“Let’s Play Two” a book review

[rating=5]Books are not “my thing”. I am a strong theater and movie person, not having a great deal of time to sit and read. Yet, even with my busy schedule, when I hear of a book that I think I “need” to read, I am able to find the time to get into it. Perhaps not as quickly as an avid reader might, and certainly not an electronic version, but the actual book! I will say that over the years, when taking long road trips, books on tape ( as they called them) did make the drive easier.

When I heard that former Sun-Times columnist, Ron Rapoport , was writing a book about Ernie Banks, AKA “Mr. Cub”, I cleared some time to get this done. This is a comprehensive biography of the man who Chicago adored ( well, at least the North- siders). It is not all roses and happy thoughts. It is a well researched tribute to a man who brought many people to the ball park, despite teams that never were, for the most part in contention for the World Series trophy.

We learn about Ernie as a youth and how his family struggled. They were poor and lived in segregation. Yes, even when Ernie got to he big leagues, there were still many obstacles for him and others crossing the color line. Yes, they had it easier than Jackie Robinson, but not as much as many think. We follow Ernie thru his high school and Negro League exploits, his bring brought to the Cubs and how his energy and talent made him more than just a player. Ernie Banks became a symbol for young boys, no matter their race, and how wonderful the world of baseball was.

We learn about his relationships, not just with his fellow players, but his family and others. While we always saw his smile as a sign of happiness, in truth it was his way of shutting out the bad things in his life and only thinking of the positive, which was playing baseball. When he was on the field, it did not matter where he came from, where he lived and what color his skin was. He was a great ballplayer and an idol to all the kids who grew up watching him. His favorite quote ( or at least the one that everyone feels is) was “Let’s Play Two”, a perfect title for a book about the man and his plight(s). To make it to the majors, to live his life as he should and to be happy. When he was on the field, he was happy. When he was off, not so!

Ernie Banks had another side to him and to his life and Rapoport brings this to us in a way that makes you feel as if you truly knew the man, not the image that was created. This man of good cheer on the front, was behind “the mask” a lonely man. A Man who endured a lot of what we still have in today’s world, Racism did damage to him along his rise to the Majors, but when we saw him, it was always a smile on his face and warmth for all around.

The book looks at all the years that the Cubs struggled and what has happened to the Bleacher Bums ( there is even some info on the play, later, movie) that became a special part of Wrigley Field and its history. Banks has asked Rapoport to help with his autobiography, which he never did, and Rapoport, with all his notes and interviews felt that this was a book that Cubs fans ( and baseball fans) should read. Now that the curses are gone and the Cubs did win that World Series ( there is even mention of his grave just down the street at Grace cemetery that joyous day) it is right for us to share the story, and history of “Mr. Cub”, Ernie Banks in “let’s Play Two” The legend of Mr. Cub, published by Hachette Books now available in hardcover- 464 wonderful pages.

The book is available at The Book Stall located at 811 Elm Street in Winnetka

www.bookstall.com