(Image credit: Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images for BMW)

Ernie Banks, the Chicago Cubs' famed slugger and eventual Hall of Famer, died on Friday night. He was 83 years old, The Associated Press reports.

Banks, who began his career in the Negro Leagues playing for the Kansas City Monarchs, made his MLB debut in 1953 and played 19 seasons, racking up 512 home runs and twice landing the league's MVP award. Despite his personal accomplishments, Banks played for a string of Cubs teams that finished below .500, and he never reached the postseason.

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Sarah Eberspacher

Sarah Eberspacher is an associate editor at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked as a sports reporter at The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus and The Arizona Republic. She graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.