Mr. Cub celebrated at Chicago memorial

Fans and friends paid tribute to legendary Chicago Cubs slugger Ernie Banks on Saturday, recalling how he helped break baseball’s color barrier during a Hall of Fame career in which he won over his teammates and an entire city with the unwavering optimism he brought to the game and life.

At a memorial service in a Chicago church, the buoyant man known as “Mr. Cub” was remembered for his character as much as his accomplishments on the ball field, including his 512 career home runs. Speaker after speaker recalled Banks’ unflagging optimism and good cheer as well as his humility and care for others.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson said Banks “disarmed adversaries with optimism” and “branded goodwill.” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Banks was a “humble hero” who taught younger generations “how to play the game of life.” Fellow Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins said Banks strove to be a good teammate, not a star.

Saturday would have been Banks’ 84th birthday, and several speakers called on the crowd to celebrate his life, not mourn his passing. Banks, a two-time MVP, military veteran and winner of the Presi- dential Medal of Freedom, died Jan. 23 of a heart attack.

Banks was the Cubs’ first black player when he joined the team in 1953.

A person with knowledge of the contract reports that the Los Angeles Angels have reached a $3.2 million deal for the upcoming season with right-hander Garrett Richards.

The Angels avoided potentially their trickiest arbitration case by signing Richards, who went 13-4 with a 2.61 ERA in his breakout season in 2014. Los Angeles agreed to a deal closer to the $3.8 million requested by Richards than the $2.4 million offered by the club.

Richards appeared to be a serious contender for the AL Cy Young award until he tore the patellar tendon in his left knee while covering first base Aug. 20 in Boston, ending his season.