JEFF'S SPORTS BLOG - A BASEBALL LEGEND IS ABOUT TO RETIRE
I was surprised to hear that long-time starting pitcher Greg
Maddux is going to announce his retirement at Major League's general manager
winter meetings on Monday.
Maddux is a
four-time Cy Young Winner and ranks eighth on the all-time wins list with
355. His career earned run average is
3.16 and he threw a very impressive 109 complete games. Probably the most impressive stat is that
over his career Maddux struck out 3,371 batters while only walking 999.
To top those stats off, Maddux was one of the
best fielding pitchers having won 18, yes 18, gold gloves.
He had remarkable seasons, mostly with the Atlanta Braves,
which started with his arrival in 1986 playing for the Chicago Cubs. Maddux would remain a Cub until 1992 where he
then left to become a Brave.
Yes,
despite winning the Cy Young Award for the Cubs in '92, the Cubs found a way to
let him go and continue his brilliant career in Atlanta.
Fortunately, Cubs fans were treated to a return of Maddux in
2004-2006 where he amassed 38 wins and mentored the young arms of the Cubs
staff. As a baseball fan, Maddux was
pure and a delight to watch. He didn't
take performance-enhancing drugs and he can't bench press 300 pounds but he,
flat out, knows how to pitch. He
marveled hitters with pinpoint control and out-smarted his competition with
location and the ability to change speeds.
In an era that has led to much speculation about the
integrity of the game, Maddux was the symbol for fans that desire for the game to
remain pure and graceful, as it has been since its inception. Maddux is a first ballot Hall of Famer for
sure and I look forward to my eventual first visit to Cooperstown
so that I can see the tribute to one great pitcher who personified the game in
every way!
Congratulations Mr. Maddux
you had a brilliant career and you respected the game every time you stepped on
the mound!
JEFF ARDITO & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
