Cubs hold Opening Night moment of silence for Ernie Banks, Oscar Taveras

The Chicago Cubs held moments of silence ahead of their Opening Night game against the St. Louis Cardinals to honor Cubs legend Ernie Banks and former Cardinals outfielder Oscar Taveras.

The Chicago Cubs held a moment of silence ahead of their Opening Night game against the St. Louis Cardinals to honor Cubs legend Ernie Banks and former Cardinals outfielder Oscar Taveras. 

Banks died in January at 83. Taveras was killed in an October car crash in the Dominican Republic. 

Great video tribute to Ernie and moment of silence pregame. #cubs pic.twitter.com/wKu0XyTxqK

— CubsVineLine (@cubsvineline) April 6, 2015

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Banks played 19 MLB seasons, all for the Cubs. He won two MVP awards and was an 11-time All-Star. He also hit 512 home runs over the course of his career. 

"Mr. Cub" was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977. 

The Cubs also honored Banks with a tarp displaying his photo that was draped over Wrigley Field's unfinished bleachers, which are being reconstructed as part of the stadium's renovation. 

Taveras' blood alcohol level was five times the legal limit when the car he was driving crashed, killing him and his girlfriend. He was 22 years old.

The Cardinals are wearing memorial patches on their uniforms this season as a tribute to Taveras. 

- Stanley Kay