Rizzo's Legacy Continues

Rizzo in the Stands, Wearing His 2016 Jersey

Rizzo was not just any fan in the bleachers on this day. He wore his Game 7 jersey from the 2016 World Series. That detail made the catch feel like more than a lucky souvenir grab. World Baseball Network noted that Rizzo had returned to Wrigley for a major ceremony tied to that championship.

Rizzo reached back and picked the ball up off the concrete — it was not caught on the fly. He then held it high while a small boy sat on his shoulder. The crowd's reaction was immediate. The image of a 2016 World Series hero snagging a current Cubs homer in the bleachers was hard to script.

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Champions Gate Unveiled to Mark 2016 Title's 10th Year

Rizzo was at Wrigley for the unveiling of the Champions Gate, a 31-foot-wide archway built on the west side of the ballpark. The sculpture marks the 10th anniversary of the Cubs' 2016 World Series win. Team owner Tom Ricketts and manager Joe Maddon were both there, along with about 20 players from that title team.

Kyle Hendricks threw a ceremonial first pitch at the event. The gate is meant to stand as a permanent tribute to the team that ended a 108-year championship drought. Cairns Post described it as a landmark moment for the franchise and its alumni.

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What Rizzo Meant to the 2016 Championship Run

Rizzo was a cornerstone of that 2016 Cubs team. He hit .292 with 32 home runs and 109 RBIs in the regular season. In the postseason, he added three more homers and drove in 10 runs as Chicago ended its 108-year title drought. World Baseball Network called him a three-time All-Star who helped define that era.

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A Year After Botching One, Rizzo Finally Holds On

The catch had an extra layer of meaning given what happened last time. Less than a year ago, Rizzo had a chance to grab another Busch home run ball at Wrigley and dropped it. NY Post highlighted the contrast between that miss and this clean recovery, even if the ball did bounce first.

The odds of a former Cubs star twice being in the right place to catch a ball from the same current Cub are slim. But Rizzo now has at least two Busch homers to his name. On a day already full of nostalgia and ceremony, the bleacher moment gave fans one more reason to smile.

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