The Chicago Cubs have stepped forward to assume the debt for the funeral services of all-time franchise great Ernie Banks after an area funeral home filed a lien against his estate for $35,000.

Team spokesperson Julian Green told ESPN the club will pay off the entire bill to settle a claim filed by Donnellan Family Funeral Services late last week. The establishment's claim was sparked by a legal challenge to all Banks' dealings recently filed by the widow of the man known as "Mr. Cub," including the will he signed last October where he tendered all his assets to caretaker Regina Rice.

Banks, 83, died of a heart attack in late January, at which time Rice claimed in court proceedings he had just $16,000 in assets. Banks' widow immediately went to court to thwart what she was Rice's plan to have him cremated.

In all, Banks played 19 big-league seasons, winning two National League MVP Awards and smashing a career 512 homers. Banks also appeared in 14 All-Star Games, but never advanced to the postseason with the Cubs.

Still, Banks was revered as one of the game's biggest stars and most charismatic players. His constant saying of "It's a great day for a ball game; let's play two" became legendary. A statue of him with those famous words now stands outside Wrigley Field.

"It's certainly a sad day for us," Liz Banks recently said at a press conference confirming her husband's passing. "I'd like to thank everyone for being here. ... He was very beloved and he is going to be dearly missed by family, friends and all of his fans."

Banks' longtime teammate and MLB Hall of Famer Billy Williams once said of him: "As I traveled around in baseball then and now, people would ask me, 'Is Ernie really like that? Is he really that happy all the time?' I always say, 'That was Ernie. He was that way every day.' He's the most positive guy I ever met. He loved playing the game."