The Chicago Cubs will mark a decade since their historic World Series championship this November, and retired first baseman Anthony Rizzo is fully embracing his connection to the city as the milestone approaches. On November 2, 2016, the Cubs ended a 108-year drought, claiming their first title since 1908. Now living in retirement after signing a one-day contract to finish his career as a Cub, Rizzo has been actively involved in Chicago’s community while reflecting on that unforgettable championship run.
The 2016 team will reunite at Wrigley Field on July 18, exactly 10 years after Rizzo hit a three-run homer against the New York Mets in a 5-1 victory that propelled the Cubs to a 56-36 record. The celebration will bring together players who became legends in Chicago sports history.
Former slugger finds new purpose in Chicago after Yankees stint
After spending nearly four years with the New York Yankees following his departure from Chicago, Rizzo made the decision to retire as a Cub. Since hanging up his cleats, the former All-Star has maintained a strong presence in the city, regularly attending games at Wrigley Field and co-hosting a podcast with former teammate and World Series champion David Ross. The transition from player to community figure has been seamless for the veteran slugger.
Rizzo recently partnered with Abbott and Real Madrid on an initiative designed to give young soccer players from Chicago an opportunity of a lifetime. The program selected 16 talented athletes, ages 18 to 19, for the Abbott Dream Team. These rising stars, both male and female, will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Spain where they will train at Real Madrid’s official facilities.
Nutrition and mental preparation key to reaching elite levels
The partnership between Abbott and Real Madrid focuses not only on technical soccer skills but also emphasizes the critical role of nutrition in athletic performance. Rizzo stressed that giving back to the Chicago community holds deep personal meaning, and seeing young athletes receive this opportunity to train at one of the world’s most prestigious soccer clubs represents something truly special.
According to Rizzo, talent alone isn’t enough to succeed at the highest levels of professional sports. He emphasized that when athletes reach elite competition, the talent gap narrows significantly. What separates those who make it from those who don’t often comes down to mental capacity and attention to details that many overlook. Nutrition stands out as one of the most important factors, though its effects aren’t always immediately visible on the field.
- Athletes recover faster with proper nutrition
- Quality sleep improves with better dietary habits
- Energy levels increase throughout training and competition
- Physical readiness peaks when opportunities arise
The former first baseman explained that while results from good nutrition may not show up directly in statistics, athletes feel the difference in their recovery time, sleep quality, and overall energy. Taking care of the body becomes essential preparation for seizing opportunities when they present themselves.
World Series pressure managed through perspective and focus
When the Cubs reached the 2016 World Series, the weight of 108 years without a championship loomed over the franchise and its fans. However, Rizzo maintained that players on the field didn’t feel that historical burden as intensely as observers might have expected. Being one of only two teams still playing represented the culmination of excellence, and that perspective helped keep external pressures at bay.
At the time of the championship run, Rizzo had only been with the Cubs for five or six years. The previous 102 years of drought belonged to history, not to his immediate experience. He emphasized that maintaining perspective proved crucial during that October run. The team found ways to laugh about the pressure and kept outside noise from penetrating their focus on the task at hand.
Rizzo’s performance in the World Series reflected his ability to maintain composure under immense pressure. He posted a .360 batting average with a 1.084 OPS in the Fall Classic, delivering in crucial moments when his team needed him most. The approach centered on concentrating solely on what the team needed to do to win each game, rather than worrying about decades of disappointment.
Special team creates lasting memories and bonds
Reflecting on the approaching 10-year anniversary, Rizzo described the experience as surreal. Time has flown since that November night in Cleveland when the Cubs finally broke through. The team itself was special, the championship run was special, and the upcoming celebration promises to bring back those unique feelings that only that group of players shared together.
The reunion on July 18 will give fans another chance to celebrate the players who delivered Chicago’s first World Series title in more than a century. For Rizzo and his former teammates, it represents an opportunity to reconnect and remember the journey that made them heroes in a city that had waited generations for baseball’s ultimate prize. The bond formed during that championship season remains strong nearly a decade later, and the celebration will honor not just the victory but the lasting impact those players had on Chicago’s baseball legacy.
