Greg Maddux
The pitcher with the school teacher appearance, Greg Maddux won four straight Cy Young Awards in the 1990s, leading the Atlanta Braves to the post-season 11 straight seasons from 1993-2003. Four times in his career he posted an ERA two runs below his league's average, and he won at least 15 games in 16 consecutive seasons, tying a mark held by Cy Young. In five World Series starts, Maddux fashioned a 2.09 ERA, and his 176 victories were the most in the 1990s.
Quotes About Maddux
"He's like a meticulous surgeon out there, he puts the ball where he wants to. You see a pitch inside and wonder, 'Is it the fastball or the cutter?' That's where he's got you." — Tony Gwynn
"Every pitch has a purpose. Sometimes he knows what he's going to throw two pitches ahead. I swear, he makes it look like guys are swinging foam bats against him." — John Smoltz
"Maddux is so good, we should all be wearing tuxedos when he pitches" — scout Phil Favia
"Greg Maddux could put a baseball through a life saver if you asked him." — Joe Morgan
"(He has) talent I've never seen anyone else have. He has a back-door sinker and wisdom to actually outsmart anybody in the game. I'm so glad somebody small, someone looking like me, actually did it. I'm very happy for him and I wish him all the best and I hope he doesn't stop there." — Pedro Martinez, on Maddux's 300th victory
"He was the smartest pitcher I've played with or against." — Ozzie Guillen
"Any pitcher on this team should have the pleasure of parking their butt next to him on the bench during games and learning whatever you can from him and then watching him when he is pitching." — Cubs teammate Ryan Dempster
"He's the definition of pitching. He's not overpowering, he doesn't have tremendous stuff, but he gets it done every day, day in and day out. It's good that I can tell my grandkids that I had the chance to play behind Greg Maddux, the Hall of Famer." — Juan Pierre
Quotes From Maddux
"I could probably throw harder if I wanted, but why? When they're in a jam, a lot of pitchers try to throw harder. Me, I try to locate better."
"You play the game to win the World Series. Cy Young Awards are nice, they really are. They're great and I'm proud of them...but easily the biggest thing I've accomplished is getting that World Series ring."
Played For
Chicago Cubs (1986-1992)
Atlanta Braves (1993-2003)
Chicago Cubs (2004-2005)
All-Time Rankings
Greg Maddux ranks #6 among the Top 50 all-time at SP. Rankings ⇒
Best Season: 1994
Despite the strike-shortened season, Maddux proved to be baseball's most commanding pitcher by becoming the first hurler in history to capture three straight Cy Young Awards. He Led the league in ERA with a 1.56 mark and was named The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year. In 25 starts, he compiled the third lowest ERA in the majors since 1919. Maddux's ERA was 2.65 runs below the National League ERA of 4.21, the greatest differential in modern day history. He Started for the NL in the All-Star Game, and for the season he walked just 32 batters in more than 200 innings pitched.
Factoids
From July 31, 1993, through August 4, 1995, a two-year period, Greg Maddux started 57 games and posted a qulity start 56 times! In 36 of those qulity starts, Maddux pitched eight innings or more.
In 2006, Greg Maddux participated in his 84th double play, breaking the record for pitchers previously held by Phil Niekro.
Good Company
Maddux extended his unprecedented string of Cy Young Awards by winning his fourth consecutive in 1995, his second consecutive year with unanimous selection by the BBWAA. Sandy Koufax remains the only other pitcher unanimously selected for two consecutive years, with Steve Carlton the only other four-time winner in the Senior Circuit.
How Low Can You Go?
Maddux enjoyed seven straight seasons where he posted an ERA more than one full run below the league average. That's the longest such string in baseball history:
7 - Greg Maddux 1992-1998
6 - Walter Johnson 1910-1915
6 - Lefty Grove 1928-1933
6 - Carl Hubbell 1929-1934
6 - Red Ruffing 1935-1940
6 - Kevin Brown 1995-2000
5 - Cy Young 1892-1896
5 - Christy Mathewson 1909-1913
5 - Grove 1935-1939
5 - Sandy Koufax 1962-1966
5 - John Smoltz 1995-1999
5 - Randy Johnson 1997-2001
5 - Mike Mussina 1997-2001
From 1992-2002, Maddux posted an ERA at least one run below league average in 10 of 11 seasons.
