It’s been 1,135 days since the last time one of the greatest Chicago Cubs ever played a baseball game at Wrigley Field. That streak ends on Friday when Anthony Rizzo makes his long-anticipated return in front of his former home crowd. It’s setting up to be one of the most emotional days ever. However, for some, that emotion will bring great relief.
Rizzo was traded from the Cubs to the New York Yankees on July 29, 2021. He was the first of the three “core” players to be moved at the trade deadline, paving the way for what Jed Hoyer called “the next great Cubs team.” Shortly after Rizzo’s departure, Javier Baez and Kris Bryant were traded before the next game was even played.
Since then, Bryant and Baez have returned to Wrigley. Willson Contreras also frequently returns after signing with the rival St. Louis Cardinals. Retired friends Jon Lester, Ben Zobrist, and Dexter Fowler pop in from time to time to watch a ballgame or report on Marquee Sports. But not Rizzo yet—that is until Friday.
All the names above have returned to Wrigley Field and had their moments with the fans, except Anthony Rizzo. It’s almost fitting that he is the last one to return. The move to bring him to Chicago in the first place started the change of narrative.
Rizzo loves New York and believes it is the perfect place for him and his family to be. Now, his return brings the Cubs and their fans what they need the most—closure.
“I think that door will always be open in Chicago,” Rizzo said. “The amount of respect I have for the fan base there, and the love I have for them and the Cubs.”
Anthony Rizzo, via the Associated Press on ESPN.com in their article, Yankees’ Anthony Rizzo doesn’t seek closure in Chicago return
When Anthony Rizzo returns to Wrigley Field for the first time since being traded on Friday, he will not be trying to close anything. Rizzo says the metaphorical door to Chicago and the Cubs will always be open for him. He is right about that. His presence and leadership should one day earn him a spot in the Cubs Hall of Fame – maybe even more honors beyond that. He was the unofficial captain for the team that brought a championship to the North Side for the first time in a century.
However, while the door will always be opened for Rizzo, the final chapter of the metaphorical book of the 2016 team will be written this weekend. After that, the book can be closed, and a new one can begin. That is the closure Cubs fans are seeking.
Of the three “core” players, Kris Bryant was the best baseball player. Javier Baez was the flashiest, most exciting player. Anthony Rizzo was the most needed player to gel it all together. Come Monday morning, they will have all officially come and gone.
Manager Craig Counsell and these Chicago Cubs will no longer be in the shadows of what was. Ian Happ can still represent a bridge but will assume his role as a team leader. Shōta Imanaga and Justin Steele will carry the torch on the mound for years to come. Pete Crow-Armstrong, along with 2023 first-round pick Matt Shaw and budding star Owen Caissie, represent what could be another legendary future.
Anthony Rizzo’s reunion with Cubs fans is going to be a joyous occasion this weekend, filled with love and emotion. We will enjoy the moments and look forward to Monday. While it’s been in the works, a new era of Cubs baseball can officially begin with no strings attached.
