Remembering the 50th Anniversary of Ernie Banks' 500th Home Run

Ernie Banks is a Chicago Cubs legend who played with the team from 1953-1971. He is widely considered one of the best baseball players ever, and is in the history books for all non-Chicagoans thanks to his 512 career home runs. Tuesday marks the 50-year anniversary of his 500th home run, and it is easy to get goosebumps watching the old footage of the moment.

A veteran Banks, coming swiftly upon the end of his joy-filled career, still able to strike lasers to the bleachers.

Banks is tied for 23rd in home runs in MLB history, and finally reached 500 near the end of his career in 1970. It was a long journey that saw the star hit at least 40 home runs in five seasons. He only had 12 in 1970, but they were enough to etch his name among the all-time greats.

Banks' swing was a thing of beauty. The crack of the bat for No. 500 made it clear that the ball was going into the stands from the moment he made contact. Banks passed away in 2015 (before the team's Curse had been broken, tragically), but remains a legend on the North Side of Chicago, and today is a perfect day to celebrate him and his amazing accomplishment.