As the Cubs kick off celebrations for the 10-year anniversary of their curse-breaking 2016 World Series, two players from that famous season are inviting fans to relive it alongside them.
Former Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo and catcher David Ross announced the start of the “Lovable Reunion” podcast on Wednesday, a show in which they’ll interview former members of the 2016 squad about the stories and memories from that season. The series begins March 31.
A video trailer for the podcast hinted at appearances from 2016 MVP Kris Bryant; manager Joe Maddon; pitchers Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester and John Lackey; outfielder Kyle Schwarber; and shortstop Addison Russell.
From stories about team bonding to celebrating with Bill Murray and Eddie Vedder, the brand-new podcast series promises a behind-the-scenes look at the team that broke a 108-year championship drought. Rizzo called it a “passion project” in an Instagram post Wednesday.
The Cubs have already begun memorializing the 2016 team this year, hosting a reunion at Cubs Convention in January. The club additionally has plans to honor the team during a July 18 game against the Twins.
Rizzo, Chicago’s star first baseman from 2012-2021 and a three-time All-Star, officially announced his retirement in 2025 and has often been around the organization since. He threw out the first pitch at a game in September and sat in the Wrigley Field bleachers to soak in the moment.
“I think of just the band of brothers that were created, so much fun we had during that run, winning the World Series, the 108 years. Whenever I get stopped now, it's a lot,” Rizzo said while visiting with MLB Central on Wednesday, reminiscing about 2016. “The Cubs fans run deep. It's just so much passion and so much joy that we brought Cubs fans and the city of Chicago -- really, all over the country and the world. They share their stories about their grandfather, their dad, and getting to watch with them and what it meant. So you get emotional hearing it, because it means so much to all the families. For us players living that, it's a dream come true.”
Ross, meanwhile, played just two seasons with the Cubs, including the final one of his career in 2016. His Game 7 home run in the World Series against Cleveland has lived on, as has his 2017 appearance on “Dancing With The Stars,” albeit for different reasons. Ross then served as the Chicago manager from 2020-2023. Rizzo was still on the roster for parts of two of those seasons.
Now, two of the 2016 Cubs’ biggest personalities and close friends will share their rapport with the world, all while giving a tell-all of one of baseball’s biggest stories.