According to multiple reports on Friday afternoon, Greg Maddux will announce his retirement from the game on Monday after 23 big league seasons. The future first-ballot Hall of Famer will make his retirement official on the first day of the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas.
Greg Maddux was drafted in the second round (31st overall) by the Cubs in 1984 and made his debut on September 3, 1986. Maddux wore four different uniforms in his career….the Cubs and Dodgers twice, the Braves and the Padres. Maddux won four consecutive Cy Young Awards from 1992-1995, the first coming as a member of the Cubs. His 355 career wins is 8th on the All-Time list. Greg Maddux is the greatest pitcher of his generation and will finish with a career line of 355-227 with a 3.16 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP….3371 career strikeouts and only 999 walks allowed in 5008 1/3 innings (744 games, 740 career starts). Maddux was an 8-time All-Star, earned a record 18 Gold Gloves and his streak of 20 consecutive seasons with at least 13 wins came to an end in 2008.
For those that did not see Maddux in his prime, he was the best and him leaving Chicago the first time still makes many think of…what if?
Greg Maddux is a true student of the game and will be sorely missed. The game will lose one of the Greatest of All-Time when Maddux officially hangs up his spikes on Monday.
Thanks Mad Dog for the memories….
- The Ole Professor (With Photos of Maddux from his last game at Wrigley as a Cub) – August 1, 2006
- A Tip of the Hat (The last game for Greg Maddux in a Cubs’ uniform) – July 29, 2006