Full Name : Gregory Alan Maddux
Born : April 14, 1966
Hometown : San Angelo, Texas
Height : 6'
Weight : 180 lbs
Bats : Right
Throws : Right
Major League Baseball debut : September 3, 1986 for the Chicago Cubs
Family : father, Dave; brother, Mike; wife, Kathy Ronnow; 2 children
Primary Position : Starting Pitcher
Almost all baseball fans appreciate the legend known as Greg Maddux, as his unique approach as a pitcher has earned him undisputed respect. Drafted in the second round by the Chicago Cubs in 1983, Maddux was just 18-years old when he got the call notifying him that he had been selected to play in the bigs. Never recognized as an overpowering pitcher, Maddux relied solely on his pinpoint location and logical pitch selection to get hitters out. Batters went up to the plate puzzled, as to them facing Maddux was like trying to outplay your opponent in chess: only strategy and the proper mindset would bring success. Little did Major League Baseball know that this scrawny little pitcher out of high school would go on to put up some of the most fascinating numbers in baseball history.
After spending a few years in the Chicago Cubs farm system, Maddux was eventually called up to the majors. In 1986, he had the privilege of pitching against his brother Mike, who played for the Philadelphia Phillies at the time. It was the first instance in Major League Baseball history that two rookie brothers pitched against each other in the same game. In 1987, his first full year in the majors, Maddux tried to familiarize himself with the game, learning what hitters to watch out for and how he should approach each team. This learning experience paved the way for the success that would follow. Maddux began the first half of the 1988 season with an outstanding a 15-3 record, earning him his first all-star appearance. He went on to finish the season 18-8, and credited most of his accomplishments to the advice he received from his pitching coach Dick Pole.
Greg continued to put up phenomenal numbers for the Cubs, providing the team with more than 15 wins in each of his next four seasons. In his last stint Chicago (1992), Maddux won his first of four consecutive Cy Young awards, and with a season record of 20-11 (not to mention an astonishing ERA of just 2.18), Greg was beginning to establish himself as one of the league's most remarkable pitchers, especially since his fastball rarely topped 90 mph. To their misfortune, the Cubs let Maddux go after the 1992 season. He would eventually join John Smoltz and Tom Glavine of the Atlanta Braves, forming what would be one of the most feared rotations of the 1990's.
It was during his stint as a Brave that Maddux earned himself the nickname “Mad Dog.” In addition to the 3 Cy Young awards that he won, Maddux continued his stretch of consecutive gold glove awards, earning the honor every year from 1990-2006. He helped the Braves win several division titles, not to mention a World Series in 1995. He has also become the only player in MLB history to win 300 games, strike out more than 3,000 batters, and walk less than 1,000. After the 2003 season, Maddux returned to the Cubs and signed a three-year deal which came as a surprise to many. He currently plays on the San Diego Padres, and at age 41 many wonder whether or not this will he his last season. It is hard to believe that Maddux will completely leave the baseball world when he does officially retire, as many speculate that he will become a pitching coach like his brother Mike. Either way, the level of finesse that Maddux integrated into his pitching repertoire has earned him utmost respect from both the fans and players, and he will no doubt go down as one of the most remarkable pitchers of all-time.
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