Greg Maddux
August 20, 2008 by Anthony Stalter · Leave a Comment
When a highly touted pitching prospect out of high school or college lands on a Major League Baseball team’s radar, the first thing that’s usually mentioned is how hard he throws.
But instead of concentrating on how fast the young man can throw, maybe scouts and baseball executives should see what the pitcher has between the ears.
Greg Maddux never had a dominating fastball. He barely registers over 85 mph on a radar gun, but yet he’s complied over 350 wins in his career and is now pitching past 40 years old.
How has he found so much success? Because perhaps no other pitcher that has taken the mound thinks like Greg Maddux. His knowledge of the game and hitters is profound and his mastery of hitting the outside corners of the plate is unrivaled.
Greg Maddux’s MLB debut came with the Chicago Cubs on September 3, 1986. At 42 years old, Maddux is still pitching and to date has complied a win-loss record of 353 and 222. He also owns a career ERA of 3.14 and has compiled 3,349 strikeouts.
Maddux currently ranks 11th all-time in career strikeouts, but numbers don’t mean much to him. His ability to outwit hitters his how he’s made his living and his accuracy has always been amazing.
Hall of Famer Wade Boggs once said of Greg Maddux, “It seems like he’s inside your mind with you. When he knows you’re not going to swing, he throws a straight one. He sees into the future. It’s like he has a crystal ball hidden inside his glove.”
Maddux has pitched for four different organizations, with two stints coming with both the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers. He gained national attention with the Atlanta Braves from 1993 to 2000, winning a World Series in 1995. Along with John Smoltz, Steve Avery and Tom Glavine, Maddux was part of one of the best starting rotations in MLB history throughout the early to mid 90s.
Greg Maddux has never been considered a superstar. If you were to see him on the streets, he would resemble your classic “average Joe.” But that’s part of what makes him so special. He just goes out to the mound every fifth day, never complains and always does his job.
Greg Maddux is a pitching legend.
