On September 17, 1953, Ernie Banks, Mr. Cub, debuted at Wrigley Field, making an error and going 0-for-3 in a 16-4 loss against the Philadelphia Phillies. Curt Simmons beat Don Elston that day.
It wasn’t a terrible Chicago Cubs team. Ralph Kiner and Hank Sauer provided ample power, and the supporting players weren’t bad at all. But beating Richie Ashburn and Del Ennis in their prime was a tall order, and Simmons was one of the best pitchers in the league that year.
Banks, the first black player on the team, was to have better days on the way to enshrinement in the Baseball Hall of Fame.