CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 04: Anthony Rizzo of the Chicago Cubs holds the ball from the final out of the World Series (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
That glorious moment from the 2016 World Series echoes eternally. It’s tattooed into the hearts and minds of every Chicago Cubs fan, and etched into the annals of Chicago history, particularly since it ended a 108-year championship drought. After Anthony Rizzo caught the final out at first base, he famously tucked the ball into his back pocket as he cheerfully steered his way toward the celebration at the mound.
But what happened to the ball? It turns out its story was just getting into the prologue.
During the post-game interview, Ken Rosenthal asked Rizzo what he was going to do with the ball. Rizzo replied, “I don’t know what I’m gonna do with that ball, it’s gonna be cherished forever, though.”
Protect it at All Costs
It was evident that Rizzo was concerned about the ball disappearing. During interviews he can be seen patting his back pocket to ensure the treasure was still there. Afterall, he was the designated guardian of the crown jewel. And he took his duty seriously.
Potential final out ball snatchers aside, the post-game locker room celebration was a whole other beast to contend with. Protecting the integrity of the ball while it was raining champaign and beer would take more than a pocket. Thankfully, Rizzo thought it through. Legend has it, they encased it in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag before the locker room became a bottle popping war zone. Problem solved.
After it survived the pandemonium of the post-game locker room celebration, Rizzo didn’t just toss it into an equipment bag. He handed the ball off to Cubs Authentication officials and members of the front office staff.
That World Series game 7 started at 8 PM on November 2nd and ended at 12:47 AM on November 3rd because of the rain delay and extra innings. The team, exhausted and hungover as they may have been, flew back to Chicago later that morning. The Cubs’ security and equipment team handled the physical transport of the coveted ball.
The Official Handover: November 4, 2016
During the Cubs’ massive World Series victory rally at Grant Park, the story of the final out ball endured. The rally itself was borderline mythical. Reportedly five million people attended. The entire residency of Chicago was only roughly 2.7 million. At the time it was beheld as the seventh largest gathering in human history.
It was during this rally that Rizzo and the ball were reunited. It found itself back in Rizzo’s pocket as he boarded the double-decker bus for the parade. He held onto it throughout the motorcade through the streets of Chicago. After making his emotional speech on stage, David Ross gave his speech. Then Rizzo finally presented the ball to owner Tom Ricketts. In doing so, it immediately transitioned from a player’s memento to a piece of franchise history.
The ball is authenticated by MLB with a special hologram sticker. It’s a standard practice for high-value game-used items. It proves it is indeed the one Rizzo tucked into his pocket. Immediately following the World Series, sports memorabilia experts like Bloomberg estimated the ball’s value at $3 million or more. But that $3 million starting point is considered conservative by many auctioneers, given the context. This was the ball that ended the longest championship drought in American sports history. The potential value of it is simply staggering. Rizzo himself mentioned during the victory parade that he received “seven-figure” offers for the ball while it was still in his pocket.
Could Rizzo Have Sold it and Kept the Profits?
There really isn’t a short answer, other than yes and no. This is where the situation becomes sticky with legality, and tradition clashes with property law. Technically, MLB and the home team (in this case, the Cleveland Indians/Guardians) own the equipment used during a game. Since a player is an employee, catching a ball does not legally transfer ownership rights to them.
That being said, there is a long-standing tradition in baseball. It allows the player who makes the final out or hits the game winning home run to keep the ball. So, while MLB could have sued him for ownership rights, they almost certainly wouldn’t have done it, even if simply to avoid a PR nightmare.
So, he really could have gotten away with selling it, but he didn’t. That’s the team first attitude Rizzo was cherished and admired for. On the one hand, he gifted the relic over to the primary stakeholder in the Ricketts’ family fortune, worth an estimated $8.5 billion. On the other hand, Rizzo was in the third year of an extremely team-friendly bargain contract at the time. His base salary for 2016 was a mere $5 million. Frankly, that’s chump change for an All-Star and MVP candidate. Perhaps Mr. Ricketts could have compensated him for his good deed. After Rizzo handed the ball over to Ricketts, it transitioned from a player’s memento to a piece of franchise history.
