Greg Maddux is nothing but a big phony, I tell you!
Why give him a plaque? He'll just toss it in the car. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
A slew of words have been tossed around these past few days in order to characterize Greg Maddux, and I’d like to add a new one:
Phony.
The man, I’m telling you, was a total fraud. He tried to come off as just another guy trying “to make pitches” and “get guys out,” and there’s a Fox Sports interview from the ’90s — it’s available from YouTube and can be viewed below — in which he discusses what a lousy student he was in high school.
Lousy student. Yeah, right.
Smartest ballplayer ever.
Three hundred fifty-five wins with a fastball that wouldn’t get clocked for speeding on the Downtown Connector. Seventeen consecutive 15-win seasons with pitches that shouldn’t have fooled anybody but bumfuzzled everybody.
The Swiss philosopher Henri-Frederic Amiel (who had a lousy fastball himself) famously said: “Doing easily what others find difficult is talent; doing what is impossible for talent is genius.” That was Mad Dog. He saw everything. He knew everything.
Mark Lemke: “He’d call me over and say, ‘Move to your left two pitches from now.’ Not on the next pitch, but the pitch after that. He said, ‘I’m going to throw something he’ll foul off, and then I’m going to throw him a slider he’ll ground into the hole.’ ”
Terry Pendleton: “We were in Cincinnati one night and Bret Boone kept fouling off fastballs, and I went to the mound and said, ‘You could get him with a slider.’ And Doggie said, ‘Yeah, but I want to save that for when runners are in scoring position.’ ”
Leo Mazzone: “We were having our pitchers’ meeting before the 1996 World Series and we were going over the scouting report. It said to pitch Bernie Williams a certain way. Maddux said, ‘That’s not right. I’ve watched every game they’ve played the last two weeks and he’s killing that pitch.’ And I said, ‘We’ll go with Doggie on this one.’ ”
(Postscript: Bernie Williams faced Maddux three times in Game 2. He went 0-for-3.)
He saw everything. He knew everything. He remembered everything. Bobby Cox tells this Doggie tale:
Andy Benes was pitching for Arizona and plunked a Braves’ hitter. Cox told his men after the game, “Next time we play them, Benes better go down!” Well, the Braves didn’t play Arizona again that season or in the first weeks of the next. And one day Maddux walks into Cox’s office and said, “Still stand?”
Said Cox: “What are you talking about?”
Said Maddux: “That thing with Benes. Still stand?”
Said Cox, who’d forgotten such a edict was ever levied: “Damn right!”
First at-bat that night, Andy Benes ate dirt.
Smartest ballplayer ever. Biggest phony ever. Tried to make it seem as if he was unarmed — of Randy Johnson, Maddux once said: “His slider is faster than my fastball” — but in truth was possessed of the greatest weapon in the game. The Maddux brain.
One thing more about our Einstein: He was also a raging slob.
Lemke: “When we trained in West Palm, I’d take a look in Maddux’s car the last week and the thing would be a disaster. He’d hit Burger King every morning and he’d just turn around and — whoosh — toss [the cups and wrappers] into the back seat.”
On Friday the Braves inducted this con artist into their Hall of Famer and retired the Sultan of Sloth’s number. Even Maddux, who’s never fazed, seemed moved by the ovation he received at Turner Field. And then he gave an unmemorable speech that concluded with, “Let’s go beat the Mets.” The man always could focus.
Smartest ballplayer ever. Greatest pitcher I’ve ever seen. Greatest pitcher I’ll ever see.
Another Maddux story, this from Pete Van Wieren: “In Montreal they used to have a big bowl of jellybeans in the clubhouse, and Gerald Williams would come in every day and pick out the red ones. One day got to the ballpark two hours early and dumped the whole bowl and took out all the red ones. Took him a couple of hours, but he just wanted to sit in the corner and snicker when Gerald came in and started looking for the red jellybeans.”
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154 comments Add your comment
From the vault: M. Bradley on G. Maddux -- April 19, 1994 | Mark Bradley
July 17th, 2009
6:20 pm
[...] OK, here’s the column: In which I reveal for the first time that Greg Maddux is a phony. [...]
Ken Stallings
July 17th, 2009
6:31 pm
Great column! Perhaps the most entertaining written recently about Maddux. You dug deep for nuggets and they read wonderfully.
Mark C.
July 17th, 2009
6:32 pm
I don’t know what a male corsage is called, I just know I haven’t worn one since senior prom.
Hillbilly Deluxe
July 17th, 2009
6:37 pm
Isn’t it nice that not all those that find sucess are ego-maniacs.
Samm
July 17th, 2009
6:43 pm
MB you right entirely to many blogs. how are we(those who dont work around a computer all day) supposed to keep up?
