Ernie Banks Died From Heart Attack, Attorney Says
(CBS) -- An attorney for the family of Cubs legend Ernie Banks revealed that he died from a heart attack on Friday. It was seven days before his 84th birthday.
The announcement came at a press conference on Sunday. Joined by members of her family at a downtown hotel, Banks' widow Liz said her husband was beloved and will be deeply missed.
"It is certainly a sad day for us," she said.
She introduced her attorney, Mark Bogen, who read a statement on behalf of the family that says Banks died a week shy of his 84th birthday from a heart attack.
Funeral arrangements are still in the works. A public memorial has been planned for Wednesday at Daley Plaza, with more details to come later.
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Banks has been called an ambassador of baseball, but Bogen says he was more of an ambassador to humanity.
Banks' life off the baseball diamond included touring with the USO and Special Olympics.
He advocated for gay rights by asking the Cubs to be the first major professional sports team to have a float in Chicago's pride parade, which he rode on.
Bogen says many people want to focus on Mr. Cub's hitting stats, but his personality was just as remarkable.
Since the death of "Mr. Cub," fans have been leaving flowers and candles outside Wrigley Field. The family set up a Facebook page called "Ernie Banks Remembered."
The Wrigley Field statue of Ernie Banks will be placed in Daley Plaza from Wednesday morning through Saturday. It's currently being restored at a facility outside the Chicago area.
Banks played his entire career with the Cubs from 1953 to 1971, was named an All-Star 14 times and won the National League MVP award in 1958 and 1959.
The Cubs retired Banks' No. 14 jersey in 1982 and built a statue of Banks outside of Wrigley in 2008. Banks was inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame in 1977.
President Barack Obama awarded Banks the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013.
