Yankees veteran — not Aaron Judge — called a meeting before must-win World Series Game 3

New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo has experience making vital speeches at the World Series. Game 3 on Monday isn't necessarily a game for the Yankees, who are down 2-0 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but it carries the same urgency.

According to FOX MLB sideline reporter Tom Verducci, Rizzo — and not captain Aaron Judge — rallied his teammates with an important message before Game 1 at Yankee Stadium.

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE YANKEES NEWSLETTER:

Restore the glory

“Tonight began for the Yankees the same way Game 5 of 2016 began for the Cubs – with a meeting called by Anthony Rizzo,” Verducci said before the game began.

“The meeting went quickly. Rizzo was the only one who spoke. And one player said it was a “connected experience”.

“In 2016, the Cubs responded by winning three straight elimination games. Rizzo is treating it the same way tonight. He called this a 'must win' for New York.”

Verducci reported that Rizzo needed to bring some humor to the clubhouse in 2016, so he quoted his favorite movie lines — without clothes. The Cubs overcame a 3-1 World Series deficit against Cleveland to win the World Series for the first time since 1908.

The 2024 edition of this meeting was a little more serious.

When Yankees manager Aaron Boone was asked before Game 3 if he had to tell his team anything, he indicated that it would be a player-led meeting but that he did not have to do it himself.

“It's a close team. We all talk and talk to each other. “The guys got together a little bit for a few minutes,” Boone told reporters. “We are ready to go. We're excited about this opportunity in Game 3 and obviously understand how important it is. I can’t wait to see us do our thing tonight.”

Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media contributed to this report