Old Blue
July 17th, 2009
6:50 pm
It is so very obvious. . . Greg Maddox would never make it as a professional wrestler.
Joshhh...
July 17th, 2009
6:50 pm
Great article & awesome interview…Maddux is like none other…
He’s definitely in a league of his own…
Tony from Stone Mountain
July 17th, 2009
6:51 pm
I loved this column.
Mark Bradley
July 17th, 2009
6:52 pm
Thanks, Ken. But you really don’t have to dig. Just ask a Maddux teammate, “Tell me a Maddux story” and you’ll get a good one.
Thunderbull56
July 17th, 2009
6:56 pm
Woff, woof, and Teddy Ballgame said all pitchers were dunches.Congrats to Gregg.I’ll admit,I missed few of his games during his stellar time with the Braves.
MightyQuinn
July 17th, 2009
6:56 pm
I had season tix from ‘96 to ‘00, then got married and financial priorities changed. But I remember going to the park one day when the Braves were playing the Cubs, I believe. They were finishing a suspended game and then playing a complete game and Maddux was pitching. I went that day planning on a longer day than usual at the Ted. Maddux pitched a complete game in about an hour and fifty minutes. I was home in less than usual time. He was brilliant.
rhynster
July 17th, 2009
6:57 pm
Bradley, you’ve become my favorite sportswriter by far.
This was the best article I’ve read about Maddux out of the entire deluge of articles written in the last week.
You oughta be syndicated.
Mark Bradley
July 17th, 2009
6:58 pm
Thanks, Tony. Thanks, Rynster. (And please: Call me “Mark.”)
Coach (2010 or Bust)
July 17th, 2009
6:58 pm
The only thing to match Mad Dog’s intelligence is his humility and that is what makes the man truly great, not just at baseball but in life. It was an honor to have seen Greg pitch.
Dave
July 17th, 2009
6:59 pm
Very nicely written.
La Jolla Dawg
July 17th, 2009
7:22 pm
Great column Mark. I am glad I got to see Maddux pitch here in San Diego. Very easy to root for him regardless of the jersey. As a matter of fact, with the exception of Brett Butler and Dale Murphy, I don’t think I could say that about any other player.
Mark Bradley
July 17th, 2009
7:28 pm
Thanks, Dave. Thanks, La Jolla.
And here at the park the ceremony is set to begin. I’ve seen David Justice and Phil Niekro, and I just saw Maddux in the dugout. And Terry McGuirk and Pete Van Wieren and Don Sutton and Bill Bartholomay. And Hank. And Paul Snyder. And Murph. And Schuerholz.
Mark Bradley
July 17th, 2009
7:30 pm
Maddux not wearing a tie, BTW. Wore a tie at the luncheon at The Omni. Just for the fashionistas in our viewing audience.
Braves now filing out the dugout to ring the platform, which is sitting between home plate and the mound. Closer to the mound, for you landscapers.
Mark Bradley
July 17th, 2009
7:33 pm
Sorry. I misspoke. Hank Aaron isn’t here.
pj
July 17th, 2009
7:37 pm
The stories from lemke, pendelton and leo were great. If you’ve got more – put em up! That’s really fun to read, so I thank you MB.
I’m still not convinced that you know your stuff on the Dawgs : ) but I just said to my buddy the other day – “If Bradley’s writing about the Braves, pay attention.”
Chicks may have “dug the longball” during his run, but history will prove him as one of the top 5 players of the generation. Really glad the Braves are honoring him tonight.
country boy
July 17th, 2009
7:38 pm
Why doesn’t Don Sutton use “s” at the end of nouns ??? maddox was a treasure
Mark Bradley
July 17th, 2009
7:43 pm
Very nice ceremony. Maddux seemed genuinely moved, which never happens. His speech was short and it ended with him saying, “Let’s go beat the Mets tonight.”
Mark Bradley
July 17th, 2009
7:45 pm
Thanks, PJ. I do have one good one from Pete Van Wieren, which I’ll get to shortly.
Maddux and his son Chase just threw the ceremonial first pitch in tandem. Chase Maddux threw to Chipper Jones. Maddux threw to Eddie Perez, naturally.
Dell
July 17th, 2009
7:45 pm
Since T. Glavine left on bad terms, will the Braves not retire his number?
Dell
July 17th, 2009
7:47 pm
Mark?
pj
July 17th, 2009
7:53 pm
I would imagine they will at some point retire Glavine, Smoltz, Cox and possibly even Chipper’s numbers. Whatcha say there MB?
woodie
July 17th, 2009
7:58 pm
Maddux is the greatest. He was always so humble when he won and yet would never blame the team when he lost 1-0. A true sports icon is he.
hayley
July 17th, 2009
7:58 pm
Let the Met’s retire Glavines!
