And unlike certain other pitchers that are also lead-pipe cinches for Cooperstown, he did it after a scandal-free career and never broke into a 'roid rage at a press conference.
He threw a little harder when he was just starting out.
I remember a hitter being interviewed towards the end of Maddux's career, after being skunked by Mad Dog, saying "I can't imagine what it was like trying to hit him when he was throwing 90." :D
I was fine with the Cubs-Braves-Cubs portion of his career trajectory; it was symmetrical and pleasant to see that, if he had to leave Atlanta after all those years, it was to go back to where he broke into the majors.
The last couple of years made me a bit sad, though.
And unlike aforementioned scumbag... I mean pitcher; he never betrayed his team and teammates for more money.
... Nor did he disgrace himself by "retiring" and coming out of retirement multiple times, as a ploy for more money.
... Nor did he disgrace all of baseball by offering to change what uniform he would appear in at the hall of fame for a contract bonus.
Have I mentioned I'm a native Bostonian and lifelong Red Sox fan; and that my first disillusioning experience with professional baseball was Clemens antics.
back when talking baseball in fla meant talking about the braves...and talking about the braves meant talking about the dream rotation of smoltz, glavine, and my favorite, greg maddux...back when i still cared...maddux was a role model worthy of that role, amid a sea of worthless ones.
...and did it without having a huge arm. What was his fastball, mid eighties?
ReplyDeleteInstead, he had pinpoint control with excellent variety and always good selection for each batter. He always knew what to pitch to whom.
He threw a little harder when he was just starting out.
ReplyDeleteI remember a hitter being interviewed towards the end of Maddux's career, after being skunked by Mad Dog, saying "I can't imagine what it was like trying to hit him when he was throwing 90." :D
Not fair. He hadn't gotten around to pitching for my team yet.
ReplyDeleteI was fine with the Cubs-Braves-Cubs portion of his career trajectory; it was symmetrical and pleasant to see that, if he had to leave Atlanta after all those years, it was to go back to where he broke into the majors.
ReplyDeleteThe last couple of years made me a bit sad, though.
"I don't really know a whole lot about anything, but I feel like I know a few things about baseball."
ReplyDeleteThat's refreshing to hear, in an era in which people commonly confuse celebrity with expertise on everything.
It's also classic Maddux, modest and self-deprecating from a guy who's been described as the most cerebral pitcher in baseball...
ReplyDeleteHe's an odd duck in today's world of jockdom.
The Quiet Killer.
ReplyDeleteHe was really something.
And unlike aforementioned scumbag... I mean pitcher; he never betrayed his team and teammates for more money.
ReplyDelete... Nor did he disgrace himself by "retiring" and coming out of retirement multiple times, as a ploy for more money.
... Nor did he disgrace all of baseball by offering to change what uniform he would appear in at the hall of fame for a contract bonus.
Have I mentioned I'm a native Bostonian and lifelong Red Sox fan; and that my first disillusioning experience with professional baseball was Clemens antics.
back when talking baseball in fla meant talking about the braves...and talking about the braves meant talking about the dream rotation of smoltz, glavine, and my favorite, greg maddux...back when i still cared...maddux was a role model worthy of that role, amid a sea of worthless ones.
ReplyDeleteIt was always fun going to a game in Atlanta to watch him work.
ReplyDeleteGmac