Maddux Retires.

You're a left-handed batter facing Greg Maddux, and the count is 2-2. You took a called first strike, but the proceeding pitches haven't looked nearly as good as that first one. Maddux missed outside with the 0-1—but barely. You got a piece of the 1-1, fouling it off toward the 3rd base dugout, and the last pitch missed again, low and away. You've seen that last one before, and you know if it gets to 3-2, you'll see it again. You're a smart batter, and you figure Maddux thinks he's got you if it gets to 3-2, so he'll probably waste a pitch, right? Here it is... That 2-2 pitch is an inside fastball aimed at your hip, but in the same instance in which you started to bail out, expecting to hear the umpire call "ball 3," the pitch tails back over the inside black of the plate, landing directly in the center of the catcher's motionless mit. You're out—and you're embarassed. That's what Greg Maddux does.


At the age of 42, Greg Maddux has decided to hang up the spikes. In 23 seasons, Maddux became a legend in baseball for his amazing control, his dogged competitiveness and his humor. He has incredible statistics, of course, and other immesasurable attributes that made him the player he was. Like the number of times he could be heard yelling, "SHIT!" from the mound when he missed his target by an inch and a half. For these reasons, he is my favorite baseball player of all-time and, in short, my sports God.

I'll let Peter Gammons and Tim Kurkjian fill you in on the ins-and-outs and historical significance of Maddux' HOF numbers—they get paid to put in the time for that reasearch. But I will end with a couple interesting tidbits and memories:

* In 1997, Maddux allowed just 20 bases on balls in 1997, including six intentional walks. Ignoring those six intentional walks, Maddux only went to a 3-0 count on one batter in all of 1997.

* Since the introduction of the live ball era in 1920, there have only been five pitchers to have full-season ERAs under 1.65: Gibson and Luis Tiant in the anomalous 1968 season, Gooden in 1985, and Greg Maddux, twice: 1.56 in 1994 and 1.63 in 1995.

* Who can forget the 1995 World Series? In Game 1, Maddux pitched a complete game victory beating the Indians 3-2 in what Maddux called the best game he ever pitched. Then in game 5, though he took the loss, he did have a remarkable moment facing Eddie Murray in a heated exchange. Maddux was battling during the game, and tensions were high. Murray hit a scorching line-drive right back at Maddux, but in true Maddux fashion, he caught the ball in his mit and stared down Murray. It was badass—editorializing, I know.

* On that note: Maddux won 18 Gold Gloves, his own record. He would have had 19 consecutive awards, but in 2003 the porcelin doll, Mike Hampton, eeked out a trophy.

* Maddux' pre-start meal: a Whopper.

* And of course: Chicks Dig the Long Ball.

Maddux improved every part of the Braves' rotation and enhanced every other pitching staff in which he was a part with his leadership and insight. He proved that you don't need steroids to be elite. He made us laugh. He made us laugh at the other team. He helped us win. Let's all hope there's an A on his cap in Cooperstown. Anyone else interested in making the trip, I'll see you there. Thanks, Mad Dog.