Family, Friends Say Farewell To 'Mr. Cub' Ernie Banks
(CBS) -- Today family, friends and fans are honoring Ernie Banks with a funeral service and procession.
Banks' funeral was held at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chestnut St on what would have been his 84th birthday. A procession after the memorial service went past Banks' statue at Daley Plaza, and also past Wrigley Field.
Speakers at the service included teammates Billy Williams, Fergie Jenkins and Lou Brock, Cubs owner Tom Ricketts, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Governor Bruce Rauner, Ernie's twin sons Jerry and Joey Banks and others.
Tom Ricketts said Ernie Banks' love for city and fans is unprecedented.
"I think those of us who were close to Ernie, we all know that Ernie Banks is not Mr. Cub because we loved him, Ernie Banks is Mr. Cub because he loved us back," Ricketts said.
Banks died on Jan. 23 of a heart attack. A public visitation was held on Friday at the same church where many Cubs fans paid their respects to "Mr. Cub."
Podcast
WBBM's Mike Krauser reports outside the church people lined up early a couple hours before the 10 a.m. service. Some were dressed in traditional clothes for a funeral with a bit of Cubs' blue. Others came in Banks' jerseys and Cubs hats decorated with Ernie Banks and Cubs pins.
Roosevelt Johnson was at the front of the line.
"Truly great human being and just a very congenial, awesome person," he said. "Truly a great representation of the city of Chicago and the sport itself."
The two-time MVP played his entire 19-year career with the Cubs, making 14 All-Star teams. He played nine seasons at shortstop, and 10 at first base. He was widely considered one of the best power-hitting shortstops of all time; twice leading the National League in home runs and RBI while playing shortstop.
Banks was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2013.
Due to the restoration of Wrigley Field, fans gathering at the ballpark are asked to view the procession from the following locations: the southwest corner of Sheffield Avenue and Addison Street in front of the Captain Morgan Club; along the south side of Addison Street between Sheffield Avenue and Clark Street; or along the west side of Clark Street between Addison Street and Waveland Avenue.
