Cubs honor Ernie Banks with special No. 14 hats

The Chicago Cubs opened Cactus League play on Thursday with two split-squad games and they did so with Ernie Banks on their minds and Mr. Cub surely there in spirit. Banks, a beloved and culturally important figure in Chicago, died in January at the age of 83.

In both games, Cubs players took the field sporting blue hats with a big No. 14 on the front.

This one’s for you, #MrCub. #LetsPlayTwo #14 pic.twitter.com/cBO0Q3aVXd

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 5, 2015

Seemed only fitting that the @Cubs started spring with 2 games today while honoring Ernie Banks. #letsplaytwo

— Jason Motte (@JMotte30) March 5, 2015

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The special caps were just one of the special nods the franchise prepared to honor Mr. Cub on Thursday. Before the game against the Athletics at the Cubs’ facility in Mesa, Ariz., there was a pregame video tribute and a moment of silence. Banks’ No. 14 was also mowed into the grass in center field.

The Cubs will continue to wear a patch on their uniforms in memory of Banks throughout the 2015 season, and there are many more tributes to come for the Chicago legend this summer.

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Israel Fehr is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter. Follow @israelfehr