Mark Bradley
July 17th, 2009
8:02 pm
Sorry, Dell. I don’t know what happened, but two comments I posted — me, whose blog this supposedly is — just disappeared. So I’ll recap:
I imagine Glavine and the Braves will kiss and make up very soon. His will be the next number retired. And then Smoltz’s, and then Chipper’s. Cox, as we know, will be managing for 30 more years, so he’ll need his number.
Mark Bradley
July 17th, 2009
8:03 pm
I’ve actually got two pretty good Maddux stories that I didn’t use. I’ll tack them on at the bottom of the column above.
Braves with two on, McCann up. Bottom of the first.
Sage of Bluesland
July 17th, 2009
8:18 pm
What is Maddux’s record in the playoffs–the real season? Can’t pick up cheap wins therer, I’m afraid.
Anyone?
(Hopefully Mark Bradley won’t delete THIS post…We’ll see…)
Chris
July 17th, 2009
8:21 pm
This is such a good article Mark.
Thanks for the stories. That type of thing is so much more enriching than statistics but then of course you know that.
Maddux was a pretty lousy interview live. Some guys can do the coach speak thing better than others and he isn’t one of them but I’m guessing he’s a good interview one on one? I’ve heard stories that he can be pretty abrasive but guessing that’s mostly indicative of a biting sense of humor?
The quote by the guy from Helsinki was money as well. Thanks
Mark Bradley
July 17th, 2009
8:24 pm
Finishing the Maddux column for Print. Braves lead 3-0. McCann with a two-run double and Escobar with an RBI single. Francoeur popped to left his first trip.
Bamafan
July 17th, 2009
8:26 pm
Mark, Great article and good luck Greg Maddux in the future and would love to see Greg coach the
braves pitching staff or be a manager for the braves. GO BRAVES!!
Chuckles
July 17th, 2009
8:26 pm
BTW – AP reporting Walter Cronkite is dead
Best ever
July 17th, 2009
8:27 pm
I didn’t see Spahn and Sain, but Doggie is the best Bravew pitcher I ever saw, bar none. I can think of 18-20 games that he lost 2-1 or 3-2 and nearly that many where he got no decision because of no run support. Class guy, an absolute artist on the mound, and absolutely the most unathletic looking guy in major league history. Not an unathletic slob like David Wells, just a librarian type of everyman who happened to be a dead lock first ballot Hall of Famer.
Thanks, Doggie
Mark Bradley
July 17th, 2009
8:45 pm
It’s a poor craftsman who blames his tools, but … computer just froze and I had to reboot and when it came back I noticed commenting had been shut down, which I certainly didn’t intend. But it’s open now.
Catching up: I’ve inserted a somewhat amusing — at least I think it’s amusing — Pete Van Wieren Maddux story above. And the Braves are, as Maddux advised them to do, waxing the Mets. It’s 6-0 in the bottom of the third. That man Prado has a double and a homer. That man McCann has a double and a homer and four RBIs. And Mike Pelfrey, who’s pitching for the Mets, has nothing.
Ken Stallings
July 17th, 2009
8:45 pm
Such a joy to listen to Maddux in the Braves press box with the TV announcers Joe Simpsom and Chip Caray. Two words to describe Greg Maddux? Humble genius!
Fungo
July 17th, 2009
8:48 pm
Separated at Birth: Brian McCann and Rainn “The Office” Wilson.
Mark Bradley
July 17th, 2009
8:51 pm
Maddux is doing radio now, I believe.
Supes
July 17th, 2009
8:53 pm
Mark, great blog/story tonight. Thank you for the stories on Maddux.
It was a great priviledge to watch him pitch for those 10 years as a Brave, I had the Mad Dog Poster growing up!
Classic end to his speech, “Lets go beat the Mets!”. Couldn’t have said it better myself
Mark Bradley
July 17th, 2009
8:54 pm
Ever seen this one before: Frenchy at bat with a man on third?
Mark Bradley
July 17th, 2009
8:58 pm
Thanks, Supes.
Francoeur’s at-bat: Fouls off a fastball, fouls off another, and another. Late on all of the above. Takes a slider in the dust. Early on a changeup, fouls it to the screen. Fouls off another fastball and is late again. (Hanging in there, though.) Takes another slider in the dirt. (Pretty good AB, huh?) Takes a fastball just off the plate. Crowd boos. It’s 3-2 now. Grounds out on a fastball that breaks his bat.
Ken Stallings
July 17th, 2009
8:59 pm
More to the result, he worked the count to 3-2 and then topped a low, outside fast ball that vice working the other way, he tried to pull!
