Greg Maddux
From BR Bullpen
Gregory Alan Maddux (Mad Dog)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 0", Weight 170 lb.
- Debut September 3, 1986
- Born April 14, 1966 in San Angelo, TX USA
Contents |
[edit] Biographical Information
Greg Maddux is one of the greatest pitchers of all time, and the dominant National League pitcher of his era. During the 2006 season, he entered the top ten of all time for wins, with 333 at the end of the 2006 season. He currently stands at #10 all time for wins and #12 for strikeouts. He is a four-time Cy Young Award winner, all of which came in consecutive seasons (1992-1995), and was in the top five in the voting five other times. He is a perennial Gold Glove winner, owning the award each year since 1990, except for 2003. His 17 lifetime Gold Gloves are an absolute record (Jim Kaat and Brooks Robinson have 16 each). He has led the league in ERA four times, and was second three other times. His 17 consecutive 15-win seasons are the most ever. The previous record was held by the legendary Cy Young, at 15 consecutive years with at least 15 wins (although Young routinely won many more than 15 a year). All four of the Hall of Fame appraisal methods put him in the top 13 pitchers of all time, with the Gray Ink method putting him at #6, ahead of Lefty Grove, Roger Clemens, and Tom Seaver. Maddux appeared in three World Series as a member of Atlanta's Big Three.
He made his debut on September 3, 1986 as a pinch runner, then stayed in the game and recorded a loss. He had a losing record in his first two seasons with the Chicago Cubs, in 1986 (2-4) and 1987 (6-14), but did not have another losing season until 2005. He recorded his 300th win on August 7, 2004. That made him the youngest 300 game winner since Pete Alexander as a 37 year old in 1924.
He struck out Omar Vizquel (July 26, 2005) for his 3,000th career strikeout. Maddux became the 13th pitcher in MLB history to reach 3,000 strikeouts, and the 9th pitcher in MLB history with 300 career wins and 3,000 strikeouts; he is still the only pitcher in MLB history with 300 wins, 3,000 strikeouts and less than 1,000 walks.
On July 31, 2006, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in part because of the scouting reports of Phil Rizzo, an elderly scout who specializes in looking over Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox players. In his first start for his new team on August 3, 2006, he pitched six innings of no-hit ball before rain forced a delay. After the delay, other pitchers were put in in relief, and the no-hitter was lost. He went 6-3 in 12 starts for the Dodgers, bringing his seasonal total to 15 wins, his 18th season of 15 or more wins overall. He also started a game in the NLDS against the New York Mets, the 30th post-season start of his career.
He is the brother of Mike Maddux, who also broke in during the 1986 season and had a long career.
Maddux was voted onto the Rawlings All-Time Gold Glove Team in 2007.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 8-time NL All-Star (1988, 1992, 1994-1998 & 2000)
- 4-time NL Cy Young Award Winner (1992-1995)
- 17-time NL Gold Glove Winner (1990-2002 & 2004-2007)
- 4-time NL ERA Leader (1993-1995 & 1998)
- 3-time NL Wins Leader (1992, 1994 & 1995)
- 2-time NL Winning Percentage Leader (1995 & 1997)
- 5-time NL Innings Pitched Leader (1991-1995)
- 3-time NL Complete Games Leader (1993-1995)
- 5-time NL Shutouts Leader (1994, 1995, 1998, 2000 & 2001)
- 15 Wins Seasons: 18 (1988-2004 & 2006)
- 20 Wins Seasons: 2 (1992 & 1993)
- 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 18 (1988-2001 & 2003-2006)
- 200 Strikeouts Seasons: 1 (1998)
- Won a World Series with the Atlanta Braves in 1995
| NL Cy Young Award | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1992 | 1993 |
| Tom Glavine | Greg Maddux | Greg Maddux |
| 1992 | 1993 | 1994 |
| Greg Maddux | Greg Maddux | Greg Maddux |
| 1993 | 1994 | 1995 |
| Greg Maddux | Greg Maddux | Greg Maddux |
| 1994 | 1995 | 1996 |
| Greg Maddux | Greg Maddux | John Smoltz |
[edit] Records Held
- Seasons of 15 or more wins, 18 (tied)
- Putouts, pitcher, career, 510
- Double plays, pitcher, career, 94
