Joe Buck was master of ceremonies for the memorial service for his father Thursday at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        ST. LOUIS — His casket was accompanied by a color guard while a Clydesdale stood nearby and a large bouquet in the shape of a baseball adorned the field.

        More than 10,000 fans streamed past the closed casket of Jack Buck near home plate at Busch Stadium.

        Many were dressed in Cardinal red and some wept openly for the Hall of Fame broadcaster, who was the voice of the team for nearly a half-century. Buck died at 77 Tuesday night after 5 1/2 months in the hospital.

        It was baseball's biggest send-off since a two-day visitation for Babe Ruth at Yankee Stadium in 1948.

        “He loved St. Louis and he loved the St. Louis Cardinals,” Hall of Famer Stan Musial said. “And Jack, your fans and I, we all love you.”

        Broadcaster Joe Buck presided over his father's memorial service Thursday. He also will deliver the eulogy Friday at a public funeral in suburban St. Louis.

        “I hope that we can turn something that's somber into something that's celebrating a great life,” Joe Buck said Thursday.

        Dan Dierdorf, the star lineman who played for the NFL's St. Louis Cardinals, joked about Jack Buck's colorblindness. Buck was known to wear loud outfits, the fashion tips from his wife, Carole, to no avail.

        “It was always a thrill to see him for the first time in a day,” Dierdorf said.

        Dierdorf recalled the time Buck showed up for work wearing a red jacket and orange pants.

        “He took one more step, stopped dead in his tracks, and said, 'Carole wasn't home,”' Dierdorf said.

        More than 10,000 mourners attended the memorial service, about the same number that filed past the casket all morning. Afterward, fans without tickets were invited to stay for the game, in which Anaheim beat the Cardinals 3-2.

        Joe Buck recounted an event that he said was especially meaningful for his father. During Mark McGwire's 70-homer 1998 season, the slugger was ejected and fans were enraged.

        The next day before the game, a statue of Jack Buck was unveiled. During the ceremony, Buck asked fans to wait for the umpires to step on to the field, then show them what St. Louis fans are all about. The umpires got a standing ovation.

        “I know that it left an impression on my father,” Joe Buck said. “It meant the world to him.”

        Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. alluded to Buck's character and celebrity.

        “He is, of course, one of the big reasons for the Cardinals' vast following, and he helped make St. Louis the best baseball city in the world,” DeWitt said.

        Catcher Mike Matheny spoke on behalf of the players.

        “We didn't have the privilege to hear him call many games, but what we did have was the honor to witness firsthand how the man treated other people with respect,” Matheny said. “With all the people that have passed through those clubhouse doors, no one was more respected than Mr. Jack Buck.”

        Matheny then drew another standing ovation by paraphrasing one of Buck's most famous calls, when McGwire hit his 61st home run in 1998 to tie Roger Maris.

        “Mr. Buck, if I may borrow your words, pardon us while we stand and applaud.”

        Alan Douglas, a 40-year-old tennis instructor, recalled Buck's famous calls.

        “I remember coming here as a little kid when Bob Gibson was pitching,” he said. “I was here when Ozzie hit that home run. It sends chills up my spine.

        “Hearing some of those stories just makes you miss him even more.”

        After the service, 21 fireworks blasts, representing a 21-gun salute, exploded in the sky above Busch Stadium, echoing through the downtown streets.

        Fans applauded and Cardinals pitcher Matt Morris tipped his cap as a hearse took Buck out of Busch Stadium for the last time.

Mariners 3, Reds 2 Reds box, runs Griffey doesn't start, but suit starts a laugh riot Mariners turn reunion into their own party At 34 games, Castillo ties a DiMaggio Athletics-Reds series preview Owners make steroid-testing pitch in talks Sonics owner says baseball strike would hurt all sports St. Louis says goodbye to 'a winner' Interleague roundup Notes from Thursday's games

What's next for U.S.?
Brazil 2, England 1
Donovan, O'Brien make Pele's all-star squad
Referees committee defends linesmen
World Cup schedule
Cyclones end Nashville agreement
Duff, Rakel ride nerves to Met final
Russell to lead Lebanon
Martin, Williams have surgery; Charlotte pursues franchise
NHL orders safety netting in wake of tragedy in Columbus
Theodore wins Vezina, Hart awards
Greene is healthy at track championships
Texas beats Stanford in CWS semi
Texas Tech reveals policy violations in Knight merchandise swap
Jaguars sign Marco Coleman
Quigley, Tanaka lead at Hartford
Coming up this week

• Return to Reds front page...