Greg Maddux

At 58 years old, Greg Maddux has this physical status:

Gregory Alan Maddux (born April 14, 1966) is an American college baseball coach and former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher.

He is the pitching coach at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Maddux is best known for his accomplishments while playing for the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs.

With the Braves, he won the 1995 World Series over the Cleveland Indians.

The first to achieve a number of feats and records, he was the first pitcher in major league history to win the Cy Young Award for four consecutive years (1992–1995), matched by only one other pitcher, Randy Johnson.

During those four seasons, Maddux had a 75–29 record with a 1.98 earned run average (ERA), while allowing less than one baserunner per inning.Maddux is the only pitcher in MLB history to win at least 15 games for 17 straight seasons.

In addition, he holds the record for most Gold Gloves with 18.

A superb control pitcher, Maddux won more games during the 1990s than any other pitcher and is 8th on the all-time career wins list with 355.

Since the start of the post-1920 live-ball era, only Warren Spahn (363) recorded more career wins than Maddux.

He is one of only 10 pitchers ever to achieve both 300 wins and 3,000 strikeouts, and is the only pitcher to record more than 300 wins, more than 3,000 strikeouts, and fewer than 1,000 walks.Since his retirement as a player, Maddux has also served as a special assistant to the general manager for both the Cubs and Texas Rangers.

On January 8, 2014, he was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, in his first year of eligibility, receiving 97.2 percent of the votes.

Early life

Maddux was born in San Angelo, Texas, and spent much of his childhood in Madrid, Spain, where the United States Air Force stationed his father. His father exposed him to baseball at an early age. Upon his return to Las Vegas, Nevada, Maddux and his brother Mike, who became a pro player himself, trained under the supervision of Ralph Meder, a former scout from the majors. Meder preached the value of movement and location above velocity, and advised throwing softer when in a jam instead of harder. Maddux would later say, "I believed it. I don't know why. I just did." Though Meder died before Maddux graduated from Valley High School in Las Vegas in 1984, he instilled a firm foundation that would anchor Maddux's future career.

While in Las Vegas, he played American Legion Baseball with Post 8. He was named the organization's Graduate of the Year in 1984.

His brother, Mike, was drafted in 1982. When scouts went to observe the elder Maddux, their father, Dave, told them, "You will be back later for the little one." Some baseball scouts were unimpressed by Maddux's skinny build, but Chicago Cubs scout Doug Mapson saw past the physique. Mapson wrote a glowing review that read in part, "I really believe this boy would be the number one player in the country if only he looked a bit more physical."

Personal life

Maddux was born on April 14, 1966, the same day as former Braves teammate David Justice, and shares a birthday with former teammate Steve Avery. He is married to Kathy; the couple has two children; a daughter, Paige Maddux (born December 9, 1993), and a son, Chase Maddux (born April 19, 1997). They reside in Las Vegas.

In 2002, in the episode "Take Me out of the Ballgame", of the TV series Do Over, the main character lost a baseball game to a young Greg Maddux, who was played by Shad Hart.

The song "Movement and Location" from the Punch Brothers album Who's Feeling Young Now? was written about Maddux.

Source

Professional career

Maddux was drafted in the second round of the 1984 Major League Baseball draft by the Cubs and made his Major League debut on September 3, 1986, the conclusion of the September 2 game that had been postponed due to darkness (lights were not installed at Wrigley Field until 1988). Maddux was the youngest player to play in the majors at the time. In the 17th inning against the Houston Astros, he was in his first appearance in a big league game as a pinch runner (for catcher Jody Davis). Maddux lost in the 18th inning after giving Billy Hatcher a home run and leaving the loss. His first game victory came five days later. Maddux defeated his older brother, who was pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies, for the first time rookie brothers had pitched against each other in his fifth and final start of 1986. Mike Maddux was well-used to his younger brother's competitive spirit, saying of his youth, "If Greg didn't win, he didn't want to play," he said.

Maddux's first full season in the majors in 1987 crashed to a 6–14 record and 5.61 ERA, but he flourished in 1988, finishing 18–8 with a 3.18 ERA. Maddux won 15 or more games in a row, the longest streak in MLB history.

Maddux debuted himself as the Cubs' ace in 1989, winning 19 games, including one in September at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, which clinched the Cubs' second-ever National League Eastern Division championship. Don Zimmer, the San Francisco Giants' manager, was tagged to begin Game One of the National League Championship Series. After surrendering Will Clark's grand slam with two outs in the fourth, he allowed eight runs and was relieved. Maddux said, "Fastball, high, inside," during Maddux's slam, and the couple knew what pitch to expect right before the grand slam, and so knew what pitch to expect right away). Maddux also covered his mouth with his glove during talks on the subject. Maddux was made no decision in Game Four, and the Cubs lost the NLCS four-games-to-one competition.

