Anthony Rizzo drops home run ball at Wrigley, quips 'That's why I'm retired'

Anthony Rizzo, now a Chicago Cubs ambassador, reached for a home run ball in the left-field bleachers at Wrigley Field on Saturday and watched it slip from his grasp, then laughed: "That's why I'm retired."

The ball came off the bat of Cubs designated hitter Moisés Ballesteros, who hit his first major league home run to left field in the fourth inning of Chicago's 5-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. Rizzo had stepped up on top of the bleacher seats to make the play, but the ball deflected off his hand and fell back into the stands.

Rizzo, 36, had opened the day by throwing a ceremonial first pitch to former teammate Ian Happ and then took a seat in left field to enjoy the game. He told reporters beforehand that he planned to "eat a hot dog, drink adult beverages and possibly throw a baseball to Happ" — adding, "I have one day to really live it up."

A 14-year major league veteran, Rizzo spent 10 seasons with the Cubs and is a three-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner. In his time with Chicago he hit .272 with 242 home runs and 784 runs batted in, and he was a key member of the 2016 Cubs team that won the franchise's first World Series since 1908.

Rizzo was traded to the New York Yankees at the 2021 trade deadline. He and his family were visiting Chicago this summer for the Lollapalooza music festival when Cubs owner Tom Ricketts invited them to dinner and discussed an ambassador role. Rizzo said the invitation to return to Wrigley Field "where I really created my legacy is very special to me and very humbling," and called his time with the Yankees "so special" as well because he grew up a Yankees fan.

Photos from the day show Rizzo greeting fans and chatting with musicians in the stands before the game. He remains a prominent figure in Chicago baseball circles, participating in pregame activities and public events as the club transitions him into an off-field role.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.