CHICAGO - To Chicago Cubs fans, Ernie Banks was sunshine that cut through decades of darkness. To baseball players, he was the spirit of the game.His teammates loved him, and his list of admirers included President Barack Obama to Pearl Jam to athletes from all over the sports world.And they all got the same person, all the time.Ernie was exactly what you saw, said Don Kessinger, a shortstop who played with Banks in the 1960s. He was a great ballplayer, a great teammate and a great friend.What everyone saw included 512 home runs during a 19-year career that put him in the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. But perhaps more importantly, what everyone appreciated was Mr. Cub, an always positive attitude that sparked a steady stream of tributes after Banks death Friday night at age 83.I know he was Mr. Cub, but he was really Mr. Baseball, White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf said Saturday. He was really a great, great ambassador for the game.A makeshift memorial outside Wrigley Field on Saturday included flowers, an Ernie Banks bobblehead and pictures of the slugger with fans. A No. 14 jersey was draped over one part of a small fence with the inscription Lets play two — the iconic saying he was known for — and then Not without you written under his trademark line.Another small green sign read Say Holy Cow to Harry and Ron for us, referring to broadcaster Harry Carays famous saying and Ron Santo, another former Cubs player and broadcaster who passed away in 2010.He was the franchise, said Jim Banach, 53, a lifelong Cubs fan who grew on the South Side of Chicago.Linda OBrien, 54, a pharmacy tech from nearby Oak Lawn, said she met Banks a couple of times.He was just so nice, she said. The one time when I got his autograph at the Cubs convention, he was making everybody do exercises in line. I thought that was pretty funny.The Cubs will certainly spend the upcoming season honouring Banks, right from the start. The 2015 major league opener is at Wrigley Field, a Sunday night game on April 5 against St. Louis.In a statement, Obama and first lady Michelle Obama expressed their condolences to the family of Ernie Banks, and to every Chicagoan and baseball fan who loved him. The president said Banks became known as much for his optimism and love of the game as his home runs and back-to-back National League MVPs.He was beloved by baseball fans everywhere, including Michelle, who, when she was a girl, used to sit with her dad and watch him play on TV, Obama said. And in 2013, it was my honour to present Ernie with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.Somewhere, the sun is shining, the air is fresh, his teams behind him, and Mr. Class — Mr. Cub — is ready to play two.Hall of Fame umpire Doug Harvey said Banks was equally positive around umps. Banks, in fact, never was ejected from a game.He wasnt a griper. Never complained about a strike or an out or a call, Harvey told The Associated Press. Some guys would turn their heads after a pitch and look at you like you were nuts. Not Ernie. It was always, Isnt this a great day to be alive and playing baseball?Banks was playing for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues when the Cubs discovered him in 1953, and purchased his contract for $10,000. He made his major league debut at shortstop on Sept. 17 that year — he was the Cubs first black player — and three days later hit his first home run.One of Banks biggest influences was Buck ONeil, a former player and manager in the Negro Leagues who had a hand in the slugger joining the Cubs. ONeil, who died in 2006, helped prepare Banks for the racism that some of the first black players encountered in the majors.They all seemed to have that innate ability to not allow those experiences to harden their hearts, and an uncanny ability to love universally, said Bob Kendrick, the president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. And Ernie got that. I think he got a lot of that from Buck ONeil.Banks was a perennial All-Star, but never reached the post-season and retired in 1971. The Cubs finished below .500 in all but six of his seasons and remain without a pennant since 1945.Like Banks, Hall of Famer Al Kaline made his big league debut in 1953 and played his first All-Star game in 1955. Kaline reached his only World Series in 1968, leading the Tigers to the title.Soon after, he got a telegram from Banks.He knew he was running out of time to get to the World Series. He knew I had played a lot of years, too, Kaline, now 80, told the AP on Saturday. I didnt know him well then, but he understood what it meant to get there later in your career. He congratulated me on becoming a world champion.He played on a lot of good teams, not a lot of great ones. Those fans in Chicago, they loved him. They never got to see a World Series, but they can always say they got to see the great Ernie Banks.___AP Sports Writer Andy Seligman in Chicago and Baseball Writer Ben Walker in New York contributed to this report.___Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap Cedric Ogbuehi Jersey . He still wanted out. "It just seemed like the direction they were going didnt fit what I thought my career was going to be," Kesler said. "At the end of the day I want to win a championship and I want to win it now, and four years is a little too long for me. Cedric Peerman Jersey . 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Brian Roberts had three doubles and a triple for the first four-extra-base-hit game of his 14-year career, and the Yankees used their bullpen to preserve a 6-5 win over the Twins on Friday.West Hams first opponents at the Olympic Stadium will be Italian champions Juventus. The multiple Serie A winners will officially mark the clubs move with a friendly on August 7. Mark Noble and Angelo Ogbonna promote the Olympic Stadium opener against Juventus. Picture courtesy of West Ham United Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ pitch side at their new home, West Ham midfielder Mark Noble said: Its amazing. Juventus is a club full of history and I think it suits the stadium that our first game here will be against them. I am pretty sure the fans will be excited now. I know we are for sure. To get in here and play the first game on what will be an amazing pitch in front of a full house will be really exciting. Juventus will be first up for West Ham at the Olympic Stadium On Sunday, Juventus edged closer to retaining the title as goals from Mario Mandzukic and Alvaro Moratta gave them a 2-1 victory at Fiorentina. They will secure the league if Napoli drop points away to Roma on Monday evening.Hammers former Juventus defender Angelo Ogbonna, who won two league titles in Turin, said: I am really excited for the game. This is a positive time for the club, we are doing really well and this is an amazing stadium Paul Pogba has starred this season for Serie A leaders Juventus West Ham have two competitive games remaining at the Boleyn Ground, their home of 112 years. The first is against Swansea May 7, before hosting Manchester United three days later.The east London club lie sixth, eight points away from the Champions League positions with four matches remaining, including a game in hand on Manchester City and Arsenal.Behind them, Liverpool and Southampton are closing in with Jurgen Klopps side a point behind and Southampton two points back. Noble has praised Leicester for their title challenge this season and insists they fully deserve to lift the trophy But Noble insists they are looking no further than their next game as they bid to mark their move to Stratford with European football next season.ddddddddddddWe have West Brom away coming up and with Tony Pulis in charge we know they will be hard to beat, he said. Sky Sports Paul Gilmour speaks to Mark Noble and Angelo Ogbonna about the Hammers opening game at the Olympic Stadium against Juventus. Picture courtesy But we have put ourselves in a position to go and enjoy games and we just need to keep putting points on the table and see where that takes us.Weve had a fantastic season, but we have four games to go and if we can pick up points in those I am pretty sure well finish in the European spots. Noble and Angelo Ogbonna talk about their excitement after its announced West Ham will play Juventus in the first fixture at the Olympic Stadium Also See: Noble wants perfect send-off WATCH: Pro training for Hammers fans West Ham agree striker deal West Ham 3-1 Watford recap Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '