Greg Maddux to Retire
mca47
Posts: 13,300
Sad day in baseball.
One of the greatest pitchers to play, and perhaps one of the best athletes and sportsmen of all-time (and my favorite baseball player) is hanging them up.
I thought he had at least two more years in him. Oh well.
Thanks for the memories Mad Dog!!
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3748249
Greg Maddux has thrown his last pitch.
The four-time Cy Young winner will announce his retirement Monday at the baseball winter meetings, near his home in Las Vegas.
Countdown to Cooperstown
It took Greg Maddux 23 seasons to rack up four Cy Young Awards, eight All-Star appearances, 18 Gold Gloves, one World Series ring and perhaps his most impressive accomplishment, 355 wins:
Maddux, who turns 43 in April, ranks eighth on the career wins list with 355. He went 8-13 with a 4.22 ERA last season with the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Maddux made three relief appearances in the playoffs for the Dodgers this year -- he had an 0.00 ERA over four innings -- and then filed for free agency amid speculation he would retire.
On Friday, confirmation came from the office of Maddux's agent, Scott Boras. Maddux, his family and Boras will hold a news conference at the hotel where the meetings are being held to announce one of baseball's greatest pitchers is finished.
Last month, Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti left open the possibility that Maddux would return for a 24th season in the majors.
"I told Scott we'd love to have him back, and we're not going to be closing the door on Greg Maddux anytime soon," Colletti said at the time. "I've known him for a long, long time. I respect who he is and admire him for what he's done. I know the impact he has on a club and on a franchise."
Maddux finished one win ahead of Roger Clemens on the career victory list. Overall, "Mad Dog" was 355-227 with a 3.16 ERA, and is considered a certain first-ballot Hall of Famer when he becomes eligible after five years.
Noted for impeccable control, Maddux won Cy Young Awards from 1992-95 and earned a record 18 Gold Gloves while with the Chicago Cubs, Atlanta, Dodgers and Padres.
Maddux was an eight-time All-Star and won at least 13 games in 20 straight seasons, a streak that ended this year.
The last-place Padres traded Maddux to the Dodgers on Aug. 19 for two minor leaguers to be named or cash, and went 2-4 in seven starts for Los Angeles. His last start for the NL West champions was a gem -- he beat San Francisco, giving up one run and two hits in six innings.
"He's remarkable," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said after the 2-1 victory. "I've watched and admired him from across the field. Tonight was, you could say, vintage."
Said Maddux following the win: "In all honesty, I have felt this game has given me more than I ever thought it would in the first place. I just wanted to have a good game. I haven't had many since I got here."
While Maddux finished on the West Coast, he will always be associated with top teams in Atlanta. Along with fellow 300-game winner Tom Glavine and John Smoltz, Maddux helped the Braves win division titles for more than a decade, and they won their lone World Series championship there in 1995.
Glavine and Smoltz are both in their 40s and coming off arm operations, and their futures are in doubt. Longtime teammates on the field and golfing buddies away from the field, there has long been talk that Atlanta's Big Three might someday be reunited -- with election to the Hall on the very same day.
Maddux made his major league debut in September 1986 with the Cubs. As a pinch-runner, in fact. He wound up losing that game in relief.
His brother, Mike, started his big league career three months earlier as a pitcher for Philadelphia. He recently was hired as Texas' pitching coach.
One of the greatest pitchers to play, and perhaps one of the best athletes and sportsmen of all-time (and my favorite baseball player) is hanging them up.
I thought he had at least two more years in him. Oh well.
Thanks for the memories Mad Dog!!
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3748249
Greg Maddux has thrown his last pitch.
The four-time Cy Young winner will announce his retirement Monday at the baseball winter meetings, near his home in Las Vegas.
Countdown to Cooperstown
It took Greg Maddux 23 seasons to rack up four Cy Young Awards, eight All-Star appearances, 18 Gold Gloves, one World Series ring and perhaps his most impressive accomplishment, 355 wins:
Maddux, who turns 43 in April, ranks eighth on the career wins list with 355. He went 8-13 with a 4.22 ERA last season with the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Maddux made three relief appearances in the playoffs for the Dodgers this year -- he had an 0.00 ERA over four innings -- and then filed for free agency amid speculation he would retire.
On Friday, confirmation came from the office of Maddux's agent, Scott Boras. Maddux, his family and Boras will hold a news conference at the hotel where the meetings are being held to announce one of baseball's greatest pitchers is finished.
Last month, Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti left open the possibility that Maddux would return for a 24th season in the majors.
