Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiChicago Cubs fan George Valdez takes pictures with a cellphone at the site in Daley Plaza where the statue of former Chicago Cubs player Ernie Banks in on display.
John J. Kim, baiduhaiCourtney Dozier Banks, granddaughter of Ernie Banks, touches his casket before the funeral service at Fourth Presbyterian Church in downtown Chicago on Jan. 31, 2015.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiFormer Chicago Cubs outfielder George Altman pays his respects to teammate Ernie Banks during his visitation.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiPeople snap pictures of the Ernie Banks statue, which was brought to Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago for fans to pay tribute to the Hall of Famer.
Phil Velasquez / baiduhaiPeople gather for the visitation for the Chicago Cubs former standout player Ernie Banks at Fourth Presbytrian Church.
Phil Velasquez, baiduhaiA mourner walks past the casket of Ernie Banks during Friday's visitation.
Armando L. Sanchez, baiduhaiPedestrians walk by a memorial message for Ernie Banks displayed Saturday on the Wrigley Field marquee.
John J. Kim, baiduhaiKerry Wood, former Chicago Cubs pitcher, attends the funeral service for Ernie Banks at Fourth Presbyterian Church in downtown Chicago on Jan. 31, 2015.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiPassers-by take a moment to photograph the Ernie Banks statue in Daley Plaza on Jan. 28, 2015. The statue is part of a city memorial to Banks, who died of a heart attack Friday.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiA stuffed bear, baseball and note rest at the foot of the statue of Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks. The statue was brought to at Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago to honor Banks, who died Jan. 23 of a heart attack.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiDick Martin, 60, of Grayslake salutes the casket and portrait of Ernie Banks during his visitation at the Fourth Presbyterian Church. "He was my idol, he was my hero," Martin said.
Armando L. Sanchez / baiduhaiFans place flowers on a memorial Saturday outside Wrigley Field after former Cubs player Ernie Banks died Friday.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiLaverne Jones, of Aurora, places a single red rose near the statue of Ernie Banks on Jan. 28, 2015, at Daley Plaza in Chicago. Jones said she remembers "all the thrills and good times" of watching Banks play baseball.
John J. Kim, baiduhaiMourners attend the funeral service for Cubs legend Ernie Banks at Fourth Presbyterian Church in downtown Chicago on Jan. 31, 2015.
Phil Velasquez / baiduhaiPeople gather for the visitation for the Chicago Cubs former standout player Ernie Banks at Fourth Presbytrian Church.
Armando L. Sanchez, baiduhaiFlowers and an Ernie Banks flag sit outside Wrigley Field on Jan. 23, 2015, in honor of the former Cubs slugger who died of a heart attack.
John J. Kim, baiduhaiPeople line up outside of Fourth Presbyterian Church in downtown Chicago to attend the memorial service for Cubs great Ernie Banks on Jan. 31, 2015.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiA close-up of the Ernie Banks statue.
John J. Kim, baiduhaiPallbearers prepare to move the casket of Ernie Banks into a hearse outside Fourth Presbyterian Church in downtown Chicago on Jan. 31, 2015.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiCommuters and others use their cellphones to photograph the statue of former Chicago Cubs standout Ernie Banks on Jan. 28, 2015, at Daley Plaza in Chicago. Banks died Jan. 23 of a heart attack.
Armando L. Sanchez, baiduhaiThe Blue Cross Blue Shield building in Chicago displays a memorial message in honor of Ernie Banks on Jan. 27, 2015.
Armando L. Sanchez, baiduhaiRonnie "Woo Woo" Wickers places a bobblehead of former Cubs player Ernie Banks on a memorial outside Wrigley Field on Jan. 23, 2015.
John J. Kim, baiduhaiHank Aaron, left, and Fergie Jenkins attend the funeral service for Ernie Banks at Fourth Presbyterian Church in downtown Chicago on Jan. 31, 2015.
Armando L. Sanchez / baiduhaiAlex Budras, left, and Michael Meade, center, bring flowers to Wrigley Field in honor of Cubs baseball legend Ernie Banks.
John J. Kim, baiduhaiMajor League Baseball executive and former player and manager Joe Torre gives a remembrance speech during the funeral service for Ernie Banks at Fourth Presbyterian Church in downtown Chicago on Jan. 31, 2015.
John J. Kim, baiduhaiRelatives and friends watch as the casket of Ernie Banks is moved into a hearse outside Fourth Presbyterian Church in downtown Chicago after Banks' funeral service on Jan. 31, 2015.
John J. Kim, baiduhaiPallbearers, including Billy Williams, right, and Hank Aaron, second from right, watch as the casket of Ernie Banks is moved into a hearse outside Fourth Presbyterian Church in downtown Chicago on Jan. 31, 2015.
Abel Uribe, baiduhaiThe hearse of Cubs legend Ernie Banks makes one last stop in front of Wrigley Field during his funeral procession Jan. 31, 2015.
Phil Velasquez / baiduhaiFormer Chicago Cubs player and Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Billy Williams speaks during the visitation for fellow Cubs former hall of famer Ernie Banks at Fourth Presbytrian Church.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiMayor Rahm Emanuel and Liz Banks, right, widow of baseball great Ernie Banks, carry a wreath to the foot of the statue of the Cubs Hall of Famer at Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015.