It is a real shame to have that much talent trapped inside a stubborn and unyeilding mind that refuses to adapt and overcome!
General Patton
July 17th, 2009
8:59 pm
Mark C., the “corsage” worn by males is called a Boutonnière.
General Patton
July 17th, 2009
9:02 pm
Please offer Mad Dog the pitching coach position NOW!!!!
Mark Bradley
July 17th, 2009
9:03 pm
From my prom days, I remember buying my date — Ms. Carla Whalen, whose dad was the principal at Mason County High — something called a nosegay. Isn’t that a floral arrangement a woman holds in her hands or wears on her wrist or something?
FYI, Ms. Whalen and I went to two proms in one night — Mason County’s and Maysville’s. Hers was better.
Mark Bradley
July 17th, 2009
9:07 pm
Maddux update: Just shook hands with the great man himself. (He stopped by the press box.) I told him, “I just called you a phony.” He laughed and said, “You’re not the first. You should hear what my wife calls me.”
General Patton
July 17th, 2009
9:14 pm
Mr. Bradley,
Yes sir, Nosegays or tussie-mussies are a handheld bouquets traditionally used for special occassions…weddings, proms sweet 16’s.
Ashley
July 17th, 2009
9:15 pm
I love when he told the Braves to beat the Mets, just like old times! Wonder what the visiting Mets thought about that?
Paddy
July 17th, 2009
9:17 pm
MB, with that beautiful column, it tells me newspapers should never go out of business. We have all forgotten how good reporting can make us feel. Heck bring back the afternoon newspapers.
Ken Stallings
July 17th, 2009
9:21 pm
Mark, I bet there are more than a few great ball players you wouldn’t want to say that to for fear they’d feel insulted and black ball you for years to come!
With Maddux, you could easily anticipate the result, genuine chuckle followed by another self-deprecating quip.
Bill
July 17th, 2009
9:22 pm
Great job Mark. Maddux was #1 and would make a great Manager. Super person.
Mark Bradley
July 17th, 2009
9:24 pm
Thanks, Bill. Thanks, Paddy. And Ken, you’re right. Most professional athletes take themselves seriously. Maddux, never.
Mark Bradley
July 17th, 2009
9:26 pm
As far as beating the Mets: I’d say mission accomplished. It’s 9-0. The Braves have three doubles in the fifth — Chipper, Anderson, Escobar — plus a McCann bloop single. Braves have 10 hits. McCann has more hits than the Mets.
Mark Bradley
July 17th, 2009
9:31 pm
Ten-nil now. Even Kotchman is driving in runs. Slaughter rule in effect.
Thomas
July 17th, 2009
9:35 pm
Outstanding column! I was laughing out loud while reading and my wife in the same room was in amazement. Thanks Maddux for the many memories added to the Braves collection.
Mark Bradley
July 17th, 2009
9:38 pm
Thanks, Thomas. And tell your wife I meant no harm.
CALPA
July 17th, 2009
9:53 pm
Mark,why don’t you get with greg and do an autobiography! I could read stories about ‘ol ball player’s nonstop! Truly greg was one of a kind, once in a life time kind of player! Kudo’s to you for a mighty fine story!! Keep up the good work!! ( I’m serious about that book thing)!!!
Scrap Iron
July 17th, 2009
10:00 pm
The think that sticks out to me the most is that you would swear (and he sure did) that if you lived next door to him, he’d be the car salesman down the block, or the neighborhood guy in charge of getting up the weekly poker game – things like that. Never acted like he was any big deal.
Almost as if on the days he wasn’t pitching, they’d show him in the dugout on occation joking with teammates, then getting serious and pointing something out to a fellow pitcher – just sure seems like somebody that was enjoyable to be around whether he be the Hall Of Famer he surely will be, or the corner grocer.
Thanks for the memories “Mad Dog”
Mark Bradley
July 17th, 2009
10:00 pm
Thanks, CALPA. And the book I’d like to read (if not write) is not a Maddux autobiography but of guys talking about Maddux. As you can imagine, everybody has a tale to tell about Mad Dog.
CALPA
July 17th, 2009
10:07 pm
DITTO MARK !! THAT’S WHAT I MENT TO CONVEY!! NO DOUBT IT WOULD BE HIT AROUND THESE PART’S FOR SURE!! I HOPE YOU’LL(IN THE NEAR FUTURE) CONSIDER & LOOK INTO IT!!
Mark Bradley
July 17th, 2009
10:08 pm
Thanks for the suggestion. But I’ve never been sure I had a book in me. Maybe a pamphlet.
Mark Bradley
July 17th, 2009
10:12 pm
Attendance is 50,704. Nice to see.
