Ernie Banks public visitation, funeral services announced
CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Cubs have announced visitation and funeral services for Ernie "Mr. Cub" Banks.
Public visitation and funeral services for Banks, who died of a heart attack on Friday, will be held this Friday and Saturday at Fourth Presbyterian Church at 126 E. Chestnut St. The Cubs tweeted Monday that public visitation will be held on Friday from 12-8 p.m., and Saturday's funeral service - with limited public seating - will be Saturday at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ernie's memory to Cubs Charities at the below address or by visiting www.cubs.com/give and clicking on "Donate Now".
Cubs Charities
In Memory of Ernie Banks
Wrigley Field
1060 West Addison
Chicago, IL 60613
PHOTOS: Ernie 'Mr. Cub' Banks, 1931-2015
The Chicago Cubs legend died just days before what would have been his 84th birthday. Banks was a lifelong Chicago Cub and is among the greatest players in the team's franchise history. The first African American player to be signed by the Cubs in 1953, he went on to be a 14-time all-star, hit 512 home runs, and become a two-time National League Most Valuable Player.
Banks was inducted into the Naismith Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977 and in 2013 was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of his goodwill.
Banks was the first Cub to have his uniform number retired when the team hoisted his No. 14 flag in 1982 and was the first player in Cubs history to be honored with a statue at Wrigley Field in 2008.
The Ernie Banks statue, which had been temporarily removed from the corner of Clark and Addison for restoration during the current Wrigley Field construction, will be placed in Daley Plaza from Wednesday morning to Saturday to allow fans to honor and remember the Chicago Cubs great.
Louisville Slugger paid tribute to Ernie Banks in Kentucky on Monday. The bat maker laid a memorial wreath on Banks' Walk of Fame bat outside its museum and factory. The Chicago Cubs legend signed a lifetime contract with Louisville Slugger during his first season in the big leagues.
DURBIN HONORS BANKS ON SENATE FLOOR
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois honored the baseball Hall of Famer with a speech on the Senate Floor on Monday.
The Democratic lawmaker delivered remarks following Banks' death. Durbin told his constituents that Banks was a great Chicago ambassador whose infectious love of baseball was matched only by his passion for the people in his city.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