Abel Uribe, baiduhaiFans left flowers, candles and a hat in front of Wrigley Field on Jan. 24, 2015, in honor of Cubs baseball legend Ernie Banks, who died the previous night.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiPeople take photographs of the Ernie Banks statue Jan. 28, 2015, in Daley Plaza.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiFamily attorney Mark Bogen speaks Sunday about Ernie Banks while Banks' wife, Liz, listens during a news conference at the Hyatt Chicago. Bogen said Banks, 83, died Friday of a heart attack.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiThe statue of beloved Cubs slugger Ernie Banks is on display at Daley Plaza from Wednesday to Saturday as part of a tribute to the hall of famer. Banks died of heart attack Friday.
Abel Uribe, baiduhaiFans gather at the intersection of Addison and Clark streets near Wrigley Field to honor Cubs legend Ernie Banks during his funeral procession Jan. 31, 2015.
Phil Velasquez, baiduhaiA photograph of Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks is placed over the casket during visitation for Banks at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago on Jan. 30, 2015.
John J. Kim / baiduhaiChicago Cubs fan Ronnie "Woo Woo" Wickers kneels in front of the casket and portrait of Ernie Banks during his visitation.
Phil Velasquez, baiduhaiErnie Banks fans start to line up for his memorial visitation at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago on Jan. 30, 2015.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiLiz, Ernie Banks' widow, speaks about her late husband during a news conference Sunday at the Hyatt Chicago.
John J. Kim, baiduhaiGuests attend the funeral service for Cubs legend Ernie Banks at Fourth Presbyterian Church in downtown Chicago on Jan. 31, 2015.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiA man snaps a picture of the wreath placed at the base of the statue of Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks on Jan. 28, 2015, at Daley Plaza in Chicago.
Armando L. Sanchez, baiduhaiMichael Meade lays flowers outside Wrigley Field in remembrance of Cubs baseball legend Ernie Banks.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiPeople take photographs of the statue of "Mr. Cub" Ernie Banks on Jan. 28, 2015, at Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiPeople stopped to take photographs of the Ernie Banks statue in Daley Plaza on Jan. 28, 2015. The statue honoring the Cubs Hall of Famer was moved downtown as part of a city tribute.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiThe Rev. Jesse Jackson, left, chats with Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts on Jan. 28, 2015, near the statue of Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks at Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago.
Armando L. Sanchez, baiduhaiBobbleheads rest at a memorial for Ernie Banks outside Wrigley Field on Saturday.
Armando L. Sanchez / baiduhaiA memorial message is displayed Friday night on the Wrigley Field marquee after former Cubs player Ernie Banks died earlier that day.
John J. Kim, baiduhaiCubs owner Tom Ricketts gives a remembrance speech during the funeral service for Ernie Banks at Fourth Presbyterian Church in downtown Chicago on Jan. 31, 2015.
Armando L. Sanchez, baiduhaiNoah Delfosse, 11, places flowers at a memorial created by fans outside Wrigley Field in memory of the Chicago Cubs' Ernie Banks.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiA white rose and a letter addressed to "Ernie Banks Mr. Cub" sit next to the statue of former Chicago Cubs Ernie Banks at Daley Plaza in Chicago on Jan. 28, 2015.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiMayor Rahm Emanuel and Liz Banks, widow of Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks, look up at the statue of Banks, which was placed at Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago on Jan. 28, 2015. Banks died Jan. 23 of a heart attack.
Phil Velasquez, baiduhaiWrigley Field fixture and fan Ronnie Woo-Woo Wickers finds a quiet area in the church Friday during the visitation for Chicago Cubs legend "Mr. Cub" Ernie Banks at Fourth Presbyterian Church on North Michigan Avenue.
John J. Kim, baiduhaiFormer Cubs player Fergie Jenkins touches the casket of Ernie Banks during the funeral service at Fourth Presbyterian Church in downtown Chicago on Jan. 31, 2015.
Armando L. Sanchez, baiduhaiAlex Budras lays flowers outside of Wrigley Field in remembrance of former Cubs player Ernie Banks.
Abel Uribe, baiduhaiFlowers hang on the construction fence in front of Wrigley Field on Saturday in honor of Ernie Banks.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiThe Ernie Banks statue at Daley Plaza.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhai
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Chicago Cubs fan George Valdez takes pictures with a cellphone at the site in Daley Plaza where the statue of former Chicago Cubs player Ernie Banks in on display.
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The Ernie Banks statue has been returned to Chicago from Michigan, where it was being restored, and will stand in Daley Plaza from Wednesday through Saturday to honor the Cubs Hall of Famer who died last week.
The bronze statue had been undergoing regularly scheduled maintenance, which includes removing evidence of oxidation left by precipitation, Cubs spokesman Julian Green said.
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The statue, which was removed last fall, was not supposed to return to Wrigley until opening day, but because the restoration work hadn’t started it was shipped back. The work will be completed later, Green said.
The 7-foot statue, designed by sculptor and Cubs fan Lou Cella, was unveiled at the start of the 2008 season, but drew the ire of some fans because of a grammatical error on its base — Banks’ iconic catchphrase was written sans apostrophe and read “LETS PLAY TWO.” The issue was resolved shortly after, and apparently made no difference to Banks himself.
“Even when I am no longer around, this will be here,” he said, smiling, before the unveiling ceremony. “When I’m not here, I will be here!”
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