Cubs legend Anthony Rizzo’s retirement recalls the single moment that ended 108 years of misery originally appeared on The Sporting News
In the final split second before 108 years of Chicago Cubs misery ended, Anthony Rizzo extended at first base to receive a throw from his friend across the diamond, Kris Bryant.
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And then, the ball settled securely in Rizzo’s glove, the drought was over. Rizzo lifted both arms to the sky. And the celebration of all celebrations ensued for North Siders everywhere.
Anyone could’ve caught that ball at first base in that moment. But it was fitting that it was Rizzo, who is officially retiring this weekend as a member of the Cubs.
His baseball journey had led him to that pinnacle as just the player the Cubs needed.
Years earlier, as an 18-year old, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, but after chemotherapy, the cancer went into remission.
He was with the Boston Red Sox then, but he was soon traded to the San Diego Padres as a key piece in the deal for star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.
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Rizzo made it to the majors with the Padres, but only for a brief time, before being traded to the Cubs in a deal that the key return piece was right-handed pitcher Andrew Cashner. Yeah, that worked out for Chicago.
And then, as the Cubs mounted their immaculate rebuild, Rizzo was right there.
He stood on top of the plate and got hit by a bunch of pitches, but anything out over the plate, he punished.
Along with Bryant, he helped form a potent middle of the order.
And, as fate would have it, Rizzo’s best season was 2016. He had a career-best .928 OPS. He tied his career-highs in homers (32) and RBI (109). And in the playoffs, he batted a solid .277 with five doubles and three home runs.
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In that Game 7 epic that the Cubs won 8-7, Rizzo had a hit, an intentional walk, a hit by pitch, a run, an RBI. He filled the box score.
And on the final out, Rizzo stuck the baseball in his back pocket, threw his glove off to the side, and trotted toward the mound to join the party.
In that moment, 108 years of waiting were no more. Rizzo had the ball that proved it.
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