St. Louis ? 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 51/2 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.

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

A family service was planned for today.

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 a 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.”

Along with hundreds of anecdotes recounted in recent days on talk radio, a certain possibility is repeatedly floated: “Jack Buck Stadium.”

The Cardinals owners have been pursuing a new ballpark to replace Busch Stadium.

“Because of the type of person he was, and the reach that he had through KMOX, and the number of years that he was the voice of the Cardinals, he has done more to make the franchise what it is today that anyone, more than any player, more than any owner,” Cardinals president Mark Lamping said.