A note from
Anthony
Dear supporters,
As a child, it was always my dream to be a major league baseball player. In 2007, at the age of 17, I was fortunate enough to be drafted right out of High School by the Boston Red Sox organization. I began my big-league journey in Greenville, SC playing single A ball. But, before I knew it, my exciting new world came crashing down with the three words you never expect to hear…you have cancer. I was shocked to be diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. This was obviously terrible news for me personally, but it was even more grueling for my family because my Grandma was facing her own battle with breast cancer at the very same time. As bad as my chemotherapy treatments made me feel, I knew I had to dig deep and stay strong for everyone around me. During this time, I realized that cancer is so much more than individual hardship, but rather a battle that the whole family must face together. It was a hard road, but on September 2, 2008, my doctor, Izidore Lossos gave me the great news, “Anthony, you are in Remission.” Overcoming adversity like this provided me the clarity to know that, in addition to my dreams of major league ball, I now wanted to become a role model to help cancer patients and their families. In 2012, with the help of my family, we founded The Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation to support pediatric cancer patients and their families. I truly appreciate all of your love and support along the way as we all continue to step up to the plate in the fight against cancer.
Stay Strong, Dream Big,
Anthony Rizzo, #48
New York yankees First Baseman
ANTHONY’S AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL
BASEBALL ACCOLADES
+ 2007
- AFLAC All American
- All State
- All County
- Sun Sentinel Player of the Year
- Miami Herald Player of the Year
- Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 6th round of the Amateur Draft on June 8
+ 2010
- Boston Red Sox Minor League Offensive Co-Player of the Year
- Received Greg Montalbano Memorial Award presented by the Boston Baseball Sports Writers
- Traded to the San Diego Padres on December 6
+ 2011
- Named Padres Minor League Player of the Month for April, May and June
- Named by Baseball America as San Diego’s number one prospect
- Made Major League debut in San Diego on July 9
- Hit first Major League homerun on July 11
+ 2012
- Traded to the Chicago Cubs on January 6
- Named Cubs Minor League Player of the Month for April and May
- Made Cubs Major league debut on June 26
- Named National League Rookie of the Month for July
- Named Chicago Cubs Player of the Month for September
- Received a Proclamation by Mayor Michael Udine from the City of Parkland declaring December 9, 2012 as ANTHONY RIZZO DAY
+ 2013
- Played for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic
- Named National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame Athlete of the Year
- Signed a seven year contract extension with the Cubs on May 12
- Named as the Cubs finalist for the national Heart & Hustle Award
- Named as the Cubs finalist for Roberto Clemente Award
- Placed 2nd for the Gold Glove Award
+ 2014
- Won the MLB All-Star Final Vote receiving 8.8 million votes to be elected to his first MLB All-Star game
- Appeared in his first MLB All-Star game in July
- Named National League Player of the Week July 20
- Named as one of six finalists for the 2014 Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award
- For the second consecutive year named the Cubs finalist for the Roberto Clemente Award
- Won the Branch Rickey Award
+ 2015
- Appeared in second consecutive MLB All-Star game in July
- Competed in MLB All-Star game Home Run Derby
- Placed 4th in National League MVP Voting
- Overall winner of the MLBPAA Heart and Hustle Award
- For third consecutive year named Cubs finalist for the Roberto Clemente Award
- Awarded Champions for Children Award by Lurie Children’s Hospital
+ 2016
- Led the Chicago Cubs franchise to its first World Series Championship in 108 years
- Garnered more votes than any other player in the NL and appeared in third consecutive MLB All-Star Game
- Placed 4th in NL MVP Voting for the second consecutive year
- Received the Rawlings Platinum Glove Award as the best overall defensive player overall in the NL
- Received Rawlings Gold Glove Award as the best defensive 1st baseman in the NL
- Received the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year as the best defensive 1st baseman in both the NL & AL
- Received the Silver Slugger Award as the best offensive 1st Baseman in the NL
- Chicago Cubs 2016 MLBPAA Heart and Hustle Award winner
- Was a top 3 finalist for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award
- For the second time named as one of six finalists for the 2016 Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award
- Esurance Best Social Media Personality
- Esurance Best Defensive Play of the Year
- The Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation raised approximately $1,500,000
+ 2017
- Roberto Clemente Award winner
- Marvin Miller Man of the Year winner
- Chicago Cubs MLBPAA Heart and Hustle Award winner
- 4th Cubs player in history to hit at least 30 home runs, 30 doubles and 100 RBIs in three or more seasons
- Placed 2nd in Rawlings Gold Glove Award voting
- Placed 13th in NL MVP voting
- Led the Cubs to their 3rd consecutive Postseason appearance and their 2nd consecutive NL Central Division Title
- The Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation raised more than $2,200,000
+ 2018
- Led the Cubs to their 4th consecutive Postseason appearance and their 2nd consecutive NL Central Division Title
- Received his second Rawlings Gold Glove Award as the best defensive 1st baseman in the NL
- The Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation raised more than $3,000,000
+ 2019
- Received his third Rawlings Gold Glove Award as the best defensive 1st baseman in the NL
+ 2020
- Received his fourth Rawlings Gold Glove Award as the best defensive 1st baseman in the NL
+ 2022
- Received the 2022 New York Baseball Writers Association of America's Joan Payson/Shannon Forde Community Service Award
