A 7-foot monument to Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks began its four-day stay at Daley Plaza on Wednesday, attracting a hodgepodge of Chicagoans seeking to honor the beloved baseball icon.
Banks' wife, Liz, Cubs owner Tom Ricketts, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, hundreds of people heading to work or draped in Cubs attire and even Cubs superfan Ronnie "Woo-Woo" Wickers stood for photos near the bronze statue.
A public visitation is scheduled Friday for Banks, who died last week at 83, but the statue that depicts a smiling Banks at bat in his Cubs uniform gives the public a chance to pay tribute all week.
As fans stopped by Wednesday, many snapped pictures or dropped flowers, cards or newspaper clippings at the site. Some paired up with a stranger to swap cameras and get photos of themselves near the statue.
"This is Mr. Baseball right here," said Jim Shepherd, 56, who said he got up early so he could see the statue before going to his job as a maintenance worker. Shepherd recalled sneaking into Wrigley Field as a boy to see guys like Banks play.
Shepherd said baseball has taken a hit in recent years, "with steroids and all that." But he nodded toward the Banks statue and added, "But these guys, these guys are the heroes of baseball."
The statue, which was removed from Wrigley Field last fall for restoration work, was not supposed to return to the ballpark until Opening Day of the 2015 season. The refurbishment and new base had not been completed when Banks died Friday, but the statue was brought back early for a public memorial in Daley Plaza to celebrate his life, a Cubs spokesman said.
Liz Banks, Emanuel and Ricketts stopped by the plaza briefly and laid a wreath garnished with red roses by the statue.
"He's Mr. Cub. You don't become Mr. Cub because you play a lot of games or hit a lot of home runs," Ricketts said. "You become Mr. Cub because you love the team and you love the ballpark and you love the fans."
Emanuel called Banks the city's "greatest ambassador," and pointed toward the nearby Picasso sculpture to recall a bit of Chicago history.
When the sculpture was unveiled in August 1967, some city officials denounced the three-dimensional Cubist sculpture. One alderman, John J. Hoellen, recommended that the City Council "deport" the piece and put in its place a statue of - who else? - "Mr. Cub ... Ernie Banks."
On Wednesday, with an arm raised toward the Banks shrine, Emanuel said: "We finally have gotten that done." But the statue is not expected to stay in the plaza permanently.
For many fans, stopping near the statue for a moment of reflection was a tribute to their childhood or to fathers and grandfathers who loved the Cubs when Banks played.
That was the case for Lydia Taylor, who said she spent hours with her late grandfather watching baseball in his den.
"He's just iconic for Chicago," Taylor said of Banks, praising his spirit and attitude. She smiled at the thought of his legacy. "Who knows? Maybe he'll smile down from heaven, and we'll win something this year."
Darryl Hamilton, 54, an insurance agent said he "couldn't let it go by without seeing off one of the greatest baseball players in history, an icon, a role model, a humanitarian.
"Cubs Nation will really not be the same. He was optimistic. Every year, Cubs fans start out the season thinking we have a chance, and he symbolized that."
Banks' public visitation is scheduled for noon to 8 p.m. Friday at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chestnut St. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday.
Tribune reporter Cynthia Dizikes contributed.
Twitter @mmanchir
Twitter @steven_golds