Anthony Rizzo sees common thread between 2016 Cubs, 2024 World Series-bound Yankees

For the first time in 15 years, the New York Yankees will represent the American League in the World Series. A three-run home run from Juan Soto in extra innings put the nail in the coffin of the Cleveland Guardians, setting the Bronx Bombers on a collision course with either the Los Angeles Dodgers or New York Mets in the Fall Classic.

This Yankees team features a handful of former Chicago Cubs players, including Mark Leiter Jr., who was traded to New York this summer, Marcus Stroman and, of course, Anthony Rizzo, who joined the team back in 2021 and is now a 35-year-old seasoned veteran on the club. For the first time since 2016, Rizzo returns to the World Series and has a chance to add another ring to his resume.

The Yankees first baseman hung a 1.000 OPS on Guardians pitchers in the ALCS, a remarkable feat when you consider his still-healing pair of fractured fingers. Asked after their Game 5 win, Rizzo spoke with reporters - and pointed out what made this group different than other Yankees teams he's been with.

What does it all boil down to? The closeness in the clubhouse. Of course, trotting out a combination of Juan Soto and Aaron Judge or running a payroll north of $300 million doesn't hurt - but Cubs fans will no doubt remember it was that same characteristic that everyone who played on that 2016 championship team pointed out as a difference-maker.

That was especially true come crunch time when Chicago went down three games to one to Cleveland. There was no panic and it was very much a 'next man up' mentality that helped the Cubs pull off the historic comeback and win their first championship in 108 years.

Who can forget the guys playing video games in the clubhouse before Game 7 or Rizzo, then just 26 years old, leaning on David Ross in the dugout telling him he was in a 'glass case of emotions'. That team, like so many other championship-winning groups in baseball history, was tight-knit and the hope in New York is that factor, paired with some of the biggest names in the game, can help Rizzo and the Yankees bring home World Series title number 28.