SOSUA, Dominican Republic (AP) – Several St. Louis Cardinals were among thousands of people who crowded into a cemetery near the Dominican Republic’s north coast for Tuesday’s burial of former major league outfielder Oscar Taveras.
Some people clutched pictures of Taveras as they walked behind his coffin and entered the municipal cemetery in the town of Sosua. The crowd had started at a nearby church for a brief ceremony ahead of the burial for the 22-year-old slugger, who died Sunday following a car crash.
St. Louis general manager John Mozeliak, manager Mike Matheny, second baseman Matt Carpenter and pitcher Carlos Martinez were among the mourners from Taveras’ major league team.
“He was my brother, he was my friend, we were always together anytime we went out,” Martinez said.
The Giants and Royals observed a moment of silence in Taveras’ honor before Game 6 of the World Series in Kansas City, Missouri.