Family attorney: Cubs great Ernie Banks died of heart attack


              Ronnie Wickers (WooWoo) lays a doll outside Wrigley Field in remembrance of Cubs baseball legend Ernie Banks in Chicago, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2014. Banks died at the age of 83, Friday night at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Ronnie Wickers (WooWoo) lays a doll outside Wrigley Field in remembrance of Cubs baseball legend Ernie Banks in Chicago, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2014. Banks died at the age of 83, Friday night at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

CHICAGO (AP) - An attorney for the family of Chicago Cubs great Ernie Banks says the Hall of Famer died after suffering a heart attack.

Mark Bogen said at a news conference Sunday that Banks had a heart attack Friday and died later that day. Banks' widow, Liz Banks, attended the event but declined to comment about her husband's death.

Banks death came just days before his 84th birthday and prompted tributes from around the city and the country. Many talked about his remarkably sunny disposition throughout his 19-year career and for decades afterward, when he remained a Cubs ambassador.

Banks hit 512 home runs during his career.

A public memorial service is expected to be held this week.

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