The Collective Effort Behind Winning the MLB Postseason
As the MLB postseason progresses, every team and its fan base strive for the World Series trophy, hoping their stars can perform when it matters most. Winning requires more than just standout players; it involves every individual from top to bottom.
Anthony Rizzo, World Series champion and three-time All-Star first baseman, played a key role in the Chicago Cubs’ 2016 victory, breaking a 108-year drought by defeating the Cleveland Guardians in Game 7. Rizzo emphasizes the importance of every person involved in October baseball.
“I just think that on every team you have the stars, the middle-of-the-tier players, and your role players. Everyone’s so important to a team,” Rizzo explained to OutKick, while discussing PAYDAY’s “Low Key Legends” initiative, focused on unsung heroes within organizations. “It takes all 26 guys, it takes your entire staff. So, in order for the superstars to win their championship – let’s say Aaron Judge. He’s the MVP of the Yankees, of the whole league. For him to win a championship, it’s going to take every single guy on that roster.”
Small contributions matter, such as baserunning, pickoffs, and relays. Despite lacking glamour, these actions contribute to championship wins.
Asked about his “Low Key Legend,” Rizzo replied without hesitation.
“In the baseball world, I would definitely say Danny Mueller,” he stated. “He was the clubhouse attendant in Chicago. He was my guy. He always had me high-energy, ready, and always a bundle of joy when I walked in. Whatever I needed, he was there. Then, the hitting coaches. They are just behind the scenes doing their scouting reports, knowing everything I’m thinking, so when I walk in, I don’t have to think. They just have everything ready for me, knowing what I want so I can go out there and play effortlessly.”
These behind-the-scenes figures fuel the greatness seen on the field.
During the season, teams bond deeply, evolving from colleagues to family. Rizzo cherished every “family” he was part of, where team chemistry heightened during October.
“I think we’re together forever. We’re together for 200-plus days a year,” he shared. “In October, win or go home, you’re still saying to each other, ‘In a few weeks, I get to pick my own friends.’ So, we’re like family in the clubhouse. Guys know when to get on guys, when they need a little more love, when to back off – maybe they’re a little more sensitive. That’s the family and bond that’s created in a season.”
When game time arrives, it requires collective effort, not reliance on one star player. The Milwaukee Brewers exemplified this in their NLDS Game 2 against the San Diego Padres.
The spotlight amplifies Jackson Chourio’s ninth-inning walk-off, but Rizzo noted an unsung hero’s contribution: Gary Sanchez, whose pinch-hit walk loaded the bases for Chourio’s hit.
“It’s a team of destiny because they’re a smaller market, but this is how they’ve been all year. To stay on brand with Payday and low-key legends, Gary Sanchez in the at-bat before, pinch hitting, taking the walk to get the bases loaded. That’s the low-key legend moment of the game. The superstar moment is when Jackson Chourio coming up and getting that base hit.”
Postseason success hinges on stars stepping up in crucial moments and the “entire army” of each franchise fighting for the same goal. Unsung heroes can turn the tide between returning home empty-handed or achieving the title of champions.