NEW YORK — Anthony Rizzo announced his retirement Wednesday, bringing an end to a decorated career after going unsigned this season. The 36-year-old first baseman will retire as a Chicago Cub and be honored during a pregame ceremony Saturday at Wrigley Field before the Cubs face the Tampa Bay Rays.
Rizzo spent 10 seasons in Chicago and will now serve as an ambassador for the franchise. The Cubs said the role will allow him to stay connected to the team while focusing on community programs and fan outreach.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised Rizzo for his impact on and off the field.
“Obviously, a great career,” Boone said. “All-Stars, Gold Gloves, Silver Slugger, world champion. A key figure for us here these last few years.”
Boone added, “He’s just got a larger-than-life personality and presence to him that’s very real. A guy that played the game within the game so well. A lot of moxie.”
The manager also recalled Rizzo’s toughness. “I think about even last year, struggling through a lot of last year, getting hurt, coming back, still being hurt and playing through pain. Having to numb [two broken fingers] every game and even during the game and still going out and performing the way he did. He’s a great player.”
Rizzo shined in Chicago during the 2016 postseason, batting .360 with a .484 on-base percentage against Cleveland in the World Series after hitting .320 in the NLCS against the Dodgers. In New York, he spent 3½ seasons from 2021 through 2024, delivering several unforgettable moments. Here are top Rizzo moments in pinstripes that made Yankees headlines.
Home run in Yankees debut (July 30, 2021 vs. Marlins)
Rizzo wasted no time making an impression. In his first game with the Yankees on July 30, 2021, he went 2 for 3 with a walk and blasted a 449-foot homer in the sixth inning against Miami. His solo shot broke a scoreless tie in what became a 3-1 win. Rizzo scored two of the Yankees’ three runs that night, instantly endearing himself to the Bronx crowd.
Historic RBI streak in first six games (August 2021)
The hot start rolled on. By August 4, 2021, Rizzo had driven in at least one run in each of his first six games with New York, becoming the first player in franchise history to do so. In that span, he slashed .400/.519/.850 with three homers and six RBIs.
“It’s definitely special,” Rizzo said, adding how honored he was to be “No. 1 at anything for a Yankee.”
Opening Day 2022 heroics vs. Boston (April 8, 2022)
On Opening Day 2022, Rizzo set the tone against the rival Red Sox. After Boston grabbed a 3-0 lead in the first inning, the first baseman answered in the bottom half by crushing a two-run homer off Nathan Eovaldi. The blast cut the deficit to one and energized the home crowd. New York eventually pulled out a 6-5 win in 11 innings.
Three-home-run game at Yankee Stadium (April 26, 2022 vs. Orioles)
Rizzo put on a show against Baltimore on April 26, 2022, hitting three home runs in a single game for the first time in his career. He connected for a three-run homer in the third, a two-run shot in the fifth, and a solo drive in the eighth that clanged off the foul pole. The Yankees won 12-8, and Rizzo admitted, “I was just shocked. I’ve never hit three homers in a game.”
Walk-off homer vs. Rays (June 16, 2022)
Bronx fans saw more magic on June 16, 2022. With the score tied 1-1 in the ninth against Tampa Bay, Rizzo lifted a solo homer to right-center for a 2-1 victory. The win marked the team’s 14th straight at home, its longest Bronx streak since 1961. Boone said afterward, “Just a great at-bat by Anthony.”
Acting manager for Judge’s 61st HR (Sept. 28, 2022)
The night after the Yankees clinched the AL East, Boone gave Rizzo a unique opportunity. Resting that night, he served as acting manager against Toronto. He filled out the lineup card and mimicked Boone on the dugout steps in a hoodie. That same night, Aaron Judge hit his 61st homer, tying Roger Maris’ AL single-season record. Rizzo left the game 1-0 as a manager.
Postseason homer vs. Guardians (Oct. 11, 2022)
In Game 1 of the ALDS, Rizzo showed his October power again. Facing Cleveland on Oct. 11, 2022, he launched a two-run homer into the second deck in the sixth inning. The shot extended the lead to 4-1, giving Gerrit Cole breathing room in a game New York won by that score.
Bobblehead night comeback (May 12, 2023 vs. Rays)
Rizzo’s bobblehead night turned into one of his signature games. On May 12, 2023, he homered in the first inning against Tampa Bay, then drilled a go-ahead two-run shot in the eighth after the Rays had just taken the lead. The Yankees turned a 5-4 deficit into a 6-5 victory, with fans waving Star Wars-themed Rizzo bobbleheads all night.
Recruiting Judge with “doggy texts” (Winter 2022-23)
Off the field, Rizzo played a big role in Aaron Judge’s decision to stay in New York. After signing his own multiyear deal in November 2022, he launched what Judge called an “aggressive text-messaging campaign.” The first baseman sent Judge daily notes and photos of their dogs, Kevin and Penny, running on the Yankee Stadium grass. Judge later admitted, “He went for my heart,” and credited Rizzo as “a big part” of his decision to re-sign for nine years.
300th career home run (April 28, 2024 vs. Brewers)
Rizzo joined an elite club on April 28, 2024. Facing Milwaukee, he belted his 300th career homer, a two-run shot in the eighth inning of a 15-5 win. The milestone made him the 12th active player to reach 300.
“It’s amazing, it’s awesome,” Rizzo said, reflecting on “how hard it is and how much fun it has been” to play the game at that level.
Rizzo a Cubs legend, a Yankees hero
Rizzo closed his Yankees tenure with a .234/.326/.409 line and helped lead the team to the 2024 World Series. His years in New York were impacted by post-concussion syndrome following a 2023 collision, yet he fought through injuries and earned respect for his grit.
Recently, Rizzo visited Boone at Yankee Stadium as a new father. His wife, Emily, gave birth to their first child, Anthony, and he also worked as a guest MLB Network analyst during his free agency.
Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts celebrated Rizzo’s legacy in Chicago, saying, “Anthony Rizzo was the face of one of the most successful eras in Chicago Cubs history and we are so excited he will be a part of our organization for many years to come.”
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