A homecoming is always emotional, and Anthony Rizzo is no different. The first baseman was the undisputed numero uno in the Chicago Cubs. He was the one who made the last tag that ended the Cubs’ century-old World Series drought. Rizzo was Mr. Wrigley Field but now, he is in the New York Yankees. And that is a whole different world, after three long years, Rizzo is back in Wrigley Field. Only this time, he isn’t wearing the Pinstripes connected with the Cubs, he’s donning the pinstripes connected to the Yankees.

Naturally, the emotions are high and so are the expectations: What will the crowd do when Rizzo steps up to the field? Well! If one goes by what the star says – there will be quite a few emotions he’ll have to deal with. “It’ll be a special experience for me, (my wife) Emily, my family just to go back,” Rizzo said, adding, “Did a lot of really special things in that city. It’ll be cool to go back as a Yankee.” The 35-year-old never wanted to leave the Cubs, revealing countless times that he wanted to be a Cubby for life. However, contractual disputes forced the Northsiders to trade Tony to the Yankees. Fortunately for him – that was nothing less than a total revelation.

“I think just getting traded here was a refresher for my career, as well,” Rizzo noted per New York Post, continuing, “To be able to live in the city and play at Yankee Stadium is something that I wish every baseball player can experience. The lights are brighter, they shine a little brighter every day and it brings the best out of you.” That is certainly true; multiple athletes have noted how the spotlight in the Bronx is bigger than anywhere in the world, it either makes you or breaks you. But while that happens, Rizzo still wishes for closure with the Cubs.

Anthony Rizzo’s Wrigley Field return excites his New York Yankees teammates

This homecoming isn’t just a chance to rekindle old romance, it is a way to gain closure for Rizzo. The star’s abrupt breakup with the Cubbies left him with a lot of unresolved feelings. Now Tony has a chance to finally lay them to rest. “As far as closure to that, I think that door will always be open in Chicago,” Anthony Rizzo said, adding, “The amount of respect I have for the fan base there and the love I have for them and the Cubs will never be (matched).” It’s this love that excites his New York Yankees teammates.

“We’re all excited to have him be celebrated,” Gerrit Cole mentioned, further claiming, “Just a fan favorite, team leader, hard-nosed, great players, player every day. He deserves to close the book.” However, Cole wasn’t the only one with such feelings. Even the manager Aaron Boone agreed that Rizzo will ‘forever be etched in their history and forever beloved in that town’. That is the legacy that Rizzo holds in Chicago. 

So now, one awaits the scenes when Anthony Rizzo will step into the Wrigley Field. Multiple memories will return, and so will the tears. As Rizzo said, being a Yankee is equally important for him, but until then, share what’s your favorite Anthony Rizzo moment in the Chicago Cubs in the comments below.