John Fazio (left), Ernie Banks (right) in recent years

Sign outside Sam's former home in Monongah
erected when Junior Jacobin was Mayor

When Ernie Banks and Sam Jones chatted in Monongah’s Fazio Store

John Fazio, a Marietta, Ohio College professor, has fond memories of Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks’ visits to the Jackson Street grocery store owned by Renzy Fazio and Frances Olesky Fazio.

Wrote John:

“During his early years as a Cub, Ernie Banks (1931-2015) and Monongah teammate Sam "Toothpick" Jones would visit my Uncle's store/bar/poolroom in Monongah. My Father mentioned very fond memories of his interactions with Ernie.

“Cubs fans everywhere will deeply miss a gracious man and exceptional athlete, especially those Ernie Banks fans in a small West Virginia community.”

Frances’ siblings were the late Helen Olesky Kerekes and John W. Olesky, Sr.

John Fazio’s father, also named John Fazio, the lanky pitcher for Monongah High School who passed away in 2006, was Renzy’s brother. John’s widow is  Dolores Stancheck.

There were 13 children in the Fazio family:

Jeanette Fazio DiBiase, who died in 2003; Albert Fazio of New York; Mary Virginia Fazio Pasquale and husband Joseph of Fairmont; the late Nick, James, Joseph and Michael; Edith Fazio DeCarlo, Elizabeth Fazio Domico, Angeline Fazio Prozzillo and Carmella Fazio DePond. 

Irene’s siblings are Mary Chris Fazio Ramsey, who lives on Pike Street in Monongah with husband Tom Ramsey in the home once owned by Helen and Steve Kerekes; David Fazio, married to Cora, operator of Fazio's Eldercare in Stoney Lonesome; Steve Fazio, widower of Nancy; and Mary Chris Fazio Ramsey, married to Tom.

Ernie Banks, one of baseball's most ebullient and optimistic ambassadors, died Friday, his wife, Liz, confirmed.
Known worldwide as "Mr. Cub," Banks became the Cubs first African-American player on Sept. 17, 1953, and went on to become an 11-time All-Star and two-time National League Most Valuable Player (1958-59). His boundless enthusiasm and optimism personified what it meant to be a Cubs fan.
Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts said:
"Words cannot express how important Ernie Banks will always be to the Chicago Cubs, the city of Chicago and Major League Baseball. He was one of the greatest players of all time. He was a pioneer in the major leagues. And more importantly, he was the warmest and most sincere person I've ever known. Approachable, ever optimistic and kind-hearted, Ernie Banks is and always will be Mr. Cub. My family and I grieve the loss of such a great and good-hearted man, but we look forward to celebrating Ernie's life in the days ahead."
Mayor Rahm Emanuel also praised Banks.
"Ernie Banks was more than a baseball player. He was one of Chicago's greatest ambassadors," Emanuel said. "He loved this city as much as he loved — and lived for — the game of baseball. This year during every Cubs game, you can bet that No.14 will be watching over his team. And if we're lucky, it'll be a beautiful day for not just one ballgame, but two."
Banks, who hit 512 home runs and had 1,636 RBIs, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1977.
Renowned for his sunny disposition, Banks, 83, loved the game and often proclaimed: "Let's play two!" even when the Cubs struggled to climb out of the National League basement. On Nov. 20, 2013, Banks was awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom during ceremonies at the White House in recognition of his goodwill.
When first notified that he would be receiving the award, Banks said: "It means everything to me. It means life is just wonderful. When you do things to try to help people and share things, it really comes back to you. I try to do that. I love the players, love Wrigley Field, love all the players. ... This award means a lot to me. It's almost like the Nobel Peace Prize to me."
In 1950, Banks began playing for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro leagues. After serving two years in the military, he joined the Cubs.
Banks' best overall season was 1959 when he led the NL with 143 RBIs and hit 43 home runs. Defensively, he led all shortstops with a .985 fielding percentage. In 1960 he won a Gold Glove at shortstop. He hit more than 40 homers five times, including 47 in 1958. In 1955 he hit a record five grand slams. Banks played his entire career with the Cubs and is considered one of the greatest players of all time not to play in the postseason.
Banks played more games at first base (1,259) than he did at shortstop (1,125), but he is remembered more for his most productive younger seasons at shortstop.
"It was just a pleasure playing with Ernie. I can't say it was a pleasure playing against him," said former Cubs pitcher Milt Pappas, who also pitched for the Orioles, Reds and Braves during his 17-year career. "He was so genuine. He was just a great ambassador for the game."
A statue of Banks' likeness was unveiled near the corner of Clark and Addison outside of Wrigley Field at the start of the 2008 baseball season.
"When I am not here, this will be here," Banks joked after the ceremony as he pointed to the sculpture.
"I wanted to finish my career with one team, in one city, one mayor, one park, one owner. I did that," Banks said then. "The Wrigleys owned the team. We played all of our home games at Wrigley Field during the daytime. So my career was very unique and I am proud of it. I have been involved in the city of Chicago and with Little Leagues all around the city and suburbs. It was a fun and enjoyable time both on the field and off the field. Now I meet a lot of people who used to come out to Wrigley Field when they were kids and they are older now. They still remember those days."
Banks was born in Dallas on Jan. 31, 1931. His father had just a third-grade education and his mother a sixth-grade education.
"But they were very wise," Banks would say.

Monongah’s Sam "Toothpick" Jones, also known as “Sad Sam” Jones, was no slouch either. To have both of them in the same store had to be a thrill for Monongah residents.

Nearly 60 years ago Sam became the first African-American to throw a no-hitter in major league baseball. 

He was born in Ohio, but moved to Grant Town when he was a youngster and lived in Monongah during his playing days.

Sam led the National League in strikeouts AND walks in 1955, 1956 and 1958, so few batters would dig in on him. 

In 1959 he was the National League's Pitcher of the year. 

In 1955 he was the first African-American to pitch a no-hitter, striking out Dick Groat, Roberto Clemente and Frank Thomas on 11 pitches after walking the bases loaded in the ninth inning. 

He pitched for the Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles.

Samuel Jones was born in Stewartsville, Ohio -- not Monongah as erroneously reported many times -- and was the son of a Monongah coal miner who became a parapalegic after a cave-in when Sam was 13 years old. 

After Sam's dad died, he lived with his mother in Grant Town's The Bottom and played football and basketball at Fairmont's Dunbar High, the school for Marion County African-Americans during segregation days.

Sam married his sweetheart, Mary Beans, whom he had known from high school, in 1950. 

The Monongah couple had two sons, Sam "Nick" Jr., born in 1952, and Michael, born in 1954. 

He worked for Tony Sauro's drycleaners in Monongah. Sam also opened the first car-wash in Monongah, thanks to an investment by Sauro.

Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller, in the 1951 Indians spring training camp, taught Sam to not tip off his pitches. Sam was sticking up his thumb when he was going to throw a curveball. Feller told him about it, and the thumb stayed the same for all pitches after that.

Sam died Nov. 5, 1971 and is buried in Fairmont's Woodlawn Cemetery under a headstone that says simply: "Sad Sam 1925-1971." His birth year is debatable. It may be as early as 1923, but Sam fudged his age to have a better shot at playing baseball.