“I get to just wake up and do whatever I want. It’s a beautiful feeling.” That’s what Anthony Rizzo said after hanging up his cleats, and honestly, that sounds like a home run approach to retirement. The 36-year-old first baseman officially announced his retirement this week, concluding a remarkable 14-season MLB journey from cancer survivor to World Series champion and beloved Wrigley legend. His second chapter is about to begin, and it might turn into the next great thing for the Cubs ballclub.

Anthony Rizzo’s career reads Cooperstown-worthy. After being drafted by Boston and traded to San Diego, he spent a decade with the Chicago Cubs. During this time, he helped break a 108-year championship drought by leading the team to a historic World Series win in 2016. Rizzo’s legacy is marked by three All-Star selections, four Gold Glove awards, and many clutch performances. Riz later joined the Yankees in 2021 and wrapped up his playing days in 2024.

Now, with his journey as a player over, he is all set for his new chapter. As per the MLB analyst Bruce Levine, “Anthony Rizzo family will consider getting a second residence in Chicago. Rizzo may want to pursue a media career in the near future, as well as his Cub ambassador commitment.” It sounds like a perfect plan for someone who is loved by Cubs fans so much that they supported him wearing his jersey when he was with the Pinstripes.

Even Rizzo is excited for his new role, as he said, “Now to be an ambassador and carry on a legacy of great Cubs, I don’t think it’s fully hit me yet, because it’s a little new. But it’s pretty incredible. It’s special.” And the admiration is mutual. The Cubs front office is happy to have him on board. “Anthony Rizzo was the face of one of the most successful eras in Chicago Cubs history,” said Cubs Executive Chairman Tom Ricketts in a statement. “Anthony’s professional career on the field might be complete, but it will be great to share this next chapter with him here with the Cubs.” His on-field career was a great one with 242 home runs, 784 RBIs, and a .272 batting average.

The ambassador role is only one part of the narrative. The fact that he might go to Chicago for real estate makes it even more interesting. As of now, he lives in Florida, where he has a luxurious mansion in Fort Lauderdale. According to Crazy Luxury Homes, he bought it for roughly $4.6 million and is now worth about $7.8 million. With a net worth of $50 million and career earnings of about $129 million, as per Celebrity Net Worth, having a second home where your heart truly belongs is a smart move.

However, Tony’s retirement gets even more captivating when you see how he bids farewell. Those last moments at Wrigley Field perfectly showed why Chicago will always be his home.

Anthony Rizzo’s Wrigley farewell: A retirement day full of laughs, legacy, and love

From the catch in Game 7 at Cleveland that made them the champions to the cheers that filled Wrigley Field at his retirement, Anthony Rizzo’s Cubs story has come full circle. His farewell tribute was a blend of gratitude, humor, and optimism for the future. Even in retirement, his life feels inseparable from the city, whether it’s stepping into his ambassador role or cheering for the team from the stands.

Riz also shared that retirement wasn’t a random decision; he took it after consideration. He shared, “The last couple years I was banged up a little bit, but last year after breaking my arm I told my parents, I told my wife, ‘hey, enjoy this ride.'”  When asked about his plan for celebrating, he said, “I’m gonna sit in the bleachers. I’m gonna eat a hot dog. I’m gonna drink some adult beverages. Are we allowed to do the beer snake? Because I will be the rally starter for the beer snake.” He did exactly that.

While watching the game between the Cubs and the Rays, a moment from the stands went viral. When young Moises Ballesteros hit his first MLB homer to left-center field, it went into the crowd, and when the cameraman focused on it, there Riz was trying to catch it. Although the ball slipped and bounced into the seats behind him, the crowd laughed and cheered at the same time.

He didn’t say goodbye to walk away from the Curse-Breakers of 2016—he said goodbye to stick around.