burt simmons was a hero of ours. he was the last of the baltimore eli giants. >> reporter: today, this hero was remembered at walker presbyterian church. >> he knew how to reach and touch people. >> his aura in the classroom is just amazing. just amazing. and he's going to be missed. and our school and law enforcement will be missing him as well. >> reporter: katrina met him when she spoke to her class at govens elementary school. >> wow, we're meeting a celebrity. is he rich? is he rich? and i remember him saying, i'm not rich necessarily in wealth. but i'm rich in friends and the experiences that i've had in life. to me, that was profound. >> his contract paid him $200 a month. >> baseball was what i wanted to do. and turned out fine. >> i will miss him dearly. i wear this more for pride now. and i'm eager to do what i can now to keep his legacy alive. >> reporter: burt simmons' legacy will live on here at his church. he founded the negro baseball league museum. >> it is something i'll treasure and remember in my h

that's how negro league great burt simmons is being remembered today. simmons died last week at the age of 85. ron matz reports on the final tribute to a baltimore sports legend. >> feel good enough to play in the negro league? you're good enough to play in the major league. >> reporter: burt simmons loved telling students about students about his baseball days. >> we loved burt simmons. burt simmons was a hero of ours. he was the last of the baltimore eli giants. >> reporter: today, this hero was remembered at walker presbyterian church. >> he knew how to reach and touch people. >> his aura in the classroom was just amazing. just amazing. and he's going to be missed. >> reporter: katrina kierny met burke when he spoke to her class at govens elementary school. >> wow. we're meeting a celebrity. is he rich? is he rich? and i remember him saying, rich? i'm not rich necessarily in weth. but i'm -- wealth. but i'm rich in friends and the experiences i've had in my life. and to me that was profound. >> reporter: his 1950s contract paid him $200 a month. >> ba

. >>> former negro league star burt simmons passed away. last year, the orioles paid tribute to simmons by making him their number 1 pick in an honorary negro league draft. he was well known in the area and appeared at orioles fan fest every year. burt simmons was 85 years old. >>> don't miss the cbs evening news with katie couric. here's one of the stories they're working on. >>> i'm bill plant in laquilla, italy. where president obama and other leaders are attending the g8 summit. we'll have all of the news here on the early show. >>> bob turk in the first warning weather center. more perfect july weather headed our way. i'll have the exclusive five- day forecast. >>> first, here's today's report from wall street. abrasive on dentures? look, scratches collect and grow cause bad breath instead clean without scratching causing bacteria every day tire a city is damaged by lightning. a jewish temple offers to help out. >>> the bell tower of bethel ame burns last week. the pastor, reverend frank reed, wasn't quite sure where his flock would ga

. >>> baltimore baseball community, mourns the passing of burt simmons. a former negro league star. the orioles paid tribute to simmons one week ago, when they made him honorary draft pick. he was 85 years old. >>> the basketball. this is the first day nba teams can officially sign free agents. they produce ron artest. he gets a five-year deal from gm mitch kupchak. he is a 10-year veteran. considered one of the league's top defensive players. >>> and finally, proof that you can have cheerleaders for any event. these ladies are lending their spirit to cycling's tour de france. day 5 of the three-week-long race. american lance armstrong continues his charge toward the front in second place in the overall standings. thomas beckler won today's stage. overall leader. >>> that's it for us. >> couric: tonight, the battle over the stimulus. as the recession drags on, some say the economy needs another shot in the arm. but is the first one even working? i'm katie couric. also tonight, they get much of the blame for the high cost of gas. now the government is taking aim at speculators who dr

burt simmons has passed away at the age of 85. simmons played for the baltimore eli giants. and was a pitcher and outfielder. last year, he had the honor of being the number 1 selection in the orioles. he was a native of north carolina but lived in baltimore for 58 years. and he appeared at the orioles' fan fest every year. i had the honor of going with him in 1995 and a group of other guys. leon day was inducted posthumously. i wanted to express my condolences to his family. he was a great man. >>> still ahead. we're going to update the breaking news from nashville. police confirm steve mcnair's death was, in fact, a murder- suicide. and that's not all. >>> hope for irregular heartbeats. stick around for healthwatch. >>> and it's may in july. but who is complaining. meteorologist bernadette woods is updating your first warning forecast. >>> a firecracker factory in southern india, killing 17 people and injuring 7 others. it took about four hours to put out the flames. firefighters say there wasn't enough water in the area, making their job more difficult. the cause remains