Maddux won 20 games in 1992, tied for the NL lead, and was voted his first National League Cy Young Award in 1989 and 1991 after 15-win seasons in 1990 and 1991. Maddux's free agency was open, but contract negotiations with the Cubs became tense and eventually ended, and the Cubs were canceled. Both Chicago general manager Larry Himes and Maddux's assistant, Scott Boras, accused the other of failing to act in good faith. José Guzmán, Dan Plesac, and Candy Maldonado were among the Cubs' free agents who followed them, including José Guzmán, Dan Plesac, and Candy Maldonado. Maddux, a Chicago native, has signed a five-year, $28 million contract with the Atlanta Braves, marking his seventh seasons in the city.

Maddux made his Brave debut with the Braves as their opening day starter against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on April 5, 1993, defeating his former teammates 1–0. He made his second straight Cy Young Award after completing the regular season with a 20-10 record, led the NL with a 2.36 ERA, and named his second consecutive Cy Young Award.

Maddux, 22, game champion Tom Glavine, 18-game champion Steve Avery, and 15-game winner John Smoltz were among the Brave's rotation players to the postseason. Maddux triumphed over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Two of the NLCS, but Atlanta lost Game Six after Atlanta trailed 3 games to 2.

Maddux's second-lowest ERA since Bob Gibson's historic 1.12 in 1968, the second lowest in the majors since 1985's Dwight Gooden's 1.53. Maddux's 1994 batting average (.222) was higher than his ERA. In his third Cy Young-winning year, Maddux led the National League in victories (with 161) and innings pitched (202). In 1994, Maddux finished fifth in National League Most Valuable Player voting.

Maddux's 1999-two-year career ended with 19–2 and a third-lowest ERA since Gibson's: 1.63. Maddux was the first pitcher to post back-to-back ERAs under 1.80 since Walter Johnson in 1918 (1.27) and 1919 (1.49). Maddux's 1.63 ERA came in a year when the overall league ERA was 4.23. Since the start of the live-ball era in 1920, there have been five pitchers to have full-season ERAs under 1.65: Gibson and Luis Tiant in 1985's exciting 1968 season, and Maddux twice. Maddux's 19 victories led the National League for the third time in four seasons.

On May 28, 1995, he defeated the Astros by defeating them with a no-hitter in Jeff Bagwell's eighth home run. It was the first nine-inning one-hitter of his career. Maddux threw 51 innings in June and July without issuing a walk. Maddux played well in all three of the Braves' postseason seasons, winning a game in each. With Orel Hershiser pitching for the Cleveland Indians, his Game One victory in the 1995 World Series required nine innings, two runs, no walks, and no earned runs. Maddux suffered in Game Five, but the Atlanta Braves captured their first World Series championship two days later. Maddux received his fourth straight Cy Young Award, a major league record, and his second consecutive unanimous award following the 1995 season. Maddux also placed third in the National League Most Valuable Player polls this year. Following the World Series victory, the Atlanta Braves also built a putting green in the locker room at the newly constructed Turner Field, making good on a pre-season commitment to their pitching rotation.

Maddux came fifth, second, and fourth in the Cy Young polls from 1996 to 1998. Maddux's career began in August 1997, making him the highest-paid player in baseball. He avoided arbitration in February 2003 by signing a one-year $14.75 million contract. Maddux's output remained stable, with 19–9 in 1998, 18–9 in 1998, 19–9 in 1998, 16–6 in 2002, and 16–11 in 2003, his last season as a Brave. Maddux ruled the National League for four seasons from 1993 to 1998, and then second for the second time in two seasons.

Maddux threw a complete game against the Cubs on July 22, 1997, with 78 pitches (36 runs, 20 batted balls, 13 balls, 5 hits, and 4 fouls). He had shut out the defending champion New York Yankees on 84 pitches three weeks earlier, and five days before that he had defeated the Phillies in a 90-pitch complete game. In 1997, Maddux allowed just 20 bases on balls, six intentional walks.

Maddux struck out 200+ batters for the first time in his career, in 1998. Kerry Wood of the Cubs defeated the Cubs to clinch the NLDS, but the Braves were eliminated in the next round. In 1999, the Braves returned to the World Series for the first time. Maddux was the Game One starter and took a 1–0 lead into the eighth inning before a Yankee rally cost him the game and eventually the series as the Braves were swept.

Maddux made his 387th putout on June 14, 2000, defeating Jack Morris' career record. He had a streak of 401 fewer innings in September 2000. In his first playoff appearance of 2000, he did not do well. Maddux was the first Braves pitcher to throw two 1–0 shutouts in the same month in May 2001. The first featured 14 strikeouts, a career-best 14 strikeouts. Maddux pitched 721 innings straight innings without missing a single walk in July and August; this streak came to an end when he intentionally threw four balls to Steve Finley. He received his 13th straight Gold Glove Award in 2002, a NL record. Maddux won the 2006 Gold Gloves for the 16th time in Jim Kaat's career.

Maddux had his own personal catcher during the majority of his time with the Braves, as well as other pitching legends like Steve Carlton. Maddux used Charlie O'Brien, Eddie Pérez, Paul Bako, and Henry Blanco for the majority of his starts, but regular starter Javy López did occasionally see Maddux in the postseason.

