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Anthony Rizzo, the longtime face of the Chicago Cubs, collected a foul ball in the right-field bleachers at Wrigley Field on Saturday after Minnesota Twins opponent Michael Busch sent it his way. The blast occurred during the Cubs’ opening inning matchup against the visiting Twins, with Rizzo securing the souvenir off a bounce rather than a leaping grab.
The three-time All-Star stood in the bleachers holding a young child on his shoulders while displaying the ball above his head for the crowd. The moment provided a nostalgic reminder of Rizzo’s decade-long tenure with the franchise.
Before the game commenced, Rizzo took center stage for a formal dedication ceremony unveiling the “Champions Gate,” a towering 31-foot archway on the western side of the ballpark. The structure commemorates the Cubs’ breakthrough 2016 World Series championship, which snapped one of baseball’s longest championship droughts.
The team’s ownership, former manager Joe Maddon, and approximately 20 players from the 2016 roster gathered for the occasion. Rizzo himself contributed mightily during that campaign, recording a .292 average with 32 home runs and 109 runs batted in during the regular season.
Following the dedication, Maddon and other members of that championship squad returned to the field as right-hander Kyle Hendricks threw out the ceremonial first pitch to mark the occasion.
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