Anthony Rizzo is calling it a career. The veteran first baseman, who spent 14 seasons in Major League Baseball and became a cornerstone of the Chicago Cubs’ most successful era in over a century, will officially retire Saturday in a ceremony at Wrigley Field. Before the Cubs take on the Tampa Bay Rays, the team will honor Rizzo by signing him to a symbolic one-day contract, ensuring he leaves the game as a member of the franchise with which he is most closely tied.
Rizzo, 36, finished his career with the New York Yankees, where he played three and a half seasons following a 2021 trade. While his time in New York included playoff appearances, it was his decade in Chicago that defined him. The three-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner became one of the faces of the Cubs’ 2016 championship team, delivering clutch hits and steady leadership as the club ended its 108-year World Series drought. His memorable final putout in Game 7 against Cleveland remains etched in Cubs history.
The Cubs announced that Rizzo will transition into an ambassador role with the organization, keeping him connected to the team he helped transform. “Anthony’s legacy is more than numbers,” said Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts. “He was a leader in the clubhouse, a champion on the field, and a true representative of what it means to wear the Cubs uniform.”
Beyond his accomplishments between the foul lines — more than 300 career home runs, over 1,500 hits, and a career OPS above .820 — Rizzo leaves behind a powerful off-field legacy. A cancer survivor himself, he established the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation, which has raised millions to support children battling cancer and their families. In recognition of his charitable work, he was awarded the Roberto Clemente Award in 2017, one of baseball’s highest honors for community service.
Drafted originally by the Boston Red Sox in 2007, Rizzo made his major league debut with the San Diego Padres in 2011 before being traded to Chicago the following year. From there, he grew into the Cubs’ captain in spirit if not in title, embodying both resilience and consistency during a transformative decade for the franchise.
As he prepares to close the book on his playing career, Rizzo leaves baseball not only as a champion but also as a symbol of perseverance, leadership, and community. For Cubs fans, his retirement is less of a goodbye and more of a welcome home.
