Once again my childhood hero's birthday has rolled around and he's turned the calendar on quite a milestone.
Mr. Cub is Eighty Years Old today.
When one's childhood hero hits such a milestone it means that when this Cub fan looks in the mirror, that reflection isn't the young Cubster that used to be, but... well, I still feel like a kid when I think about Ernie Banks unique batting style, fingers wiggling and bat upright. Crack, ball hits bat, fantastic wrist action. Remembering just one more Jack Brickhouse Hey-Hey! All baseball heros candles fade and real life takes over. But Eighty? That can't be correct.
So Ernie, here's my birthday toast to you: may your birthday cake with 80 candles be as GRAND the impact your Cub greatness had on me.
