Former New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo has always carried the weight of history on his hand. The 2016 World Series ring he earned with the Chicago Cubs ended a 108-year drought and cemented his place as a franchise icon. For a brief, heart-stopping moment, though, that piece of jewelry disappeared into Lake Michigan.
The good news? It’s back where it belongs.
A Ring Lost and Found
Block Club Chicago reported that Rizzo’s ring slipped off his finger earlier this summer during a boat outing on Lake Michigan. Rizzo, who had slimmed down since his playing days, washed his hands while on the water. When he shook them dry, the ring—now too loose to stay put—flew straight into the lake.
That’s when Yohei Yamada, a professional diver known in Chicago for finding the unfathomable at the bottom of the Great Lake, got the call. Yamada has pulled up phones, wallets, and even a $30,000 Rolex watch. But he admitted rings test his skills the most.
“Rings are the hardest to find, but the phones are everywhere,” Yamada told the outlet. “If I’m already suited up, I’ll go get it for $100.”
Rizzo received Yamada’s number and acted quickly. Soon the diver dropped into the lake. After a search that would’ve made most people quit, Yamada surfaced with the championship ring in hand. Rizzo showed his appreciation with a few crisp $100 bills—a small price for the safe return of a career-defining keepsake.
The bizarre episode also highlights how much meaning athletes place in their championship jewelry. For fans, a ring might represent a team victory, but for players like Rizzo it represents years of battles, sacrifices, and defining moments. Losing it, even temporarily, can feel like watching part of a career vanish. That’s why Yamada’s recovery carried far more weight than just another routine dive.
Rizzo’s Place in History
Rizzo’s name still echoes from the Cubs’ improbable 2016 championship run. That October, he launched three home runs in the postseason, including a blast in Game 6 of the World Series against Cleveland. The Cubs won Game 7 in extra innings, completing one of the most memorable finishes in baseball history.
He stayed in Chicago until July 2021, when the Cubs traded him to the Yankees. In New York, Rizzo provided steady veteran leadership, teaming with Aaron Judge to stabilize the clubhouse through multiple playoff pushes. He started at first base during the Yankees’ 2024 World Series run, which ended with a loss to the Dodgers.
The Yankees declined his $17 million option for 2025 and instead paid a $6 million buyout. That decision pushed him into free agency, and he hasn’t played this season.
At 36, Rizzo faces an uncertain baseball future, but his place in history already feels secure. The ring represents the Cubs’ long-awaited triumph and Rizzo’s resilience. He beat cancer as a minor leaguer and later anchored two of baseball’s most storied franchises.
Now, thanks to a diver with an eye for the impossible, Rizzo can wear that symbol of triumph again instead of leaving it at the bottom of a lake. Yankees fans may remember him best for his steady glove at first base in the Bronx, but Cubs fans will never forget the ring that nearly slipped away.
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