ST. LOUIS -- Thousands of mourners streamed passed Jack Buck's closed casket near home plate at Busch Stadium on Thursday in a public display of grief for a famed broadcaster and longtime friend.

	Missouri Gov. Bob Holden was one of thousands to pay their respects to the late Jack Buck at Busch Stadium.

Alan Douglas is among thousands of fans taking Jack Buck's death a little hard.

The 40-year-old tennis instructor was at Busch Stadium bright and early Thursday morning to walk around the field past the closed casket. He took a seat behind the dugout for some quiet reflection.

''It's just -- it's kind of tough,'' he said. ''Sometimes you just take things for granted. This year just hasn't been the same.''

Buck, 77, died Tuesday night after 5 1-2 months in the hospital. As if to show strength for the millions of fans grieving the loss of an old friend, Joe Buck emceed his own father's memorial service Thursday. Joe Buck also broadcast the Cardinals' game Tuesday night, hours before his father died.

''I hope that we can turn something that's somber into something that's celebrating a great life,'' he said.

St. Louis football Cardinals Hall of Fame lineman Dan Dierdorf injected a bit of humor into the proceedings with a joke about Jack Buck's color-blindness. Buck was known to wear some loud outfits, even with wife Carole helping him to get the proper look.

''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.

Cardinals legend Stan Musial, dressed in a bright red sportscoat, was a close friend of Buck's.

''He loved St. Louis, and he loved the St. Louis Cardinals,'' Musial said. ''And Jack, your fans and I, we all love you.''

More than 10,000 mourners attended the public memorial service, about the same number that filed past Buck's closed casket all morning. Afterward, fans without tickets were invited to stay for the Cardinals' game against the Anaheim Angels.

A family service was planned for Friday.

Joe Buck recounted an event that he said was especially meaningful for his father. In a game during Mark McGwire's 70-homer 1998 season, the slugger was ejected by an umpire. Fans nearly rioted.

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 that class, encouraged by Buck, in his remarks.

''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.''

For fans like Douglas, Buck's famous calls are intermingled with personal memories.

''I remember coming here as a little kid when Bob Gibson was pitching,'' Douglas 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 streets of downtown St. Louis.

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