Chicago says farewell to Ron Santo

CHICAGO, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Ron Santo's broadcast partner urged mourners at the Chicago funeral for the longtime baseball star Friday to remember him "with a big smile on your face."

Santo, a Chicago Cubs stalwart who became a broadcast analyst, died Dec. 2 of complications from bladder cancer and diabetes. He was 70.

Pat Hughes, who broadcast WGN games with Santo for 15 years, was among speakers at the service.

Hughes called on others to remember the third baseman with "with a big smile on your face" and said Santo "would have liked that very much," the Chicago Tribune reported.

Hundreds of people attended the funeral at Holy Name Cathedral in downtown Chicago.

Santo, a nine-time all-star, played for the Cubs for all but one season in a 15-year major league career.

"I've never met anyone like him, and I'm sure I never will again," Hughes said. "A once in a lifetime character, that's what Ron Santo was."

Other speakers at the service included Cubs owner Tom Ricketts and baseball Commissioner Bud Selig.

After leaving the cathedral, a funeral procession stopped at Wrigley Field, home of the Cubs. Hundreds of fans lined the streets.