Greg Maddux

# 31

              Atlanta Braves

By John M Milner.

• Atlanta Braves starting pitcher.
• Born Gregory Alan Maddux, on April 14, 1966 in San Angelo, TX.
• Selected by the Chicago Cubs in the second round of the 1984 Free Agent draft on June 4th, while he was still in high school.
• Made his major league debut during the 1986 season, at age 20.
• First post-season appearance: the 1989 NLCS (Cubs vs Giants), went 0-1 in 2 appearances with an ERA of 13.50.
• Became a free agent in 1992 and signed with the Atlanta Braves on December 9th.
• In 1995, became the first pitcher to log back to back seasons with an ERA under 1.80.
• Pitched a complete game 1-hitter in the Braves 3-1 win over the Houston Astros on May 28, 1995.
• Led the National League in innings pitched from 1991-1995, in ERA from 1993-1995 and in wins in 1992, 1994, and 1995.
• In Game 1 of the 1995 World Series, pitched nine scoreless innings, giving up just 2 hits vs the Cleveland Indians.
• Went 1-1 with an E.R.A of 1.72 in the 1996 World Series. Was saddled with the 3-2 loss in Game 6 of the Series, which clinched the win for the Yankees.
• In August 1997, signed a contract worth $57.5 million to stay with Atlanta through 2002.
• Has won eight consecutive Golden Gloves from 1990-1997.
• Won four consecutive Cy Young Awards from 1992-1995, and finished 2nd in the balloting in 1997, behind Montreal's Pedro Martinez. He is the first player to win 4 consecutive awards and only the second to win 4 Cy Youngs in his career (Steve Carlton was the first).
• Was the starting pitcher for the 1997 National League All-Star Game, also started the 1994 All-Star Game for the National League. Named to the 1995-1996 All Star teams but did not appear in the game.
• Is an avid golfer.
• Is considered by many to be the best pitcher in the game today. With a record of 138-70 coming into the 1998 season is the winningest pitcher of the 1990s, surpassing Randy Johnston, Roger Clemens, Tom Glavine and David Cone. He has 184 career victories coming into this season.
• In 1997, compiled a 19-4 record and has 15 or more wins in each of the last 10 seasons.
• His main pitches include a fastball in the mid-80s, a curve ball, slider and changeup.
• One of the top-fielding pitchers in the game today, despite being nagged by hamstring woes.
• Perhaps his only weakness is the lack of an effective pick-off move and the inability to shutdown the running game against him.
• Brother of pitcher Mike Maddux. His wife's name is Kathy and has a daughter, Amanda Paige.
• In 1998, he went 18-9 with a 2.22 ERA with 251.0 innings pitched over 34 starts. He had 9 complete games and struck out a career-high 204 batters
• On June 27th, 1998, he recorded his 100th win as a Brave against Toronto. During that game, he also struck out a career high 13 Blue Jays.
• On September 8, 1998, he recorded his 2000th career strikeout, against Montreal
• In 1999, he went 19-9 with an ERA of 3.57 over 214.1 innings pitched. His ERA was the highest Maddux had recorded since 1987 (5.61 with the Cubs) and the first time he had an ERA over 3.00 since 1991 (3.35)
• 1999, was also the first time Maddux had not recorded a shutout. His four complete games were his lowest total since recording just one in 1987.
• Hit 2 home runs in 34 at-bats in 1999 and hit .264 overall
• In 1999, he went 4-0 in April but went 0-3 with a 6.10 ERA in 6 starts in May
• On May 4 against St. Louis, he surrendered a career high 8 runs, including a Mark McGwire grand slam in a 9-1 loss to the Cardinals
• McGwire's was only the second grand slam allowed in Maddux's career. The first was by Benito Santiago of Philadelphia on May 3, 1996. The third would come in during a September 1999 9-2 loss to the Mets, when John Olerud connected for a grand slam.
• Maddux rebounded from a shaky start to go 14-5 in his last 21 starts and recorded his 12th-consecutive 15-plus win season. He also regained his pinpoint control, pitching 30.2 straight innings in August and September without issuing a walk.
• He concluded the 1990s with a 2.54 ERA over the decade, the third lowest ERA for any decade since 1910, behind only Hoyt Wilhelm (2.16) and Sandy Koufax (2.36) in the 1960s.
• He went 12-4 with a 2.86 ERA in 19 home starts in 1999, while going 7-5 with a 4.71 ERA in 14 starts on the road.
• He earned his 10th consecutive Golden Glove in 1999.
• He averaged 92 pitches per start, the 4th lowest in the National League, but gave up a career high 258 hits.
• In 1999, he lost his first ever Divisional Series game, as he went 7.0 IP, and gave up 10 hits and 2 earned runs in Game 1. He walked Craig Biggio, the only batter he faced in a relief appearance during the 7th inning of Game 3. He went 1-0 in two games during the NLCS but lost Game 1 of the 1999 World Series, despite holding a 1-0 lead going into the 8th inning.
• Appeared in 35 games in 2000
• Went 19-9 with a 3.00 ERA, striking out 190
• Struck out 10 against Florida on May 8 and 13 on September 23rd against Montreal
• Was second runner in the National League CY Young voting
• Was 0-1 in the post-season, with an 11,25 ERA
• Struck out 2 in 4.1 innings pitched in Game 1 of the Divisional Series against St. Louis, and gave up 7 runs (5 earned), thanks in part to bad defense behind him.

JOHN M's Opinion: Maddux's stats certainly help build a case for him being named "Pitcher of the 1990's". Along with Tom Glavine and a healthy John Smoltz, Maddux provides the anchor for one of the best starting rotations of all-time. While the Braves have only one World Series to its credit, they seem permanent fixtures in the post-season, and they have Maddux to thank for that.

TYPO's Opinion: I think he is the best pitcher in the business.  He is lucky enough to be in an excellent starting rotation.  Even if it has changed a little bit this year, with Neagle being traded.  He seems to keep his cool and look so aggressive on the field.  Yet off the field he seems this quiet, almost shy guy.

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