Career Quality Starts Breakdown
| Year |
W |
L |
Starts |
QS |
Pct |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
| 1986 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
60.0% |
1 |
1 |
|
1 |
|
| 1987 |
6 |
14 |
27 |
7 |
25.9% |
1 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
| 1988 |
18 |
8 |
34 |
24 |
70.6% |
1 |
7 |
4 |
10 |
2 |
| 1989 |
19 |
12 |
35 |
21 |
60.0% |
4 |
6 |
3 |
7 |
1 |
| 1990 |
15 |
15 |
35 |
22 |
62.9% |
3 |
7 |
5 |
7 |
|
| 1991 |
15 |
11 |
37 |
23 |
62.2% |
5 |
7 |
4 |
7 |
|
| 1992 |
20 |
11 |
35 |
30 |
85.7% |
3 |
9 |
9 |
9 |
|
| 1993 |
20 |
10 |
36 |
29 |
80.6% |
5 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
1 |
| 1994 |
16 |
6 |
25 |
24 |
96.0% |
2 |
5 |
6 |
11 |
|
| 1995 |
19 |
2 |
28 |
22 |
78.6% |
3 |
4 |
4 |
11 |
|
| 1996 |
15 |
11 |
35 |
25 |
71.4% |
1 |
13 |
7 |
4 |
|
| 1997 |
19 |
4 |
33 |
27 |
81.8% |
7 |
9 |
7 |
4 |
|
| 1998 |
18 |
9 |
34 |
27 |
79.4% |
5 |
9 |
5 |
8 |
|
| 1999 |
19 |
9 |
33 |
19 |
57.6% |
6 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
|
| 2000 |
19 |
9 |
35 |
25 |
71.4% |
3 |
16 |
1 |
5 |
|
| 2001 |
17 |
11 |
34 |
24 |
70.6% |
6 |
9 |
6 |
3 |
|
| 2002 |
16 |
6 |
34 |
18 |
52.9% |
10 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
|
| 2003 |
16 |
11 |
36 |
21 |
58.3% |
7 |
11 |
2 |
1 |
|
| 2004 |
10 |
7 |
22 |
14 |
63.6% |
6 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
|
| |
299 |
170 |
593 |
405 |
68.3% |
79 |
138 |
81 |
103 |
4 |
Where He Played
Starting pitcher; Maddux appeared in relief four times for the Cubs in his first two seasons in the big leagues and has never relieved again in the regular season. In Game Five of the 1998 NLCS, Maddux came in from the bullpen on one-days rest to record the final three outs and save a 7-6 win. In Game Three of the 1999 NLDS against the Astros, Maddux entered the game with a runner on second in the seventh inning and yielded a walk to Craig Biggio before being replaced. The Braves won the game in extra-innings.
Born
Gregory Alan Maddux was born on April 14, 1966, in San Angelo, TX.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary Position: P
Primary Team: ATL
Major League Debut
September 3, 1986 ... Maddux made his big league debut as a pinch-runner in a wild 18-inning game that spanned two days, beginning on September 2. The game was suspended in the top of the 15th with the score 4-4 on Tuesday, September 2, in what began as an afternoon game at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Picking up the next day prior to the regularly scheduled game, the Astros scored three runs in the top of the 17th inning but Chicago answered with three in the botom of the inning, all of the runs scoring on Keith Moreland's home run. In that inning, Maddux entered the game as a pinch-runner for catcher Jody Davis, but was stranded at second. Maddux entered the game as a pitcher in the 18th and surrendered a home run to Billy Hatcher, which proved to be the vital run in the 'Stros 8-7 victory. Maddux had his first loss in the big leagues, having suffered it in an 18-inning game that featured 30 hits, 53 players, 17 pitchers, and took five hours and 14 minutes to play.
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1986
Rafael Palmeiro
Barry Bonds
Fred McGriff
Barry Larkin
Bobby Bonilla
Ruben Sierra
Mark McGwire
Greg Maddux
David Cone
Nicknames
Mad Dog, The Professor
Uniform Numbers
#31 (1986-)
Family Tree
Greg defeated his brother Mike, of the Philadelphia Phillies, on September 29, 1986, in the first match-up of rookie brothers in major league history.
