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A great leadoff hitter is an amazing thing to have for any major league baseball team. Every team wants to get their first batter on base and then let the power hitters send them home. The Chicago Cubs, however, have been tinkering with the traditional idea of a leadoff hitter for some time now. Recently, Cubs manager Joe Maddon shook up a stagnant lineup by moving Anthony Rizzo to the leadoff spot and Rizzo has not disappointed.
Rizzo has substantially improved the Cubs’ offensive production including a couple of leadoff homers that led him to joke with an ESPN reporter:
“I’m statistically the greatest lead-off hitter of all time, to lead a game off. I’d like to retire right there.”
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Hey, who are we to argue with the numbers In five games as the leadoff batter Rizzo went 9 for 22 with a trio of homers a pair of doubles and an impressive 8 runs batted in. When asked about his new role and how long he saw himself leading off Rizzo said:
“If we win ballgames, I'll be the leadoff hitter for the rest of my career”
I think that will be just fine with Cubs fans.
To celebrate the ‘statistically greatest lead-off hitter of all time we partnered with our friends at Breaking T to make this officially licensed product of the Major League Baseball Players Association T-shirt: GLHOAT. The shirt features white print on an ultra-soft blue tee with an athletic fit; made from a super-comfortable, vintage-inspired blend of 60 percent combed ringspun cotton and 40 percent polyester jersey.