Baseball
Baseball
Anthony Rizzo, 2016 Champion, Snags Michael Busch Home Run in Wrigley Bleachers
Anthony Rizzo, a key figure from the Chicago Cubs’ 2016 World Series championship team, found himself in a familiar position on Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field: holding a baseball hit out of the park. While attending a celebration for the 2016 squad, Rizzo, seated in the right-field bleachers, collected a first-inning solo home run struck by current Cubs first baseman Michael Busch.
The unusual moment occurred during Chicago’s 6-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins. Busch’s blast, which left the bat at 101.6 mph and traveled an estimated 402 feet, landed near Rizzo, who hoisted the ball with his young son to the cheers of his former teammates, including Ben Zobrist. Busch later expressed surprise and amusement, stating that he learned from Miguel Amaya that Rizzo had retrieved his home run.
Rizzo, who wore his iconic 2016 Game 7 jersey, was part of a larger team reunion. Earlier in the day, he spoke at the unveiling of a new Champions Gate monument outside the stadium, which features a bronzed image of him celebrating. He also shared his hope for “five or seven more championships” for the Cubs in his lifetime.
This wasn’t Rizzo’s first experience with a ball finding him in the bleachers during a game. Last September, following a ceremony honoring his retirement, he was in a similar spot and nearly caught Moisés Ballesteros’ first major league home run. The 2016 World Series win famously ended the Cubs’ 108-year championship drought, their first since 1908.
Sources
