" For years, as Phil Wrigley once said, 'Ernie has carried the Cubs.' As a result he earned the nickname 'Mr. Cub.' How he got there is the subject of this book. Now that he has accomplished something 'good enough to talk about' (500 home runs), Ernie for the first time tells of his struggles to make it and the r reasons behind his eternal optimism. The hard times in the South as a boy, touring with the Negro leagues, life in the majors, the Cub organization and his relationship with Leo Durocher are all part of the Ernie Banks story. But more than this, [this book] was written because all the thousands of people who have ever been associated with Ernie Banks wanted the story written. It's their feeling that there must be something special about a man who, after 20 years in professional baseball, says, 'The only thing wrong with a doubleheader is you don't play three games.'"--Dust jacket.