FanPost

Rizzo's unique place in World Series history

Here is something about Anthony Rizzo that I'll bet you never have read before:

Rizzo is the only player in Major League history to score the decisive run in the last game of a World Series, then catch a throw from a teammate for the final out.

Seven other players have scored what proved to be the winning run, then recorded the Series-ending out: 4 outfielders, a third baseman, a shortstop and a catcher who caught a last-pitch strikeout.

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GREATEST GAME EVER

Rizzo, of course, was walked intentionally, with 1 out and Albert Almora on first base, in the top of the 10th inning of Game 7 at Cleveland in 2016.

Ben Zobrist's double down the left field line then scored Almora, breaking a tie at 6, and Rizzo came home moments later on a single by Miguel Montero.

Rizzo's run made all the difference when Cleveland scored with 2 out in the bottom of the inning. The next batter tappe a ball toward the left of the mound, where third baseman Kris Bryant grabbed it and fired it to Rizzo to wrap up the Cubs' first championship in 108 years.

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3 OTHERS IN GAME 7

Before Rizzo did it, only 3 players had scored the eventual winning run and made the play for the last out in Game 7.

In 1985, right fielder Darryl Motley of the Royals hit a 2-run homer in the second inning of an 11-0, Game 7 romp against the Cardinals, then caught a fly in deep right-center for the final out.

In 2011, Allen Craig of the Cardinals hit a go-ahead homer in the third inning against the Rangers, then caught a fly in the ninth.

And in 2014, Pablo Sandoval of the Giants singled home the eventual winning run in the fourth inning against the Royals, then caught a foul popup to end the game.

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4 IN EARLIER FINALES

The other instances of a player scoring the all-important run and making the final play in the field in the last game of a Series:

1913, Game 5: Right fielder Eddie Murphy of the Athletics, vs. the Giants, scored on a single in the third inning, then caught a fly in the ninth

1939, Game 4: Shortstop Frank Crosetti of the Yankees, vs. the Reds, scored the first of 3 runs that came across on a single and error with the score 4-4 in the top of the 10th inning, then caught a line drive in the bottom

1950: Game 4: Catcher Yogi Berra of the Yankees, vs. the Phillies, hit a solo homer in the sixth inning, then caught Allie Reynolds' final pitch for a strikeout.

1969, Game 5: Left fielder Cleon Jones of the Mets, vs. the Orioles, scored on a double in the eighth, breaking a 3-3 tie, then caught a fly with 2 out and a runner on first in the ninth.

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HONORABLE MENTIONS

In 2017, third baseman Alex Bregman of the Astros scored what turned out to be the winning run in the first inning of Game 7 against the Dodgers. Bregman then fielded a grounder and throw to first for the final out.

99 years earlier, in 1918, second baseman Dave Shean scored the second of 2 runs by the Red Sox in the third inning of Game 6 win over the Cubs. Shean then fielded a grounder and threw to first to end the 2-1 game.

In 1967, pitcher Bob Gibson hit a solo homer to put the Cardinals ahead to stay in Game 7 against the Red Sox. He also struck out the final batter.

That was among 22 Series that have ended on a strikeout, including the first in 1903 (by Honus Wagner, no less), each of the last 3 and 6 of the last 9.

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WINNING RUN BY FIRST BASEMEN

Rizzo is among 9 first basemen who scored the decisive run in the final game of a Series. He was the first since 1983, when Eddie Murray of the Orioles homered in the second inning of Game 5 against the Phillies.

The most recent first baseman to do it is Steve Pearce of the Red Sox, in 2018, with a 2-run, first inning homer in Game 5 against the Dodgers.

The other first basemen whose run made the difference in the last game of a Series:

1909: Bill Abstein, Pirates, Game 5 vs. Tigers

1920: Doc Johnson, Cleveland, Game 7 vs. Robins

1944: Ray Sanders, Cardinals, Game 6 vs. Browns

1951: Johnny Mize, Yankees, Game 6 vs. Giants

1962: Bill Skowron, Yankees, Game 7 vs. Giants

1977: Chris Chambliss, Yankees, Game 6 vs. Dodgers

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Twenty-five Series have ended on a throw to a first baseman.

Three were throws by the pitcher, 9 by the second baseman, 6 by the shortstop and 7 by the third baseman.

The Cubs' 2 World Series victories before 2016 both ended in Game 5, at Detroit, on popups. Shortstop Joe Tinker made the catch in 1907; catcher Johnny Kling, in foul territory, in 1908.

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