"I told Scott we'd love to have him back, and we're not going to be closing the door on Greg Maddux anytime soon," Colletti said at the time. "I've known him for a long, long time. I respect who he is and admire him for what he's done. I know the impact he has on a club and on a franchise."
Maddux finished one win ahead of Roger Clemens on the career victory list. Overall, "Mad Dog" was 355-227 with a 3.16 ERA, and is considered a certain first-ballot Hall of Famer when he becomes eligible after five years.
Noted for impeccable control, Maddux won Cy Young Awards from 1992-95 and earned a record 18 Gold Gloves while with the Chicago Cubs, Atlanta, Dodgers and Padres.
Maddux was an eight-time All-Star and won at least 13 games in 20 straight seasons, a streak that ended this year.
The last-place Padres traded Maddux to the Dodgers on Aug. 19 for two minor leaguers to be named or cash, and went 2-4 in seven starts for Los Angeles. His last start for the NL West champions was a gem -- he beat San Francisco, giving up one run and two hits in six innings.
"He's remarkable," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said after the 2-1 victory. "I've watched and admired him from across the field. Tonight was, you could say, vintage."
Said Maddux following the win: "In all honesty, I have felt this game has given me more than I ever thought it would in the first place. I just wanted to have a good game. I haven't had many since I got here."
While Maddux finished on the West Coast, he will always be associated with top teams in Atlanta. Along with fellow 300-game winner Tom Glavine and John Smoltz, Maddux helped the Braves win division titles for more than a decade, and they won their lone World Series championship there in 1995.
Glavine and Smoltz are both in their 40s and coming off arm operations, and their futures are in doubt. Longtime teammates on the field and golfing buddies away from the field, there has long been talk that Atlanta's Big Three might someday be reunited -- with election to the Hall on the very same day.
Maddux made his major league debut in September 1986 with the Cubs. As a pinch-runner, in fact. He wound up losing that game in relief.
His brother, Mike, started his big league career three months earlier as a pitcher for Philadelphia. He recently was hired as Texas' pitching coach.
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"I don't believe in damn curses. Wake up the damn Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I'll drill him in the ass." --- Pedro Martinez
♬♪♫ and I will not, grow tired of crayon stars and fire
♬♪♫ cause a soldier's death is so much better than defeat just hanging around
2003 Mansfield: July 2
2004 Boston: Sept 28 & 29
2005 Montreal: Sept 15
2006 Boston: May 24 & 25
2008 Hartford: June 27, Mansfield: June 28,
2010 Boston: May 17
2013 Worcester: Oct 15, Hartford: Oct 25,
2016 Hampton: April 18, Raleigh: April 20 (cancelled), Columbia: April 21. Quebec: May 5. Boston (Fenway): August 7
EV Solo: Boston 8/2/08, Boston 6/16/11
That said, I would LOVE it if he Glavs and Smoltzie all went in together...Three of the best and the CLASSIEST guys to ever play the game...:) I might actually consider making the the trip for the induction even for Maddux alone...Anyone know if this is something open to the public if I wanted to go?
Pedro should wait another year as I would really like to see the big three by themselves!! For selfish reasons of course...I am not that big of Pedro fan...
"Free Shipping" SPEEDY MCCREADY
My friend was going to see Eddie last night. Since he was in Vegas, I gave him 5 Grand to gamble with. I told him I wanted it all to go on Black. Bastard! PhillyCrownOfThorns-11-2-12
Amen brother! I could watch that guy pitch all day long. Such a master in every aspect of the game.
I may be naive and hope he'll change his mind and come back for another year or two (the Dodgers have already said they'd be more than happy to have him back) but can you imagine that guy as a pitching coach?!?!?! Oh man!
If he does go, and it looks that he will, talk about going on the top and one of the most respected people in all of sports.
I'm still going to sport my Cubs Maddux jersey at every Cubs game I go to until it wears out!
...then I'll get another!
Its not worth a damn anymore anyways......I should have gotten rid of my cards when I had the chance
Summerfest 2006
"Why would they come to our concert just to boo us?" -Lisa Simpson
I am a man, I am advanced.....I am the first man to borrow Stone's leather pants!
I agree with you..SOMEONE always does...That said, if ANYONE deserves 100%, it is Maddux...Nothing but CLASS his WHOLE career....NEVER EVER took credit for anything...ALWAYS put his teammates first when he won...If he didnt pitch well, he said said he didnt...Never blamed anyone for anything even when he didnt get run support....Very humble and appreciative...I will miss him..