Similar Players
Juan Marichal
Related Players
Mike Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Roger Clemens
Post-Season Appearances
1989 National League Championship Series
1993 National League Championship Series
1995 National League Championship Series
1995 World Series
1995 National League Divisional Series
1996 National League Divisional Series
1996 National League Championship Series
1997 National League Championship Series
1997 National League Divisional Series
1998 National League Championship Series
1998 National League Divisional Series
1999 National League Championship Series
1999 World Series
1999 National League Divisional Series
2000 National League Divisional Series
2001 National League Divisional Series
2001 National League Championship Series
2002 National League Divisional Series
2003 National League Divisional Series
Post-Season Notes
Some critics might say Maddux has been disappointing in the post-season, where he has been 10-10 with a 3.22 ERA in 31 games. But in 29 career post-season starts, Maddux has produced 21 quality starts, and in the World Series he has a 2.09 ERA in five starts. His mediocre won-lost record is a reflection of his team's under-achievement in the post-season.
Awards and Honors
1990 NL Gold Glove
1991 NL Gold Glove
1992 NL Cy Young
1992 NL Gold Glove
1993 NL Cy Young
1993 NL Gold Glove
1994 NL Cy Young
1994 NL Gold Glove
1995 NL Cy Young
1995 NL Gold Glove
1996 NL Gold Glove
1997 NL Gold Glove
1998 NL Gold Glove
1999 NL Gold Glove
2000 NL Gold Glove
2001 NL Gold Glove
2002 NL Gold Glove
2004 NL Gold Glove
Feats
From June 27, 1994, through April 11, 1996, Maddux posted a perfect 18-0 record on the road. Over that stretch, which encompassed 154 2/3 innings, Maddux allowed just 17 earned runs for an ERA of 0.99. His streak ends in San Diego, where he is the hardluck loser in a 2-1 game.
Milestones
On August 7, 2004, Maddux earned his 300th victory, defeating the Giants in San Francisco, 8-4. He became the 22nd pitcher to reach the milestone... He won his 200th game on August 18, 1998, also against the Giants, and also by the score of 8-4... On May 31, 1993, Maddux beat the Padres, 2-1, to win his 100th game... On July 26, 2005, Maddux fanned Omar Vizquel of the Giants to record his 3,000th strikeout. He became the ninth pitcher to reach 3,000 K's and 300 victories.
Milestones
- August 18, 1998: 200th Win...
- August 7, 2004: 300th Win...
- July 27, 2005: 3000th strikeout... Omar Vizquel
Transactions
After being traded to the Dodgers at the July trade deadline in 2003, Maddux made his first start for LA on August 3rd. In that game, facing the Reds, Maddux pitched six hitless innings before a rain-delay halted the game. When the game resumed, Maddux did not return to the mound.
Hall of Fame Artifacts
The Hall of Fame and Museum has several items from Maddux's career in its' collection, including: his cap from a game against Clemens on April 29, 2005, the first meeting between two 300-game winners in 18 years; Cubs cap and spikes from his 300th win (August 7, 2004); spikes from his 200th win; spikes and glove he wore during the 1995 World Series; signed ball from Game One of the 1999 World Series; and a ball from his 15th win in 15 consecutive seasons (2003); the jersey from his 3,000th K in 2005.
Matchup Data
The Diamondbacks are the only NL team that Maddux has a losing record against. He has a 1-6 record in 11 starts, with a 4.20 ERA against Arizona, through 2004.
Trivia Question
Over the course of his career, in which month has Maddux won the most games?
Trivia Answer
Maddux has won 62 games in July, through 2004.
All-Star Selections
1988 NL
1992 NL
1994 NL
1995 NL
1996 NL
1997 NL
1998 NL
2000 NL
Replaced
Dennis Eckersley, who was dealt to the Oakland A's and went on to considerable stardom himself.
Best Strength as a Player
Command of his pitches.
Largest Weakness as a Player
None
Learn More about Greg Maddux
Search Amazon.com for Books about Greg Maddux ⇒
Search for Greg Maddux at Google ⇒
View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒
