Rizzo Returns to Wrigley for 10th Anniversary of Cubs' Title, Watches from Outfield and Snags a Home Run Ball

The Chicago Cubs recently held a ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary of their 2016 World Series title. Anthony Rizzo, a key contributor to that championship team at first base, came back to Wrigley Field. In addition to being cheered alongside his former teammates, he happened to snag a home run ball hit by Michael Busch while sitting in the right-field stands. Remarkably, this marked the second time in less than a year that he had caught a Cubs player's home run ball from the stands.

Members of the 2016 championship squad that ended the Cubs' 108-year "Curse of the Billy Goat" gathered at Wrigley Field to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their title. Rizzo, who had served as a ceremonial pitcher for the unveiling of the 2027 All-Star Game logo the day before, returned to the ballpark for the festivities and spent the game watching from the right-field bleachers alongside fans.

A fun moment unfolded early in the game. In the bottom of the first inning, current Cubs first baseman Michael Busch took a fastball on the inside corner from Minnesota Twins starter Taj Bradley and launched it into the right-field bleachers. The ball first bounced off a fan in the front row and then dropped, eventually rolling right next to Rizzo, who was holding his nearly two-year-old son. He casually picked up the home run ball and raised it to the crowd, drawing a huge ovation.

This was the second time in less than a year that Rizzo had "attracted" a home run ball at Wrigley Field. Last September 13, he officially retired as a Cub while sitting in the left-field stands. That day, Moisés Ballesteros hit his first career home run, and the ball landed near Rizzo's area. Although it was caught by a fan behind him, the moment became one of the most talked-about highlights of the day.

Rizzo spent 10 full seasons with the Cubs from 2012 to 2021, hitting 242 home runs and driving in 784 runs. He was a three-time All-Star and a four-time Gold Glove winner, playing a crucial role in the 2016 World Series championship. That year, he posted a .292 batting average, 32 home runs, and 109 RBIs, helping the Cubs win the National League Central with 103 victories. In the postseason, they eliminated the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers before defeating the Cleveland Indians in a thrilling 10-inning Game 7 of the World Series, ending the franchise's 108-year championship drought.