Chicago Cubs: “C” or not, Anthony Rizzo embodies Cubs captaincy

Anthony Rizzo has grown up within the Chicago Cubs organization, embodying what it means to be a captain — official title or not — on and off the field.

On Jan. 6, 2012, then-22-year-old Florida native Anthony Rizzo got a phone call from Theo Epstein. The latter was just months into his new role – in the early stages of building a championship-caliber Chicago Cubs team.

The two, of course, were intimately familiar from their days with the Boston Red Sox. Epstein drafted Rizzo when he headed up Boston’s baseball operations department with a sixth-round pick in 2007.

It was that January when Rizzo was acquired by Epstein. Epstein was just months into the new job to lead the Chicago Cubs where he led his former club, and Rizzo’s former club, the Boston Red Sox, to the World Series.

Among Cubs greats

Rizzo is currently the longest-tenured Cub. He struggled like prospects and up-and-comers often do. He flashed brilliance in some areas and refined weaknesses into strengths. The prospect in Rizzo saw the Cubs in some of their worse years. Together, team and prospect blossomed, forming a robust tandem. For both, a promise that turned to stardom.

He was there, in Cincinnati, July 10, 2014, when future World Series teammate — just two years later — Aroldis Chapman, nearly plunked Nate Schierholtz with a 101, and then, 100-mph pitch, and Rizzo was there at the dugout steps visibly displeased.

To put it mildly.

In the moment, benches cleared. But when you look back on that day, more stands out from that moment of hostility. It was the day Rizzo and the Cubs shed their doormat status. Wins and losses are deceiving, but the teams’ heart was there.

Into the offseason, the Cubs made headlines, bringing in another former Boston connection, as Jon Lester latched on for six years. Rizzo boldly predicted a division title for Chicago, and as the Cubs came off a last-place, 73-win season, and the Cardinals were constant favorites, I doubt many people expected the Cubs to win the Wild Card that season with 97 wins.

And knock out those Cardinals come October.

Obviously, we know, the rest is history. Rizzo caught the final out to cement the Cubs in baseball lore one year later. Chapman on the mound for Chicago, just an inning prior.

Official or otherwise

The reigning Roberto Clemente Award winner embodies what any human would hope to achieve, regardless of their craft. With his Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation, constant hospital visits, his personal strife with cancer, he showcases the kind of teammate any team would want.

Statistically, Rizzo is already up the leaderboards of all-time Cubs first baseman. His 24.0 fWAR is good for sixth all-time. Rizzo’s 165 franchise home runs rank third, just above long-time Cub, Mark Grace (148) and just below Derrek Lee (179).

Some would like to see the Cubs officially put the “C” on Rizzo’s chest, only to make official what many know to be true. That Anthony Rizzo is the captain of the Chicago Cubs. There’s probably a lot more that can be said to which truly pinpoints the scope of Rizzo’s presence for the Cubs, and most of that was on display in the wake of a reprehensible tragedy recently.

Whether or not that day comes, that the Cubs do officially designate him a captain, he would be the first since Sammy Sosa.

Next: Chicago Cubs: Thinking back on potential of Ohtani-to-Cubs

It’s undeniable that the Cubs’ chemistry couldn’t be better. And maybe official captaincy is not something the club values as far as appointing it to any one player. Regardless, there are many Cubs leaders, and Rizzo is among them, leading with grace from the top.