Jan 24, 2015 10:43 AM EST By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

Ernie Banks will go down as an all-time great baseball player, but will also be equally revered for his life after baseball.

His wife Liz confirmed he died Friday at the age of 83.

Banks was aware that his baseball career would take up less than half his adult life, so he wanted his legacy to be more than that of a great ballplayer and teammate. Known as the "Hopeful Mr. Cub," the Chicago Tribune noted Banks' "boundless enthusiasm and optimism personified what it meant to be a Cubs fan."

In 2013, President Barack Obama honored Banks with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In a statement released with the honor, Banks described his passion for education, especially science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

"Do something, that's my message to young people," Banks said. "I went back to school after I retired, to Northwestern, University of Chicago, Arizona State, Columbia College.

"I wanted to train kids in math and science in high school to be good enough to go to MIT and become a nuclear physicist."

Banks was the first African-American to play for the Chicago Cubs, the Obamas' hometown team, though the President is a White Sox fan.

"Michelle and I send our condolences to the family of Ernie Banks, and to every Chicagoan and baseball fan who loved him," Obama said in a statement released by the White House. "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. And in 2013, it was my honor to present Ernie with the Presidential Medal of Freedom."

In a video posted by the Tribune, Banks said there are kids alive today who have never seen him play and may not know who he is. Even the President, who gave him the prestigious Medal of Freedom, had not seen him play. Banks knew his legacy needed to be more than just baseball.

His enthusiasm and optimism may be best summed up by his iconic statement upon being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.

"We got the setting, sunshine, fresh air, we got the team behind us, so let's play two."

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