And the game has gone nicely for the home club, too. It’s 11-0 and the jayvee team is in. Valdez pitching, Ross catching, Prado moving to third, Conrad at second, Diaz in for Anderson in left. And Jurrjens is long gone, having yielded two hits.
jon
July 17th, 2009
10:14 pm
My old brain is crowded with information so I don’t remember details of sporting events very well, but my boss and I went to an afternoon playoff game in the mid 90’s that Maddux pitched. The Braves won 2 or 3 to nothing. The game was over before I finished my first beer. Mad Dog was on!
Now, WTF did the Cubs retire #31? What a loser organization that would retire the number of a pitcher that they wouldn’t keep in his prime. Cubs are losers.
DC Braves Fan
July 17th, 2009
10:19 pm
Great article but you’re just dead wrong about a couple of things. First, his pitches should have fooled a lot of players because they had movement. Movement is more important than velocity, and at his peak, no one’s fastball moved more than Greg Maddux. That is why left handed hitters were always ducking away from his tailing fastball. Same thing with his changeup. It would drop off the face of the earth. It’s a myth that he didn’t have great stuff. He had phenomenal stuff, save the curveball, which was very average. Second, he was no soft-tosser early in his career. He wasn’t throwing mid-90s, but he’d throw 89-90 and that type of speed with movement is incredibly hard to hit.
You’re right about his superior mental approach, but the man’s stuff is never given enough credit.
Chris
July 17th, 2009
10:22 pm
I take it back. I’m an idiot. I re-read the 1994 piece. He was a great interview in print. I just seem to remember him doing the coachspeak thing on TV and was about as stirring as Matt Stafford.
When, oh when, will someone say they’re looking forward to playing the next two games at the same time?
The guy who wrote about bringing back the afternoon paper? Paddy? He’s dead nuts spot on. Would have loved to have had the paper in my hand reading this article but then we’d miss these exchanges which are rich.
Thanks
SA
July 17th, 2009
10:25 pm
Can’t wait to see Maddux go to Cooperstown. Hope the vote is unanimous!
WarrDawg
July 17th, 2009
10:29 pm
My favorite player of all time…Love ya Dog!
Supes
July 17th, 2009
10:29 pm
Mark, a 2 hit SO fired by JJ and the pen tonight. Fitting for Greg Maddux night, don’t you think?
Steven
July 17th, 2009
10:29 pm
Mark,
Excellent article! Greg Maddux was and forever will be my favorite pitcher of all time. I doubt anyone will come along that can match how he analyzed a game and picked it apart. In today’s age where pitchers and scouts use advanced technology Mad Dog used his brain. His memory set him apart from everyone else. I hope the BBWA inducts him unanimously it’s only fitting.
Zell Miller
July 17th, 2009
10:51 pm
Greg Maddux is…overrated.
mark
July 17th, 2009
11:02 pm
great stuff. He was truly amazing. watched him for years wondering ho win the hell the best hitters in the game could not hit this guy who could not break a plane of glass with his fastball.
Always made a point of looking ahead in the schedule to try and pick the games he was pitching from the company tickets
SCBravesFan
July 17th, 2009
11:05 pm
Zell…if you think Maddux is overrated, grab a bat and get in the box….
eric
July 17th, 2009
11:09 pm
Just my favorite pitcher of all time. Back in ‘93-’94 (being just 14 at the time) I used to go out and pitch a tennis ball against a wall in my backyard after every Maddux game. Never could quite get that movement on MY cutter! Anyway, its really fun to sit here now and read all of these great Maddux stories. I’d love to hear some more…
35YearBravesFan
July 17th, 2009
11:09 pm
Greatest pitcher of our generation. What a joy he was to watch.
Thanks Greg.
GO BRAVES!!!
Zell Miller
July 17th, 2009
11:18 pm
I should really go play in traffic.
jon
July 17th, 2009
11:21 pm
Maddux could throw the ball wherever he wanted to, but what made him The Greatest, was that he was just smarter than the hitters. “Here’s one _you_ will pop up to right.”
Max Maximus
July 17th, 2009
11:22 pm
On Maddux…. The man was simply the greatest pitcher of all time. He was like a surgeon when on the mound. He would outhink every hitter and owned most power hitter. Had the ability to disect the hitter and also the game. In my opinion he was the greatest, what a competitor. Mad Dog you are and will be missed.
Mark Bradley
July 17th, 2009
11:24 pm
Supes, the Braves are playing well again. And they’ve got a chance to put the Mets away this weekend. That’s a sad-looking ballclub.
Braves326
July 17th, 2009
11:48 pm
4.5 out of the Wild Card…
Nice article, BTW.
