Chicago Cubs: This World Series journey began with Anthony Rizzo
The Chicago Cubs are World Series champions. You’ll be reading that headline throughout the offseason. Honestly, it hasn’t officially sunk in just yet. While people began to praise multiple names, one stands out.
Life is full of difficult obstacles. Obstacles that will challenge you both mentally and physically, we all go through them. In the end, what matters is how well you handle the pressure.
For first baseman, Anthony Rizzo, his was cancer. Rizzo put together a foundation that puts smiles on the faces of young kids with cancer. Anthony has made a ton of trips to hospitals, bringing gifts and teammates along with him.
You can hardly see Anthony in the picture above. In fact, all you can see is his arm and face, kissing what I’m assuming is the final out of the World Series. Rizzo pocketed the baseball that was thrown by third baseman, Kris Bryant.
A souvenir that he will cherish for the rest of his life. Chicago’s slugger has an odd way of celebrating. Remember his little twerk session when the Cubs clinched the National League pennant?
It wasn’t the first time Rizzo shook what his mama gave him. Not the most comfortable sentence to type but, hey, it happened. What can you do?
There is no doubt that Anthony Rizzo is a huge piece to this World Series winning team.
From battling cancer to riding through a year in which the Chicago Cubs lost 100 games. One thing is for certain — this all started with Anthony Rizzo.
Finding A New Home
Rizzo was drafted in the sixth round of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft by the Boston Red Sox under Theo Epstein. A year later, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and underwent chemotherapy for six months.
Not to mention, Rizzo’s family was going through a similar battle with his Grandmother who was fighting cancer herself. Later on that year, Rizzo and his family received word that his cancer was in remission followed by even better news.
That news being that he could pretty much go on and live a normal life. Which involved him returning to professional baseball and eventually landing with the Chicago Cubs.
Being the veteran on this team, Rizzo is one of the most beloved Cubs in franchise history. As of now, in five years with the Cubs, Rizzo has swatted 133 home runs, 386 RBI, 164 doubles, 10 triples, and 720 hits.
From beating cancer and helping the Chicago Cubs win their first World Series title since 1908, Rizzo is on top of the world. And that’s exactly where he deserves to be. Rizzo is a special individual who was destined to become a champion.
Honestly, I believe the slogan, “We Never Quit” had to come from Rizzo’s mentality. Not giving up on the Chicago Cubs when they were at the bottom of the division when he first arrived. Recording multiple web gems over the years, clutch hits, home runs, etc.
Anthony Rizzo will go down as one of the greatest Chicago Cubs in franchise history.
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