Ernie Banks procession to pass Daley Plaza, Wrigley Field

WLS logo
Friday, January 23, 2015
WLS-WLS

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A memorial service for Chicago Cubs legend Ernie Banks on Saturday will be followed by a procession that will pass Banks' statue in Daley Plaza and Wrigley Field, the Cubs announced Thursday.

A memorial service for Banks will begin Saturday at 10 a.m. at Fourth Presbyterian Church, located at 126 E. Chestnut in Chicago. Speakers will include Tom Ricketts, Chairman of the Chicago Cubs; Gov. Bruce Rauner; Mayor Rahm Emanuel; Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.; Banks' twin sons, Jerry and Joey Banks. Banks' Hall of Fame teammates, including Fergie Jenkins and Billy Williams, will also speak.

Following the service, a procession will leave Fourth Presbyterian Church and drive south on Michigan Avenue, west on Randolph Street, south on Clark Street and east on Washington Street, where it will pass the Ernie Banks statue in Daley Plaza. The procession will then head to Lake Shore Drive to the Belmont Avenue exit. The procession will head west on Belmont Avenue, northwest on Clark Street, north on Sheffield Avenue and west on Addison Street to Clark Street, where it will pass the Wrigley Field Marquee.

The Cubs are asking fans to watch 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.

Banks died died of a heart attack last Friday, 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.

A public visitation will be held this Friday at Fourth Presbyterian Church from 12-8 p.m.

PHOTOS: Ernie 'Mr. Cub' Banks, 1931-2015