ST. LOUIS -- For the second time in six days, Busch Stadium was part baseball park, part funeral home as former teammates paid their respects to Darryl Kile.

Dozens of players who have been mourning Kile in ballparks across the country got the chance to say goodbye together in an hour-long memorial service attended by 5,000 fans Wednesday. Among the speakers were retired pitcher Doug Drabek, Rockies pitcher Pete Harnisch and Cardinals teammates Dave Veres, Woody Williams and Mike Matheny.

Kile's wife due contract

Darryl Kile's wife will receive the rest of his guaranteed contract, which was reportedly worth $8 million a year and runs through 2003. In addition to his contract, his wife Flynn will benefit from the $300,000 life insurance policy included in his benefits. She will also be receiving full pension benefits beginning next month for the rest of her life. The pension benefits are more than $160,000 annually, according to a Major League Baseball Players Association official. -- Darren Rovell, ESPN.com

The Rockies and Astros, the other two teams Kile played for, sent large contingents of players with Larry Walker, Jeff Bagwell, Mike Hampton, Craig Biggio among those attending. So did the Arizona Diamondbacks, as well as the Milwaukee Brewers, who were in town for a three-game series.

"We cannot possibly understand why we are here today,'' Williams said. "Thank you, Lord, for the time we had with Darryl. What a good man he was.''

Kile, 33, died Saturday in his Chicago hotel bed of heart attack caused by blocked arteries.

Many players took redeye charter flights for the service and planned to catch return flights in time for their games. Several sat with family under tents in the infield, with dozens more lining the first few rows of the box seats.

Kile's wife, Flynn, and 5-year-old twins, Kannon and Sierra, sat in the front row in the tents. Flynn had her arms around her kids throughout most of the service.

"Baseball, more than people would like to think, is a family,'' Diamondbacks pitcher Curt Schilling said after the service. "Unfortunately, the only time you hear about a DK is when something tragic happens.

	Doug Drabek was one of many to speak during the memorial service for Darryl Kile.

"He was a fantastic human being, a great father, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family.''

Unlike a memorial service for longtime Cardinals broadcaster Jack Buck at the stadium last Thursday, there was no casket on the field for the tribute to Kile. This time the focal point was a podium on the pitcher's mound where Kile made his living.

Harnisch, who had known Kile since 1991, recalled Kile's no-hitter in 1993 with the Astros as a highlight of both of their careers.

"I can remember it as if it was yesterday,'' Harnisch said. "I've never wanted something for someone so much. I told him then and I tell you now, it was my greatest thrill in the game.''

Drabek, who like Harnisch pitched with Kile on the Astros in the 1990s, also spoke of Kile's clubhouse leadership.

"I was an only child, so growing up I figured I'd never have a brother and sister,'' Drabek said. "How so wrong I was.''

Veres, who was with Kile on the Astros, Rockies and Cardinals, read from scripture and added a personal note: "Everybody knew on Earth that Darryl was a heavenly being. He is finally being crowned with the glory and honor he deserves.'' Williams read the closing prayer.

Several players tried to lighten the mood at bit, talking about Kile's golf game.

"DK, I hope they have wide fairways up there,'' Drabek said. "Because we all know you need it.''

Schilling said Kile's two best attributes as an athlete were "his golf swing and his curveball.''

Several hundred fans, many wearing Cardinal red and carrying sings and banners, were waiting when the gates opened about a half-hour before the service began. Dan Mattingly wore a Cardinals cap with the initials "JFB'' written on one side in tribute to Buck and "DK'' on the other.

"I'm here to put some closure on the whole thing,'' Mattingly said. "I was at Wrigley Field on Saturday and I was here for the Jack Buck ceremony last week. It will help me to be here today.''

Teammates hung two of Kile's jerseys from his locker stall on Tuesday. Kile's batting helmet, several warmup jerseys and even mail remained in the stall.