CHICAGO — The baseball community was shaken when former Chicago Cubs star and icon Anthony Rizzo unexpectedly announced that he would donate $100,000 to charity every time the Cubs won in the 2025 postseason. The news came just hours after the Cubs had officially clinched their ticket to the October playoffs, turning the team’s victory into a cause of hope that extended far beyond the field.
“Baseball has given me a life I never dreamed of. Now, every time the Cubs win, I want that joy to go not just to the fans at Wrigley Field, but to the families in need,” Rizzo said in an emotional interview with the Chicago Tribune.
Rizzo, who was the spiritual leader of the Cubs who ended a 108-year “curse” with the 2016 World Series, has long been a model of dedication and philanthropy. His announcement of his charitable commitment so soon after the Cubs clinched the playoffs was especially meaningful: it was not only a bond between a veteran and his former team, but also a reminder that victories on the field can change lives off it.
If the Cubs go deep and win multiple games in October, the donations could reach millions of dollars. All of the money will go to the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation, a charity he founded to support cancer patients and their families. The organization has raised more than $14 million since its inception, but with the new commitment, that number could skyrocket in just one postseason.
During his career in Chicago, Rizzo hit more than 280 home runs, won three All-Star games, and was revered by Cubs fans. But it wasn’t just his swing that made him memorable, it was his heart. Having battled Hodgkin’s lymphoma since he was 18, Rizzo understood the importance of hope, faith, and reaching out for help.
“Sometimes a win on the field isn’t enough. But if you can use that win to light up someone else’s life who’s fighting, then baseball has become more than just a sport,” Rizzo said, his words bringing a hush to the press room.
Immediately after the announcement, social media exploded. The hashtag #RizzoForeverACub trended in Chicago. One fan wrote: “Rizzo gave us a championship in 2016, and now he gives the world hope. A legend forever.”
The Cubs also thanked him: “Anthony Rizzo will forever be a part of the Cubs family. His commitment not only inspired the team, but also the entire Chicago community.”
The October playoffs are always the most intense time in MLB, where every pitch and every hit can determine the season. But with Rizzo’s announcement, the Cubs took the field with a different motivation: they knew that each victory would not only bring sports joy, but also translate into $100,000 in hope for hundreds of struggling families.
Anthony Rizzo may no longer be a Cub, but his legacy lives on. And now, as the team prepares to battle in October, Rizzo’s promise will accompany them — like an everlasting flame.
“I may not be wearing the glove and the blue jersey anymore, but in my heart, I’m still a Cub. And every win, I’m going to make it a bigger win for those who need it most,” Rizzo declared, leaving the baseball world choked up.
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