Anthony Rizzo does not wear his only World Series ring.
Rather, he keeps it locked away at home. If house guests want to see it, he’s happy to show it off. But the relationships he made on the way to winning that piece of jewelry mean more than the bling itself.
“The ring is great and all, but it’s the bond you make with the guys on that team,” Rizzo said, referring to the 2016 Cubs. “When you go through any championship like that, the bond you make is the most important thing. You look at the ring and you look at whatever memory, but that’s what you think about: the connections you have with your teammates.”
That Cubs squad ended a 108-year title drought on the North Side of Chicago. In doing so, Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Javier Báez, Jon Lester and other key contributors became legends in Chicago.
“After we won the World Series, the stories that you heard, all the pictures, people going to the graves, and just the countless stories you still hear — ‘Oh my, thank you so much’ — it was really special after we won,” said Rizzo, who remains close with the aforementioned names, David Ross, Dexter Fowler and other 2016 teammates. “Just the years after being there, seeing how happy those fans were was really cool. I think anyone you ask on that team will say pretty much the same thing.
“You’re on top of the world. It’s what you dream of as a player. During that parade, all the work you put in, everything’s worth it.”
The Curse of the Billy Goat extinguished, that Cubs core never recaptured that magic and was ultimately disbanded over the next few years. Rizzo was traded to the Yankees midway through the 2021 season.
On Friday, he will return to The Friendly Confines for the first time when the Bombers and Cubs open a three-game series.
“I’m definitely excited to go back and experience Wrigley as a visitor,” the first baseman said. “It’ll be fun. It’ll be a special experience for me, [my wife] Emily and my family.”
Rizzo added that he expects to feel some emotions when he steps into the box at Wrigley this weekend, where loud ovations are sure to welcome him.
“I think it’s going to be awesome,” Aaron Boone said. “I’m sure he’s excited to go back there. Obviously, he’ll be forever etched in their history and forever beloved in that town. So I’m sure it’s exciting for him to go back.”
For a while, Rizzo’s Wrigley homecoming was in jeopardy, as the veteran only just returned from a fractured arm. He’s 3-for-13 with two doubles and three RBI in four games since coming off the injured list.
Rizzo said that the timing of the Cubs series didn’t impact his rehab schedule. But with 40 friends and family members expected in Chicago, there’s no denying that he’s looking forward to the weekend after calling his love for the Cubs and their fans “unmatched.”
That said, Rizzo is perfectly happy with his current team.
When the Cubs first told him he had been traded to the Yankees, Rizzo was surprised, as rumors had him pegged for Boston. He said his heart sank a little when he learned of the deal, but the childhood Yankees fan was also “ecstatic” about a chance to play in pinstripes.
He’s since come to love living in a different major city.
“Emily and I couldn’t be happier living in New York, being in the city, playing at Yankee Stadium,” he said. “As much as we love Chicago, I think, where we ended up was perfect for us.”
Now 35, Rizzo could become a free agent at the end of the season if the Yankees pay a $6 million buyout on his $17 million club option. It wouldn’t be surprising if they did, nor would it shock anyone if the two sides agreed to a new deal somewhere in between those figures.
Despite some struggles and poor health over the last two years, Rizzo is expected to keep playing after this season. He hinted at that when he said it’s too soon to think about whether he’d want to sign a one-day contract with the Cubs before retiring.
However, he didn’t put too much stock in the popular but symbolic gesture. Whether such a sendoff happens or not, he’ll always be welcomed in The Windy City.
“I think that door will always be open in Chicago,” Rizzo said.