Mitch C
July 17th, 2009
11:56 pm
I’ve been a Braves fan for twenty six years. Greg Maddux is my favorite player, ever. I used to idolize Dale Murphy when I was younger, but to watch Greg pitch a game, was a thing of beauty.
I dont live in the Atlanta area, but I did get to watch Glavine, Smoltz, Millwood, and Denny Neagle, not to mention Avery in his prime, pitch in person. Greg was the one pitcher that I never got to see in person. I remember one year the Braves were coming into Philadelphia after the All Star Break. It was at first announced that Greg would be pitching on the day I went to the game in Philly. Then, on the day before the break, I turned on TBS, and there was Greg, pitching on only three days rest. After the game, I read Bobby’s comments, and he said “Greg asked me to pitch him on three days rest, and when it’s Greg, I had to say yes”. Due to that switch in the rotation, someone else pitched on the day I went to the game, and I was really disappointed. I used to love to watch Greg pitch on TV. It was like watching Michaelangelo create a work of art.
I think it’s awesome that Greg had his number retired by two teams in the same season. No one is more deserving. I can’t wait until he gets into the Hall of Fame.
Mitch
carober
July 18th, 2009
12:02 am
This is a great piece, MB. As an aside, here’s my Maddux story (I’ve never met him). About two years ago my friend told me that Maddux was a better pitcher than Roger Clemens. This was pre-roids allegations. I told my friend that I disagreed: Look at the numbers, the guy has a billion cy youngs, a billion strikeouts, a billion everything’s. I was naive, and ignorant. I compared the stats–all of them–and there is a great argument that this guy is the best pitcher in the 90’s, probably of this era. And that is pre Clemens roids allegations. Considering them, there is no question. So, I emailed my friend and conceded, happily.
Skeezix
July 18th, 2009
12:10 am
A master of the art of pitching. Almost never pitched a batter the same way in a game. Did not believe in wasting a single pitch. Based on my review of the stats, one of the 10 best pitchers ever and the best of his era. My late father and I loved to watch him pitch and we would count the number of pitches (we were in awe of his efficiency). I am grateful I got to witness his great talent.
Joseph killeen
July 18th, 2009
12:17 am
MR. bradley once again sir we disagree MADDUX IS ONE OF THE GREATEST BRAVES EVER AND YOU NO IT HOW DO YOU THINK WE WON THE 95 SERIES GREG WE LOVE YOU AND THE BRAVES WILL WIN THE DIVISION AND BRADLY UR NUTS AND A MORON
NO MORE BOBBY
July 18th, 2009
12:34 am
Look at the excitement Maddux brought to Turner tonight. Imagine him as our manager…
Crowds will come. New energy will fire up the players as I think Maddux did to them tonight by just saying lets go beat the mets like old times. For a moment the current players had a connection to that winning feeling of the great Braves teams.
Yes Smoltz has been my choice as manager for the past two years but there was something about Maddux tonight. I have not heard the chop sound that strong since the 90’s and enjoyed seeing the players play lights out as if it was not enough to impress Maddux. Wren… you had to notice all of this as well.
Sadtoseeitthisway
July 18th, 2009
12:34 am
Hey! Nobody`s mentioned Maddog`s great control. The guy had a very low BB ratio throughout most of his career, especially in his prime. In one game, our announcers mentioned in the pre-game that Maddox had not allowed a walk in 20 something innings. In about the middle of the game, Braves have the game well in hand. The lead is about 6-0, Maddox somehow walks a guy on a bad call, the low and outside pitch that he always seemed to get. Boy did he explode. That was what really got him upset. I think that`s where George H. Bush got famous for his saying “Read My Lips”. Thank`s for coming tonight Greg, it was great to see you and share the stories.
Homer
July 18th, 2009
12:35 am
FIRE BRADLEY!!!
NO MORE BOBBY
July 18th, 2009
12:37 am
My point in all of my first post is CHANGE IS GOOD and CHANGE IS NEEDED on this team. It was a complete different vibe at the park tonight and I loved it.
chilidog75
July 18th, 2009
12:40 am
I can never tell on these things if people (like the esteemed Joseph Killeen above) are joking or if they’re being serious. Frustrating.
Anyway — I agree with one of the posters above. The idea that Maddux couldn’t throw hard is a long-perpetuated myth. I remember when they first started putting radar readings on tv for an entire game (mid 90s maybe?), that Maddux would routinely hit 90 and 91. Sometimes get to 92.
No, that’s not Randy Johnson. But it’s not Jamie Moyer either.
Guy could throw pretty hard. He wasn’t a rag arm.
Still, very, very nice column Mark. Maddux was one of a kind. And incredibly fun to watch.
Coach (2010 or Bust)
July 18th, 2009
12:50 am
Greg Maddux shows up and we win 11-0. No surprise here folks.
