Best Chicago Cubs’ first baseman I’ve seen play in my lifetime
Chicago Cubs: Anthony Rizzo
Number one on my list? Anthony Rizzo. I know. He doesn’t have the numbers to match Grace. And Grace kept Shawon Dunston out of a few too many errors. But what he doesn’t have in average? He has in power. A lot of it.
In eight years–we’re not counting San Diego–he’s hit 25+ seven of eight years. And his knocked in 100+ RBI four out of the last five seasons. And the crazy part? He shortens up on his swing. So the way Joey Votto does it? That’s Rizzo. Votto chokes up a little more, but two strikes? Rizzo has his hands up on the bat. He sacrifices power for contact.
In his career with the Cubs, he’s posted a slash of .273/.373/.488 with a .862 OPS. He’s also posted 217 home runs and 720 RBI, by far the most of this group. By far, Rizzo is ‘home.’ You turn around; he’s there. Even when it’s bad? Rizzo answers the call.