Mother of Hall of Famer Ernie Banks dies at 97

[March 12, 2009]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Essie Banks, the mother of baseball Hall of Famer Ernie Banks, is dead at age 97.

Mrs. Banks died Monday of complications from a stroke at a Dallas nursing home.

According to Ernie Banks, his mother preferred that he became a minister like one of his grandfathers. However, he said his mother was proud of his 19 years with the Chicago Cubs.

Banks said milestones of his career with the Cubs lined the walls of his mother's home. He said there were pictures of him as he played, as he signed his contract, hitting his 500th home run, and being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Services will be held in Dallas on Saturday.

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Information from: Chicago Sun-Times, http://www.suntimes.com/index

[Associated Press]

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