Anthony Rizzo retires from MLB, to become Cub ambassador

Anthony Rizzo, the first baseman best known for his role in the Chicago Cubs' 2016 World Series championship, announced Wednesday that he is retiring from Major League Baseball and will formally retire as a Cub at a ceremony Saturday at Wrigley Field when Chicago hosts the Tampa Bay Rays. The Cubs also said Rizzo will remain with the organization as a team ambassador.

The 36 year old Rizzo spent parts of 10 seasons in Chicago across a 14 year major league career that began with the San Diego Padres in 2011 and concluded with three and a half seasons with the New York Yankees. He finished his career with 303 home runs, 965 RBIs and 1,644 hits and a slash line of .261/.361/.467, the team said. For the Cubs specifically, he hit .272 with 242 homers and 784 RBIs.

Rizzo emerged as a cornerstone of the Cubs' resurgence in the 2010s, earning three consecutive All Star selections from 2014 to 2016 and finishing among the top vote getters in National League MVP balloting in multiple seasons. He won the 2016 World Series with Chicago, a title highlighted by the play that secured the final out, and collected individual honors that include four Gold Gloves, a Platinum Glove, a Silver...