This story was excerpted from Jordan Bastian's Cubs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
CHICAGO -- Anthony Rizzo has returned to Wrigley Field as a visiting player and had the chance to raise his cap to the crowd while receiving well-earned standing ovations. The situation will be a little different on Saturday, when fans will really have the opportunity to celebrate his part in one of the great eras in Cubs history.
That is when Rizzo will officially retire as a member of the Cubs, tying a bow on a legendary decade with the organization that included ending the team’s 108-year World Series drought with the triumph in ‘16 over Cleveland. Rizzo’s time with the North Siders will be celebrated before and during the team’s game against the Rays at the Friendly Confines.
“The fact that he’s going to get his day,” Cubs outfielder Ian Happ said, “that it’s going to be during the season with a packed house at Wrigley, it’s going to be really special.”
The news of Rizzo’s retirement after 14 seasons in MLB arrived on Wednesday morning, as the Cubs were in Atlanta to finish up their series against the Braves. Happ and second baseman Nico Hoerner broke into the big leagues when Rizzo and the bulk of the core group from the ‘16 team was still in the fold to set the expectations for their own careers.
Hoerner has pointed to the fact that Rizzo -- who was acquired by the Cubs prior to the ‘12 season -- was the rare player who debuts amid a rebuild, blossoms into a star and realizes the dream of World Series glory. The current Cubs second baseman has always admired that aspect of Rizzo’s career, while hoping to enjoy a similar experience.
“He was there for every bit of it,” Hoerner said. “It’s just part of why I think fans really gravitated toward him and why it was so meaningful for him, too. … His ability to be significant in one place and kind of a steady force throughout different parts of a team’s arc is incredibly cool. And the relationships that he built in the clubhouse, along with friendships he had on the team and things like that, it’s just so hard to get that in sports where there’s so much turnover every year.”
Happ reached the Majors in ‘17 and has pointed to Rizzo and Jason Heyward, in particular, among those who helped teach him the ins and outs of being a Major Leaguer and what it meant to play for the Cubs. The now-veteran outfielder -- playing in his ninth season for Chicago -- has tried to impart those lessons to younger players now.
"I looked up to those guys quite a bit, so if anybody in this locker room feels that way about me it’d be pretty special,” Happ said. “I learned from that group. I grew up with that group and learned from watching them play every day. Learned from the way they went about their work. I learned how to play as many day games as we play from those guys, learning about routine and what it takes to do that here. I think Nico and I take a lot of pride in passing that down.”
As part of Rizzo’s retirement, the Cubs also plan on making him an ambassador for the organization. In that role, the former Cubs great will have opportunities to be around the ballclub more in the future. That is something that Happ and Hoerner agreed could only be beneficial for current players.
“No matter where he went or what he did after leaving Chicago, he had always earned and would have a home here,” Hoerner said. “It’s so cool to have people around … to just remind you of the impact that can be had on the organization and just the joy that can be created for fans, and the relationships. Having Rizz around in any capacity like that would be really fun.”
“Hopefully he’s there next spring,” Happ said. “Hopefully he’s around a lot more during the season next year. When you get guys in the locker room like [Ryan Dempster] or a guy like Rizz with his personality and his experience, just for guys to be able to pick his brain and ask him questions, it’s going to be so valuable and impactful.”