JASon
July 18th, 2009
1:05 am
Consider that the top 3 pitchers in the live ball era (Gibson, Koufax, Seaver) all had dominating fastballs as part of their repertoire. This is what is so amazing about Greg. We were very fortunate to have had him here in Atlanta, and he could well be consider the greatest pitcher of all time.
dawg3fan4
July 18th, 2009
1:14 am
I cheer for the Braves but baseball is far from my favorite sport so I don’t watch tons of their games. Mostly late season and playoffs but whenever Maddux would pitch I would always turn to the game just to see him pitch and then usually turn to something else when the Braves were hitting. His mastery of command and being able to stay two pitches ahead of the batter was amazing and a joy to watch.
DirtyDawg
July 18th, 2009
1:29 am
It was indeed a great tribute tonight and it was a pleasure to see the man pitch over the years. For the life of me there was one game my wife and I attended where he shut out whatever the team was in what seemed no more than an hour with something like eighty-someodd pitches (I simply can’t recall the team, the year or the specifics but it was the greatest pitching performance I had ever seen…even my wife was impressed and she doesn’t know baseball from shinola. I just wish the Braves had made their minds up to keep him forever.
Don’t know if anyone picked up on some comments made when Greg was being interviewed during tonight’s ballgame. He said, in response to a question from Simpson or Carey – not sure which one – that ’stuff’ was more important than command in getting batters out…and he specifically said ‘late movement’ when he was referring to ’stuff’. Later the two announcers seemed to take exception to Maddux’s statement since all they were thinking when it came to ’stuff’ was speed which Greg didn’t really possess. DC Braves fan said it right, it was the movement, certainly combined with location (command) that made Greg Maddux the genius he was and will remain.
Billy
July 18th, 2009
1:53 am
I knew when I was watching Maddox I would never see that again…His ball would move 12 inches 2 feet before the plate. Gold Glove, 350 wins, and lost 40 games 1-0 or 2-1… Unbelievable..
Billy
July 18th, 2009
1:55 am
Sorry, Gold GloveSSSSS
Tommy Skrak
July 18th, 2009
2:08 am
I’m 49 and over the years, two pitchers I always wanted to see when they took the mound were Nolan Ryan and Greg Maddox. It was so fascinating to see “The Professor” dissect a hitter. Maddox, truly was the epitome of the game.
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
July 18th, 2009
3:10 am
Great Article MB – nice to see the Braves showing love to its greats.
THWG
July 18th, 2009
3:24 am
I’ve got a Mad Dog story of my own. I’d say it was about 1999 (I was 11 years old) and my mom took my brothers and me to Chick-Fil-A for lunch. While we were leaving, I was holding the door open for my family as we left (mamma raised me right), and while I’m holding the door open, I look up and see none other than the Dog himself walking in. He gave me a pat on the head and a gracious “thanks.” At 11 years old, that was the coolest thing in the world.
maddogette
July 18th, 2009
3:32 am
I’m gonna miss greg so much…my favorite player ever!! despite living 2 1/2 from ATL, I still managed to come down for at least 15-20 games per season while greg was with the braves. even went on the road after he left atlanta…I am officially offering my 12 year old sign to go with him to cooperstown…I cherish the few times I had a close encounter with him…he was always most gracious. I thought the Braves did it up right for him tonight…his tearful eyes said it all…Note: turner field was rockin tonight…felt like the old days.
abudefdef
July 18th, 2009
3:37 am
If Maddux isn’t a unanimous first ballot Hall Of Famer…I’m quitting MLB as a fan…the ultimate professional, the ultimate non-egomaniac, and the ultimate pitcher…
Thanks for the wonderful years in a Braves uniform.
Have fun in retirement Mad Dog, you deserve it!
abudefdef
July 18th, 2009
4:07 am
maddogette, glad to hear Turner Field was rocking…maybe if the fans continue to show support and cheer for the home team, then the team will feed off that energy and play inspired baseball, then the 5.5 games back will start to shrink, then the Braves may find themselves right in the postseason! Like I’ve said before in posts, perhaps I’m an optimist, but I think the Braves have the talent to get there, especially in the starting pitching area! And I love the fact that McCann is stepping up to be a leader, I can really see him becoming the dugout and lockerroom personality that I think lacks on the team right now.
Maybe the Braves should consider bringing back Julio Franco as an assitant hitting coach, I think he would be a great influence on the young team…
abudefdef
July 18th, 2009
4:22 am
maddogette, glad to hear Turner Field was rocking, perhaps the fans can stay energized, and infuse that energy to the team!
Also, glad to see McCann taking a leadership role in the locker room, Braves sorely need someone to start smacking people around and straightening things out in there. McCann should be able to do that very well.
