deciding on how to approach the August 2 trade deadline.
Great article Bear! I love Ernie Banks. What a great ambassador for baseball with a contagious positive attitude.
Great comeback win for the good guys last night! I loved seeing Ferguson come in and mow down 3,4,5 like it was nothing.
Anderson muscled up 7 innings on 94 pitches. A solid outing that helped rest the bullpen. I really enjoy watching him pitch. It seems that hitters are always off balance against him with that cartoon changeup.
Jake Lamb took a step forward by hitting his first homer with the team. I would still rather have Thompson out there, but Jake’s been mostly solid since joining the team. I just think the team is better defensively with Thompson in LF and Lux at 2B, although Muncy is looking more comfortable out there lately.
Most impressive was that 10th inning. Phillips absolutely took control out there to keep the ghost runner from scoring. The Cubs started the bottom of the tenth with the correct strategy by walking Freeman to set up the force play. But, Will Smith comes through in the clutch to walk it off with a liner to left field.
BTW, yesterday Bumsrap (who is known to deliberately engage in hyperbole and misdirection) was saying that I predicted Grandal would hit 40 HR. I actually predicted 30 and while he never became what I predicted, he did hit 22, 23, 24, 27, and 28 home runs and was ranked one of the Top 3 Catchers in baseball for several years. I grew weary of him, but he does have a career OB% of .352 and a .793 OPS. The PB’s drove me crazy. I will certainly take Will Smith over him. Will: .360 OB%, .868 OPS
I also absolutely did predict that Bellinger would take 1B away from Gonzo in 2017 and EVERYONE and I mean EVERYONE said he was at least a year away!
I also said that Seager was ready when AF traded for Rollins (who was shot), and made Corey wait another year.
Durocher may have been the only person that didn’t like Ernie. But did Leo like anybody but himself? What a great ball player and even a better person. Loved the guy! Great bio Bear! What another great performance by Anderson. Kept us in the game. Can we look back at all the comments about AF signing him? I’m sure I said something stupid!