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Patrick Gorski - USA Today Sports

Anthony Pasquale · Staff Writer · 3 hours ago

Anthony Rizzo officially retire from baseball Saturday as a member of the Chicago Cubs, as well as embark upon a new journey as a special team ambassador to the organization. There was a packed stadium and a raucous crowd to welcome Rizzo back home, where he spent 10 of his 14 seasons in big league ball.

While we could easily say that Rizzo could still be playing baseball — in fact, likely would be more productive than Justin Turner and Carlos Santana, who are the Cubs’ first base depth pieces who provide clubhouse leadership — but that is neither here nor there. Instead, allow this to serve as an ode to Rizzo, who will easily go down as one of the most important players ever to don the pinstripes in the franchise’s illustrious history.

Rizzo was the face of the Cubs during a very dark period from 2012 to 2014, when the Team lost 286 games across three seasons. Rizzo had fought through and beat cancer, so grinding through the Cubs’ struggles was no sweat for the Parkland, Florida native. Then, he was the captain of the Cubs during their most successful time in franchise history.

Rizzo was reacquired twice by the same regime that brought him into baseball. When Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer were in Boston, they drafted him in the 6th round of the 2007 MLB draft. When Jed Hoyer left Boston and went to San Diego, Epstein traded Rizzo to Hoyer’s Padres. Rizzo played just one season in San Diego after grinding through the minor leagues, and Epstein and Hoyer re-acquired Rizzo in a trade for Andrew Cashner once they took over baseball operations in Chicago.

Rizzo quickly became a fan favorite, as well as a difference maker on the field. Rizzo won four Gold Glove awards, including a Platinum Glove award. He was a Silver Slugger award winner, a three-time all-star, and the 2017 Roberto Clemente Award Winner, acknowledging his contributions off the field. Rizzo finished in the top-5 in MVP voting twice — and of course is a 2016 World Series Champion.

Rizzo was the catalyst on a Cubs team that broke a 108-year curse and made fans' dreams come true. That alone will earn him immortality in Chicago, but it’s not even scratching the surface of what he meant to Chicago. Through his immense contributions to Lurie’s Children’s Hospital in Chicago, Rizzo helped provide a refuge to families battling the same disease he had fought years prior. He became a beacon of hope for countless children, worth much more than his batting average or defensive efforts. Rizzo has donated over 3.5 million dollars himself, as well as the momentous contributions the Rizzo Family Foundation has made over the years.

Rizzo provided immense leadership in the clubhouse. Whether it be taking on the entire Reds bench to stand up for a teammate or simply being a mentor to younger players, Rizzo was the type of player any player or coach would want on their team. Rizzo was also extremely well known for the infectious smile he played the game with. He joked around with his teammates and opponents, as well as his coaches, and brought an energy to the game that positively affected his entire team.

To put it simply, Anthony Rizzo has been the catalyst for a plethora of legendary moments in Cubs history.

From clutch home runs to unbelievable defensive efforts, Rizzo’s highlight reel features some of the most memorable and important plays that have ever occurred in Chicago. Fittingly, he was on the receiving end of the final out of the 2016 World Series, ending the longest drought in professional American sports history.

At the parade, Rizzo said, “It happened, baby!”

Now Rizzo gets to retire a Cub, but the outpouring of love won’t stop there for the Cubs legend. Whether it’s his number 44 being retired, getting a statue in Gallagher Way, or being inducted into the Cubs Hall of Fame, Rizzo will be deserving of it all. After all, he is undoubtedly one of the best and most important players in the history of one of the oldest American franchises.