Ernie Banks makes his professional debut with the Kansas City Monarchs
On June 4 1950 — Ernie Banks makes his professional debut with the Kansas City Monarchs, going 3 for 7 in a doubleheader against the Memphis Red Sox. He played the remainder of the season before being drafted into the Army in 1951. Stationed in Europe, he played shortstop for the 242nd Group Barons, part of a baseball conference run for American servicemen there.
Upon his discharge, Banks returned to the Monarchs for the 1953 season. and he hit .347 for the Monarchs and considered his time in Kansas City as the base for his Hall of Fame future. “Playing for the Kansas City Monarchs was like my school, my learning, my world. It was my whole life.”
Actively scouted during the year by the Cubs, he signed a big league contract with them on September 8, 1953. Banks played his last game for the Monarchs on September 13th and joined the Cubs four days later, never having played a single game in the minor leagues.
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