Teary-Eyed Rizzo Pays Tribute to Ross at Cubs Rally

The relationship between David Ross and Anthony Rizzo has been one of the most well-documented friendships on the Chicago Cubs roster, and now that the duo has won a World Series championship and Ross is getting ready to ride into the sunset, they shared one more tender moment during the team’s rally on Friday.

Rizzo, who spoke near the tail end of the festivities, started out by thanking all of the Cubs players that had worn the uniform since the team’s last World Series title, but he quickly turned his attention to what it meant to have Ross as a teammate:

“He is exactly what we needed to bring everything together,” Rizzo said. “He taught me personally how to become a big winner. He’s like a brother to me. He’s taught me how to lead, and he’s going out a champion.”

Rizzo, choked up with tears, then had Ross come up to the microphone, and the teary-eyed catcher kept things simple when it was his turn to speak.

“Look what these guys got me!” he exclaimed.

Ross announced before the 2016 season that he was retiring from baseball, and Rizzo and Kris Bryant started an Instagram account documenting his final campaign. Ross also received gifts and adulation from all corners of the baseball world, but then he got one final gift before he retired: he hit a home run in his final World Series game.

Contact Us