15 MINUTES AGO: In a Touching Moment, Craig Counsell Pays Tribute to Anthony Rizzo, a True Cubs Legend
CHICAGO, IL – In a moment that tugged at the hearts of fans across Wrigleyville and beyond, Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell delivered a heartfelt tribute to former first baseman Anthony Rizzo, honoring the legacy of a player whose impact on the team and city goes far beyond the stat sheet.
Speaking during a special pregame ceremony at Wrigley Field as part of the Cubs’ “Legends Weekend” celebration, Counsell reflected on Rizzo’s decade-long tenure in Chicago — a period that brought hope, unity, and, most memorably, a World Series championship.
“Anthony wasn’t just our first baseman,” Counsell began, standing in front of a packed crowd. “He was our captain, our heartbeat. He led with toughness, with humor, and with heart. He gave everything he had to this team — and this city gave everything back to him.”
Rizzo, who joined the Cubs in 2012 and became a cornerstone of the franchise’s historic 2016 World Series run, was in attendance with his family. As Counsell spoke, the stadium screens showed highlights of Rizzo’s most iconic moments — from his clutch home runs to the unforgettable final out of Game 7 in Cleveland, where he caught the throw from Kris Bryant and launched a generation of memories into Chicago history.
The crowd, many wearing No. 44 jerseys, gave a standing ovation that lasted more than a minute.
Though Rizzo was traded to the New York Yankees in 2021, his deep connection with Chicago never faded. Over the years, he’s returned frequently for charity events and to visit Lurie Children’s Hospital, where he famously spent time with pediatric cancer patients — a cause deeply personal to him after overcoming Hodgkin’s lymphoma as a teenager.
“Anthony represented everything good about this franchise,” Counsell said. “He played hard, he played smart, and most importantly, he cared. Not just about wins and losses — but about people.”
Several of Rizzo’s former teammates, including Kris Bryant and Javier Báez, shared video messages that aired on the scoreboard. Bryant, now with the Colorado Rockies, said, “Anthony made everyone around him better. You never had to wonder if he had your back — he always did.”
The Cubs announced during the ceremony that Rizzo will be inducted into the team’s prestigious “Cubs Hall of Legends” later this year. In addition, a commemorative plaque honoring his leadership during the 2016 season will be placed permanently in the Wrigley Field concourse.
When Rizzo took the microphone, visibly moved, he paused for a moment before speaking.
“This place is home,” he said to roaring cheers. “I came here as a young kid trying to prove I belonged, and I left with memories, friendships, and a bond with this city that will never break.”
He thanked the fans for their unwavering support — through the rebuild years, the playoff pushes, and the championship season that broke the 108-year drought.
“You believed in us — even when no one else did,” Rizzo said. “And we believed in each other. That’s how we made history.”
Counsell, who took over managerial duties in 2024, acknowledged that while he never coached Rizzo during his Cubs tenure, he saw from afar how important he was to the team’s identity.
“You build a clubhouse around guys like Anthony Rizzo,” he said. “And when you lose one, you don’t replace him — you just carry his legacy forward.”
As the ceremony concluded, Rizzo tipped his cap to the crowd, touched his heart, and mouthed the words “Thank you.” The team then unveiled a banner in the right-field corner that read simply: “Forever a Cub – Anthony Rizzo.”
The Cubs went on to win that afternoon’s game in walk-off fashion, and fittingly, the player who drove in the winning run — rookie first baseman Matt Shaw — said afterward:
“I wore 44 growing up because of Rizz. Today was about him, and I just wanted to play the game the way he would.”
For Cubs fans, Anthony Rizzo isn’t just a chapter in the team’s history — he’s part of its soul.
