Willie Banks

[BigJoeGun]

Willie Anthony Banks was born in 1969 in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was the first-round pick of the Minnesota Twins in the 1987 MLB Draft (third overall). He was considered a top prospect in 1990 and 1991, ranking 13 and 15, respectively, according to Baseball America.

He was a member of the 1991 World Series champion Minnesota Twins.

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[Dave Overlund]

One of my fondest Twins memories is going to Dome Souvenirs Plus with my grandpa after one of the World Series games when I was nine in 1991. He bought a 91 Upper Deck Willie Banks rookie for $5 and told me it would someday pay for my college. 

Edited May 28, 2024 by Dave Overlund

[Doctor Wu]

I have fond memories of watching Willie Banks pitch for the Orlando Twins AA team. Later that season, a friend of mine and I flew to Memphis for "Elvis Weekend" (the anniversary of Elvis's death in mid-August) and by luck the O-Twins were playing the Memphis Chicks at Tim McCarver stadium in Memphis. Another stroke of luck, the Twins were staying at our hotel! I ran into Willie Banks and Lennie Webster in the lobby and we struck up a conversation. Very nice guy! Later at the game that night, he noticed me in the stands and waved a hello, which was also nice. Needless to say, I stayed a fan, even when he later played for those hated Yankees. 

[Original_JB]

I remember that hard dropping curve he had, but could never seem to master the control of it for strikes.

I came across the following story from 2016 (Willie has had quite the life, I hope it is still going OK for him):  https://www.nj.com/sports/2016/07/how_2_strangers_saved_nj_pitching_legend_ex-yankee.html

[Mike Sixel]

I had a baseball he signed, thinking he'd be a STAR someday. Pretty sure I just used it at some point and it is gone now. 

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

My dad took me to Yankee Stadium in 1991. Got Willie's autograph. Pretty sure I still have it some where. Was cool for me. Not only a Twins player but local product.