Chicago Cubs: Five of the best moments at Wrigley Field

No.2: Ernie Banks hits his 500th home run

Even during the age of the “juiced ball”, the 500 home run plateau is considered a major milestone in any baseball player’s career. Hitting that home run mark almost guarantees your ticket to be punched for the Hall of Fame at some point. But Ernie Banks was heading towards the Hall of Fame even before his 500th home run was hit.

Multiple time MVP for the Chicago Cubs, he was one of the games premier sluggers during his time. Even with all of the great players that Banks played with, he never was able to make it to the postseason. While that may have been an accomplishment that wasn’t attained by Mr. Cub, he still had one of the greatest careers if not the greatest of all the Chicago Cubs’ players.

At the time there were only eight members of the “500 Club”, and on May 11, 1970 Banks would make it nine.

In the second inning against the Braves, Banks would reach MLB history by hitting No.500 when he hit a screamer into left field. Jack Brickhouse, just like the rest of the Cubs’ fans went crazy with the call, as you can hear in the video.

An interesting note that mlb.com brought up on the 45th anniversary of the historic home run, the home plate umpire, Frank Secory, was also officiating on the field when Banks hit his very first home run. Now go ahead and stump your friends who are Cubs fans if they could answer that bit of Ernie Banks trivia history.

Next: No.1: 20 for Kid K