Where is the Final Out Ball Now?
While the final out ball is primarily kept in the Cubs’ executive offices at the Gallagher Way (the “triangle building” next to Wrigley Field), it has been brought out for several notable occasions:
- Chicago History Museum: The ball was a featured centerpiece of a special exhibit titled “Infield Fly: The 2016 World Series,” which documented the historic win and the city’s reaction.
- Wrigley Field Trophy Displays: During the 2017 season, the ball was occasionally displayed alongside the Commissioner’s Trophy when the team showcased the hardware for fans at the park and during the regional “Trophy Tour.”
- Private Executive Showings: Though it’s not exactly for the commoners, it is frequently shown to VIP guests, MLB officials, and during high-level organizational meetings within the Ricketts’ private offices as a symbol of the team’s culture shift.
While many artifacts from that historic game 7 went to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, the final out ball remained with the Ricketts family as a centerpiece of the Cubs’ own archives. It’s one of the few final out balls in sports history that didn’t end up on a collector’s auction block.
Why it isn’t in Cooperstown
The Hall of Fame usually requests final out balls, but the Cubs organization felt that after 108 years, this specific artifact belonged to the city and the team’s own archives. Instead, they sent other significant items to the Hall, including Kris Bryant’s glove, which was worn by a grinning Bryant as he threw the ball to Rizzo to secure the final out before falling to the ground.
Since the final out ball wasn’t an option, the Hall worked with the team to secure other iconic “Plan B” artifacts to tell the story of the 2016 victory.
The Hall of Fame’s “Autumn Glory” exhibit featured several significant items in place of that final ball:
Player Gear
- Ben Zobrist’s Bat: The actual bat the World Series MVP used to hit the go-ahead RBI double in the top of the 10th inning of Game 7.
- Kyle Schwarber’s Jersey: The home jersey worn by Schwarber throughout the Series. It symbolized his legendary comeback from a torn ACL to hit .412 in the Fall Classic.
- David Ross’s Catcher’s Mitt: The mitt “Grandpa Rossy” used during the World Series. He also wore it during his final game before retirement.
- Anthony Rizzo’s Game 4 Jersey: While Rizzo kept the ball from Game 7, he donated the home jersey he wore during Game 4.
- Kris Bryant’s Spikes: The cleats Bryant was wearing when he fielded the final ground ball and made the throw to Rizzo.
- Aroldis Chapman’s Cap: Worn during his grueling multi-inning relief appearances that were critical to the Cubs’ survival in the later games.
Game Artifacts
- The Game 7 First-Pitch Ball: While they didn’t get the last ball, the Hall secured the first ball. It was the one thrown in Game 7 at Progressive Field in Cleveland.
- The 10th Inning Second Base Bag: The physical base used during the final frame when the Cubs officially clinched the title.
Did the Team Sign the Final Out Ball?
While it may seem like it would add value to it, they didn’t sign it. But there were reasons behind that thinking. The decision to keep the ball “clean” likely came down to a few factors:
- Authentication: The ball was immediately authenticated by MLB officials with a tamper-proof hologram. Adding signatures after the fact can sometimes complicate the official “game-used” certification process. It changes the physical state of the item from the moment it left the field.
- The Gesture: Rizzo’s intent was to gift the final out itself to the Ricketts family. By leaving it unsigned, it remains exactly as it was when it landed in his glove to end the 108-year drought.
- Other Memorabilia: The players did sign plenty of other items. Those included a team-signed World Series ball that is also held in the Cubs’ archives. There are also various signed bases used during the series.
The ball currently on display in the Cubs’ executive offices is prized for being the raw, dirt-smudged artifact from the final play.
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