The Rundown: Memorial Services for Ernie Banks Will Take Place Friday and Saturday, Bryant No. 1 3B Prospect, Moncada Update
The Cubs have announced visitation and memorial services for Ernie Banks:
Public visitation and funeral services for #Cubs legend Ernie Banks will be held this Friday and Saturday at Fourth Presbyterian Church.
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) January 26, 2015
Public visitation is Friday from 12-8 p.m. Saturday’s funeral service w/ limited public seating is Saturday at 10 a.m. (126 E. Chestnut St.)
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) January 26, 2015
Banks passed away last Friday after suffering a heart attack. A public memorial begins today in Daley Plaza.
The Ernie Banks statue, normally located outside Wrigley Field, had been relocated for maintenance this offseason but is being transported to Daley Plaza and will be there until Saturday.
Paul Sullivan offers up some suggestions for remembering Ernie next season. In addition to the commonly assumed patches worn on the Cubs uniforms and a variation of a “Let’s Play Two” day, Sullivan suggests an “Ernie L” train (similar to the holiday train) and Ernie-themed days on Sunday home games.
I assume we’ll soon hear some of the Cubs’ official plans for honoring Mr. Cub.
Other notes
* Not a huge surprise, but Kris Bryant was named MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 third-base prospect. It’s an impressive list overall, with big-hitting prospects Joey Gallo and Miguel Sano coming in at No. 2 and 3, respectively. If these players all stick at third (which is not a given) we could get to see a very exciting collection of young players at the hot corner.
* Major League Baseball — not the Office of Foreign Assets Control — is holding up the process of Cuban prospect Yoan Moncada signing in the United States, writes Ben Badler. MLB is requiring Moncada and other Cuban players to receive a written document from OFAC before being able to sign, which could take as long as six months, according to Badler. This was not always a requirement, such as when Yasiel Puig came to the United States, and MLB has not said why it has changed its policy. The Cubs have to be hoping the delay continues, although my gut feeling is Moncada ends up with the Dodgers, no matter when he is cleared by MLB.
* MiLB.com features a Q&A with Cubs outfield prospect Billy McKinney. Seems to have a pretty good head on his shoulders. McKinney is one of the prospects I’m most looking forward to following this upcoming season. He’ll try to continue to put up good numbers similar to what he did after coming over with Addison Russell in the Jeff Samardzija/Jason Hammel trade last July.
