If you aren't a big baseball fan, I dare you to turn on a Cubs game, and watch. If you see a guy who is making runs after runs, and cheering on his teammates with a smile; its probably Anthony Rizzo. One word explains this Chicago Cubs All Star to a tee: sweetheart. Not only is he pleasing to the eye, but his personality makes him a guy to bring home to mom. But there are reasons why we love Rizzo so much; hitting close to home.
At age 18, he was celebrating his first draft to the Boston Red Sox. With one phone call, his celebration and excitement came to an unexpected halt. Rizzo was diagnosed with stage III Hodgkin's Lymphoma, that could end his baseball career before it even started. But this didn't stop him from fighting, and living out his dream. He decided that he was going to stay positive and battle cancer with courage and strength. He went through six months of chemotherapy, along with his grandmother fighting breast cancer. As sick as he felt, Rizzo never let it on. He knew he had to stay strong for everyone around him.
Once in remission, Rizzo returned to the field with more determination than ever before. At this point, he knew he wanted to become a role model to help cancer patients and their family. In 2012, the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation began, benefiting cancer research and families facing cancer. Rizzo took this opportunity to give back to his community. The organization is run by Anthony Rizzo himself and his close family.
He continues to show his compassion, resilience, and generosity, giving back to children battling cancer. It is no surprise that he was received the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association's 2015 Heart and Hustle Award. This award is presented to someone who shows commitment to sportsmanship, on and off the field. Rizzo has shown this and more, in his effort to better the lives of others.
Most people are unaware of how much joy Rizzo is bringing to others because of his modesty. His foundation provides him with a chance to make others smile, which in turn, makes mutual happiness. He states, “Just seeing a Chicago Cubs baseball player come in put a smile on their face, so being able to do that, I feel, helps them out a lot, and everything I’ve been through kind of helps me see kids put a smile on their face is huge."
Rizzo: We love you.
