In a highly publicized announcement within the baseball community, the prestigious sports magazine Sports Illustrated officially honored legend Anthony Rizzo with the title of “Greatest Captain of the 21st Century”—a recognition not only for his on-field talent but also for his leadership influence during the golden age of the Chicago Cubs.
For many Cubs fans, this title is no surprise. For over a decade with Chicago, Rizzo was not only one of MLB’s most consistent first basemen but also the soul of the locker room, helping to reshape the team’s culture and lead the Cubs to one of the most historic moments in modern baseball history.
When Anthony Rizzo joined the Cubs in 2012, the team was still in a rebuilding phase and had yet to escape the shadow of a century-long “curse.” However, just a few years later, the Cubs had become a new force in the National League – and Rizzo was at the heart of that transformation.
The 2016 season cemented his place in history. The Cubs not only won their first World Series championship in 108 years, but they did so with a young roster led by Rizzo’s spirit.
In the historic Game 7, Rizzo made the crucial first-base catch in the final quarter, a moment many consider iconic of his composure and resilience under the greatest pressure.
According to Sports Illustrated, it is moments like these that have made Rizzo a model of a modern leader.
“Anthony Rizzo doesn’t just lead with words,” the article stated. “He leads by his game, by his resilience, and by his ability to inspire an entire team.”
Remarkably, throughout his time with the Cubs, Rizzo was never officially given the captaincy. However, in the eyes of his teammates and coaches, he always held that role.
One former Cubs player once said that you don’t need a “C” on your jersey to know who the leader of the team is.
“Rizzo is the person every young player turns to when they need advice,” he shared. “He set the standard for how we train, how we play, and how we treat the fans.”
Sports Illustrated also emphasized that Rizzo’s influence extended far beyond the statistics.
During his time in Chicago, he was the face of many community and charitable activities, particularly through the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation – an organization that supports children with cancer and families in need.
Rizzo himself battled cancer as a young player in the MLB’s training system, and that experience fueled his dedication to humanitarian work.
“He understood the meaning of giving hope to others,” a member of the charity shared. “That’s why the people of Chicago loved him not just as a player, but as a person.”
For over a decade, the sight of Rizzo walking onto the court at Wrigley Field became a familiar part of the city.
He not only brought victories, but also a sense of pride to Cubs fans – those who had waited generations to see their team win a championship.
A longtime Cubs fan said that Rizzo represented everything the team wanted to be.
“He played with heart,” the fan said. “You could see that every time he stepped onto the court.”
Even after leaving the Cubs, Rizzo’s influence on the team and the city of Chicago remains undiminished. Many believe that in the future, the Cubs will honor him with one of the organization’s greatest honors – from permanently retiring his number 44 jersey to a statue outside Wrigley Field.
But for many fans, the title of “Greatest Captain of the 21st Century” awarded by Sports Illustrated says it all.
It honors not just an outstanding player, but a man who changed the team’s history.
In an era where superstars frequently change teams and prioritize bigger contracts, Anthony Rizzo represents a rare value: leadership, loyalty, and love for the city that trusted him.
And that is why, for Chicago, Anthony Rizzo will forever be their captain – with or without the captain’s armband.
