A shortstop with power is very rare in baseball, but Ernie led the major leagues with 41 home runs last season. With many good years of ball still ahead of him. Banks has already written himself into the record books. Last year he set a new major league record for most home runs by a shortstop with 269. Ernie has also established himself as the Cubs' all-time home run leader when he passed Gabby Hartnett's old mark of 231. Last season was the 4th successive year the shortstop has hit at least 40 homers. Beginning the 1961 campaign, Banks had played in 654 consecutive games which is the longest current string in the majors. Winner of the most valuable player award twice, fans still buzz about his 143 RBis in 1959.