Maddux, Glavine,, and Smoltz, three members of the much-vaunted Braves trio, who competed together for over a decade as the backbone of one of the best pitching staffs in the game's history, were crowned. The three were the linchpins of a squad that lost their division (the National League West in 1993 and the East from then on) every year that Maddux was on the team (1994 had no division champions). The three pitchers were often enhanced by other strong starters, including Steve Avery, Kevin Millwood, Denny Neagle, and Russ Ortiz. The Braves were crowned World Series champions in 1995, a record that they fought for. Maddux had a 2.81 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP in 29 postseason games with Atlanta, but only an 11-13 record.

Maddux returned to the Cubs as a free agent prior to the 2004 season when he signed with them on February 18, 2004. Maddux won on April 23 after losing three straight games at the start of the season. Maddux defeated the San Francisco Giants 8–4, giving him his 300th victory in his career. In April 2005, he defeated Roger Clemens for his 306th victory in the first National League matchup between 300-game winners in 113 years. Maddux made the thirteenth member of the 3,000 strikeout club on July 26, 2005, beating Omar Vizquel for his thirteenth member and only the ninth pitcher with both 300 victories and 3,000 strikeouts against the San Francisco Giants after a three-hour rain delay. Maddux was one of the top 3,000 strikeouts despite allowing fewer than 1,000 walks (he had 999). Ferguson Jenkins, Curt Schilling, and Pedro Martz are among the other three pitchers to have made it to this extent.

Maddux's record in 2005 was his first losing streak since 1987, and he tied for the first time in five seasons with 15 or more wins. (Cy Young had surpassed the 15-win total for 15 years in a row; both Young and Maddux had won 13+ for 19 years in a row. Cy Young pitched in an age without more than four regular starters who would average more than 40+ games per season, when Maddux pitched in a season without a 5-man rotation, which was practically unheard of.)

Maddux's second stint with the Chicago Cubs ended until mid-2006, when he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for the first time in his career. The Dodgers were in the middle of a playoff run at the time. Maddux threw six no-hit innings in his first Dodger start before a rain delay interrupted his debut. Maddux needed only 68 pitches to produce eight shutout innings in his first start. He won his 330th game in his career on August 30, 2006, taking sole possession of 10th on the all-time list, beating Steve Carlton. Maddux pitched seven innings in San Francisco on September 30, 2006, allowing two runs and three hits, securing a post-season spot for the Dodgers and another 15-win season. Maddux's 18th season in his Top 10 for wins, surpassing a record set he shared with Cy Young and Warren Spahn, who did it 17 times apiece. However, the Dodgers were swept by the Mets in the first round of the playoffs. Maddux played in the third and final game before losing by a no-decision. Maddux was named the best fielding pitcher in MLB for 2006 by a Fielding Bible Award.

Maddux decided to a one-year, $10 million contract with the San Diego Padres as a player option for the 2008 season, which Maddux later exercised at a reported $10 million. Maddux won his 338th game in the game in which Trevor Hoffmann earned his landmark 500th save. He won his 343rd game to claim sole possession of ninth place on the all-time winner list on August 24, 2007. He won his second straight seasons, beating Nolan Ryan and placing him second on the list for most 10-win seasons in the major leagues. Maddux won 13 games in 2007 for the 20th straight season in a row, defeating Cy Young for the first major league record. He had a record of 347 victories on the year. Maddux took home a record 17th Gold Glove Award in 2007, edging Brooks Robinson's record. Maddux played his 350th game on May 10, 2008. He also stole a base at 42 years old in 2008, against the Braves.

Maddux was traded back to the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 19 for two players who will be recalled later or cash considerations by the San Diego Padres. His return to Los Angeles was unlike his debut, with 7 earned runs on 9 hits, despite losing to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Maddux pitched his 5,000th inning against the San Francisco Giants on September 19. He won his 355th game on September 27, his highest start of the season, beating Roger Clemens in eighth place in all-time victories. Maddux has ranked tenth in career strikeouts with 3,371. His strikeout total is equal to 999 walks. He set an 8–13 record for the 2008 season. His 1.4 walks per 9 innings pitched were the best in the majors.

Maddux was moved to the bullpen after manager Joe Torre decided to go with a three-man rotation after the Dodgers won the National League West. Maddux pitched four innings of relief during the series (which the Dodgers lost), allowing no runs. Maddux was known for his ability to warm up quickly.

Maddux won his 18th Gold Glove Award in November 2008, extending his own major league record. He announced his resignation a month later.

Post-playing career

Maddux was hired by the Chicago Cubs as an assistant to General Manager Jim Hendry on January 11, 2010. In his return to Chicago, he concentrated on improving pitchers' styles and techniques throughout the organization, as well as minor league affiliates. Maddux left his role with the Cubs and joined the Texas Rangers organization, where his brother Mike was the pitching coach.

In the 2013 World Baseball Classic, he was named pitching coach for the USA team.

Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers' special assistant to President of Baseball Operations, was hired on February 2, 2016.

Maddux was hired as an assistant baseball coach for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, on July 6, 2016. He spent four years as the pitching coach. Chase Greg's uncle, Greg's, is a pitcher for the Rebels.

Source