Chicago Cubs: Anthony Rizzo and the Reds have history

Fans say it was the time that Rizzo stepped up and became the leader of the Chicago Cubs. MLB Brawl looks at the 2014 fight between Anthony Rizzo and the Cincinnati Reds.

In this MLB Brawl, I revisit the classic fight between Anthony Rizzo and the Cincinnati Reds. If you want to know why I’m writing about the fights in baseball, take a look at the first Brawl, What if Kris Bryant and Yadier Molina got in a brawl, to set the stage.

Chicago Cubs fans may have a hard time remembering back to 2014, primarily because two years later, we won a World Series title. So let me set the stage for you  “Brawl” fans. In 2014, Theo Epstein and the Cubs were rebuilding. They told fans ahead of time; they were going to lose and lose a lot as they began to fit the pieces together that later became a championship team.

Unfortunately, the future “World Champions” had not reached the level of perfection; we are used to seeing from them today. The scene was set on July 10, 2014, when the Cubs were playing a five-game set on the road against the Cincinnati Reds.

Chicago Cubs: Rizzo challenges the Reds

In what now has become Cubs folklore, in much the same way that the fight at the OK Corral became the major gun battle of the west, Rizzo took the field and his position at first base. Punching his glove and growing angrier as he thought about Chapman’s dismissal of his team, Rizzo looked over into the Reds dugout. The players were literally laughing at the Cubs play and how badly demolished Chapman had left them. Someone yelled something from the Reds dugout, and Rizzo could not contain himself any longer.

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He stomped toward the dugout with fist clenched to the space just outside the Reds dugout, threw down his glove and challenged the entire Reds team.

“Come on! Let’s go!” he challenged them.

Of course, they responded by clearing their benches, and the Cubs did the same.

Rizzo never had to swing at anyone as people from both teams with cooler heads grabbed their players and moved them back to the dugouts and their places on the field.

The Cubs ended up winning that game in the 12th inning. No player from either team was ejected due to the brawl. It was the start of Rizzo’s tough guy reputation. Let’s face it; no one wants to meet up with an angry Rizzo in a dark alley. Just saying.

Of course, the rest of the story is just as intriguing. Chapman becomes a Chicago Cub two years later and is part of the run and success of the Championship Cubs team.

Rizzo has gone from young thug to leader of the Chicago Cubs team. While he is still tough as nails, today Rizzo is known more for his work with children, his leadership during the shootings in his former high school and his child-like playfulness on the field and around the dugout.

Just don’t hit his teammates with pitches.