Sen. Dick Durbin Honors Ernie Banks on Senate Floor

CHICAGO (AP) — U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois has honored a baseball Hall of Famer who recently passed away with a speech on the Senate Floor.

The Democratic lawmaker delivered remarks Monday following the death of former Chicago Cubs player Ernie Banks, known as "Mr. Cub," on Friday. Durbin told his constituents that Banks was a great Chicago ambassador whose infectious love of baseball was matched only by his passion for the people in his city.

Durbin said Banks helped break down the race barrier in Major League Baseball as the first black man to play for the Cubs.

Durbin described Banks was a powerful slugger and two-time MVP who tallied 512 home runs and a career batting average of .274.

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