Greg Maddux Retires

[GirlySports]

First ballot right?

I think he should be a unanimous first-ballot HOFer, but I'm sure some baseball writer will nitpick Maddux's career and leave him off their ballot the first year.

[Bobblehead]

Yeah, he is a sure first ballot. Other pitchers have had better stretched, but he was so good for so long and did it with control. Class act and what pitchers should strive to be, as opposed to the prima-donnas many of them are.

[fredr123]

What hat will he wear?

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

First ballot right?

I think he should be a unanimous first-ballot HOFer, but I'm sure some baseball writer will nitpick Maddux's career and leave him off their ballot the first year.

He's about as slam dunk as you can get for the HOF. I think voters will be especially happy to cast their ballot for him considering the era he pitched in and that his name has never been attached to performance enhancing drugs.

He's one of the best of all time. As a Braves fan, I was hoping he, Glavine and Smoltz would all retire the same year to align for the HOF together. I think all three are first ballot types.

As for which hat... he pitched a lot of years with the Cubs, but I would be surprised if he didnt go in with a Braves hat - he enjoyed his greatest success there, pitched there for a long time and won his World Series there.

[Flash]

Definite first ballot, in my opinion as well. I also think he'll be wearing a Braves cap...despite his time with the Cubs, I think I'll always remember him as a Brave.

[Papi34]

Probably one of the if not the Smartest pitchers to ever play the game. Never had the heat but knew how to get you out. An outstanding career he will go in as a Brave. 355 wins and 3.16 (i think) career ERA thats first ballot stats. I for one will certainly miss his contributions to baseball.

[Bobblehead]

Awesome stories about him in his Wikipedia article.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Maddux

Early in the 2000 season, Maddux was asked by sportswriter Bob Nightengale what had been the most memorable at-bat of his pitching career. Maddux said it was striking out Dave Martinez to end a regular season game. Nightengale was surprised Maddux hadn't picked a postseason game, or a more famous player. Maddux explained:

"I remember that one because he got a hit off me in the same situation (full count, bases loaded, two out in the 9th inning) seven years earlier. I told myself if I ever got in the same situation again, I'll pitch him differently. It took me seven years, but I got him."

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Awesome stories about him in his Wikipedia article.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Maddux

That pretty much sums up Greg Maddux. He had the stuff of Jamie Moyer but managed to put together more win than anyone else in his era.

[Prototype]

Originally Posted by fredr123

What hat will he wear?

Tough to see him in anything other than a Braves jersey, but he'll probably go in as a Padre or Dodger.

[ricoFlame]

all those consecutive cy youngs. ridiculous run of dominance in pitching.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

That pretty much sums up Greg Maddux. He had the stuff of Jamie Moyer but managed to put together more win than anyone else in his era.

Not quite. Maddux didn't have the velocity like other pitchers did, but his movement was filthy and he had pinpoint control.

No doubt he should be unanimous, but then again 8 writers didn't even vote for Cal Ripkin on the first ballot.

One of the greatest pitchers ever. He is a top 5 all time guy.

[ricosuave]

dude looks like my chiropractor. thats how i will remember him, LOL

key part of a braves should-have-been dynasty.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Not quite. Maddux didn't have the velocity like other pitchers did, but his movement was filthy and he had pinpoint control.

No doubt he should be unanimous, but then again 8 writers didn't even vote for Cal Ripkin on the first ballot.

One of the greatest pitchers ever. He is a top 5 all time guy.

Ya, I was only referring to his velocity. His ability to hit his spots was, according to some unparalleled, which along with his ability to out think hitters made him very successful for two decades.

The stat of Maddux's that I love, which often gets overlooked is his 17 straight seasons of 15+ wins... (and 16 of 17 seasons). That's unbelievable.

[malcolmk14]

I remember hearing a story on the Jim Rome show where Greg Maddux explained that he let a guy get a home run off him in an inconsequential spot in an early game of a playoff series, to set him up for a big out later in the series when it was more important.

[evman150]

My favourite athlete of all time, an early hero of a boy obsessed with baseball at a young age.

One of my most prized possessions is a Maddux photo signed "To Evan, best wishes, Greg Maddux".

It is a sad day to see him retire, but also a happy one. Mad Dog didn't get cheated one bit in his career. He's like your grandpa who accomplished everything in life, finally dying. It's sad, but it's a happy moment as well.

My best memory of Maddux is a game in the mid 90s where he pitched a 76 pitch shutout against the Cubs. It was and still is the most dominating performance I've ever seen by a pitcher. Nobody had the control and the ability to keep a pitch count low like Maddux did.

His performance in game two of the '95 series against the Indians was also outstanding. A two or three hit shutout in the first World Series game of his career.

Even into his last few seasons I loved watching him pitch. He didn't have the stuff he once did, but every once in a while you could catch a glimpse of vintage Mad Dog. That cutter on a two strike count to a left-handed batter that starts about six inches inside and comes back and slices the black of the plate...just outstanding.

One of my regrets in life is never having seen him pitch live.