Jan. 28--Former Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa will not be attending the funeral of Ernie Banks on Saturday, a friend of Sosa's told the Tribune on Wednesday.
Sosa is scheduled to travel Saturday to Japan on a business trip that already had been pushed back as he awaited word on Banks' funeral arrangements.
Sosa also was unsure whether there would be an opportunity to visit privately with Banks' family on Friday, and did not want to risk diverting attention away from the services for the Cubs legend by appearing in public, the friend said.
Banks, who took trips to the Dominican Republic to meet and golf with Sosa, often referred to Sosa as "being like a son to me."
Visitation for Banks is scheduled for noon to 8 p.m. Friday at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chestnut St. The funeral will take place at the same location at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Sosa broke Banks' franchise home run record with 545 over 13 seasons. He also played for the White Sox, Rangers and Orioles and finished with his career 609 homers. But allegations of steroid use tainted his slugging numbers and have kept him from serious consideration for the Hall of Fame.
One of Banks' final missions was to arrange for a reconciliation between Sosa and the Cubs, who have distanced themselves from Sosa and did not invite him to the 100-year anniversary of Wrigley Field.
Sosa released a statement of sympathy for Banks' family on his Facebook page earlier this week.
"I wanted to express my sincere condolences to the family and fans of Mr. Cub, the legendary Ernie Banks. He was the first African-American to play for the Chicago Cubs, paving the way for many future baseball players like myself. Rest in peace," Sosa wrote.
fmitchell@tribpub.com
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