"Free Shipping" SPEEDY MCCREADY
My friend was going to see Eddie last night. Since he was in Vegas, I gave him 5 Grand to gamble with. I told him I wanted it all to go on Black. Bastard! PhillyCrownOfThorns-11-2-12
it's not well known, but Maddux is a big time prankster:
Maddux? For a guy with a CPA's demeanor, he has a sense of humor that a 12-year-old would envy. Maddux is a master of strategically timed nose picking, sidling up to an unsuspecting rookie in the shower and urinating on the kid's leg, and inventing just the right nickname for a teammate with big ears, a prominent schnozz or some other pronounced physical qualities.
I read in another article that he likes hocking loogies on the roof of the dugout, and watching it drip onto teammates
And everyone that has ever played with him says nothing but the best.
Man, I'm still really bummed about his retirement.
The absolute definition of a class-act!
One of the best.
Remember this clip?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLECMCargd8
I forgot about that!
LAS VEGAS -- Greg Maddux grew up with the same weekend ritual as so many other American kids.
Tagging along with his big brother, he would run down to the park to play ball against the older guys from the neighborhood in regular Sunday scrimmages.
He met a pitching coach who preached movement over velocity, and pretty soon Maddux was striking out those stronger teens. Nearly three decades later, he walked away from baseball Monday as one of the greatest pitchers to put on a uniform.
After 355 wins and 23 major league seasons, Maddux held a 30-minute news conference to announce his retirement on the opening day of the winter meetings -- just minutes from his Las Vegas home.
"I really just came out here today to say thank you," he said in a ballroom at the swanky Bellagio hotel. "I appreciate everything this game has given me. It's going to be hard to walk away obviously, but it's time. I have a family now that I need to spend some more time with. I still think I can play the game, but not as well as I would like to, so it's time to say goodbye."
Next stop, the Hall of Fame.
Wearing a casual shirt and slacks, Maddux spoke softly on stage and never lost his composure. His parents and family -- including brother Mike Maddux, the Texas Rangers pitching coach and a former big leaguer himself -- sat in the front row.
Crasnick: One Last Pitch
With the baseball world in his hometown for the winter meetings, Greg Maddux dropped by to deliver a heartfelt and graceful goodbye, ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick writes. Story
"Mad Dog threw a shutout today," said Bobby Cox, who managed Maddux during his dominant years with the Atlanta Braves. "Special, special guy. I get choked up talking about him."
A large poster with photos of Maddux hung behind the podium. He was introduced by agent Scott Boras, who said his client had a "model" career.
Maddux leaves with four consecutive NL Cy Young Awards (1992-95) and a 3.16 ERA, especially impressive in the steroid era. He ranks eighth on the career wins list, with one more victory than Roger Clemens.
"I never changed," said Maddux, who turns 43 in April. "I think, hey, you locate your fastball and you change speeds no matter who is hitting."
An eight-time All-Star, Maddux won 13 or more games in 20 straight seasons -- a streak that ended this year. He spent his final season with the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers, finishing 355-227. His remarkable resume includes a record 18 Gold Gloves, including one this year.
Maddux broke into the majors in 1986 with the Cubs and pitched for Chicago again from 2004-06. The right-hander helped the Braves win the 1995 World Series and went 8-13 with a 4.22 ERA during his final season.
Hall Of Fame Numbers
Greg Maddux didn't throw the hardest, but he ends up as one of the best in all-time career numbers.
He made three relief appearances in the playoffs for the NL West champion Dodgers -- he had an 0.00 ERA over four innings -- and then filed for free agency amid speculation he would retire.
Plans for his farewell news conference were announced Friday, but Maddux made up his mind long ago.
"I think I decided actually two years ago, but I ended up playing one more year anyway," he said. "But I pretty much knew last spring training. I had kind of told some teammates and some people in baseball that this was going to be my last year. I don't think they really believed me, but I think I was telling the truth that time."
Maddux said he'll miss everything that came with major league life: poker games on the plane, golf on road trips, hanging out with his teammates.
He didn't rule out a coaching position in the future, but for now he's ready to move on.
"Right now I think I want to take a year off and spend time with the family, do things that I have not been able to do because of baseball, and see if I like it or not," Maddux said. "I assume I'll like it, but I also don't know about being out of the game. I don't really know a whole lot about anything, but I feel like I know a few things about baseball. I'm going to miss it, and hopefully I won't miss it too much."
Funny as heck.
''Come on step into it'' lol
apparently, 07162056 is THE date...