With the starting pitching the Braves have, I’m excited for the second half of the season! Too bad I’m deployed to Kuwait and only occasionally get Braves games on tv…gotta love the internet!
GO BRAVES!
(oh yeah, if this ends up being a mostly repeat post, my first on hadn’t shown up for half an hour, so I re-tried)
abudefdef
July 18th, 2009
4:25 am
dangit…it was a repeat!
Rahul
July 18th, 2009
5:17 am
I honestly think I could read Greg Maddux stories all day long
old man
July 18th, 2009
5:50 am
Maddux was a great pitcher. At least he did not get trashed by Wren like Smoltz and Glavine. I have been watching ball since the sixties, and 31 was one of the best I saw. He will be elected to Cooperstown on the first ballot.
kevin ( i hope u understood me)
July 18th, 2009
6:19 am
Oh he a phoney Mike sure is he be that wearin a cub cap in cooperstown why not he won 300 there and Mets same a met cap….smoltz tigers cap this for wren n GM n owner u screw me see what u get…(oh he have his trophy behind the outhouse when get its home)
Greg Maddux | Cellbase.com.au
July 18th, 2009
6:27 am
[...] of the top 15 pitchers of …Greg Maddux is nothing big a big phony, I tell you! | Mark Bradley View Story Mark Bradley of the AJC writes that Greg Maddux was the consummate con man — sought to play [...]
Bob
July 18th, 2009
6:36 am
I told a certain friend of mind, when complaining about another playoff loss for the Braves and complaining about our pitching, that he’d best get to the ballpark and watch our pitchers, as several of them were future Hall of Famers and we’d be unlikely to see this kind of staff again, at least in our lifetime. Yes, we only got one Series ring during our “run,” but we got to see several of the best ever, and possibly THE best ever, Doggie, on a regular basis. We were so spoiled….
SuperB
July 18th, 2009
7:28 am
As a big Braves’ fan for the past 40 years, I like Maddux. He may be the best you know about but…….Warren Spahn was not only the best Brave pitcher but the best career lefty ever. As for righties, a few that come to mind are Cy Young, Walter Johnson, and Bob Feller– to name three.
eBuzz
July 18th, 2009
8:10 am
A class act always. A small Maddox story. My 4-ll, tiny, non-athletic wife was to throw an opening ceremonial pitch and was terrified that she would look bad. Everyone knows what the crowd does when the pitch is bad or bounces. Practicing, practicing with me in the driveway. LOL. Before the game, she asks if she can practice in the indoor warm-up area. Greg Maddux happens to be sitting in the area. After watching and unsolicited, he says to her, “Throw it as hard and as high as you can. Do not throw it low.” She does, and it’s a dead-on strike. A moment in time no doubt immediately forgotten by him, but instant hero to her. Her favorite Brave always.
Greg Maddux
July 18th, 2009
8:27 am
[...] but yesterday was Greg Maddux’s day. If you liked watching MadDog pitch, you will enjoy this Mark Bradley piece filled with wonderful anecdotes including this one told by Mark Lemke: “He’d call me over and [...]
Richard
July 18th, 2009
8:35 am
I had a friend, Jim Hearn, a great pitcher and better person (Pitched for St Louis and Giants in 40’s and 50’s and Atlanta native) who would not miss a Maddox game. He said Maddow was the greatest pitcher I ever saw. Mark those are great comments from a special guy who knew the game of baseball. (Jim won the 3rd game of the ‘51 world series and hit a home run. Great memories from a special guy!
mcgannfan
July 18th, 2009
8:44 am
MADDUX is THE best ever!!!!
but I just also want to say: Escobar is THE MAN! His rbi’s are around 46 and with guys on base, he comes through. any idea of trading this run producing guy is STUPID!!!
He is COMPETITIVE and has emotions and Cox can’t stand emotions. This team, in the past, has been too emotionless. Would sit on the bench and look like dead wood……..BUT with MCCann taking charge and Yunel bringing them home, things look damn good for taking the division.
GO YUNEL
GO MY MAN, MCCANN
Bama Aaron
July 18th, 2009
8:45 am
Mark, great article. Maddox was always my favorite and I’m glad the Braves were proactive in getting him in their HOF. Great game last night, sorry I had to listen to it on the radio. I’ll be at the Ted tonight, so hopefully they can do it again!
Curtis Jones
July 18th, 2009
8:53 am
How smart was Maddux? Even though he was probably the toughest competitor ever to wear a Braves uniform, he never…I repeat never punched a door after a loss.
Great column, Mark.
Angus
July 18th, 2009
9:08 am
Between innings last night, they kept showing highlights, interviews, etc.
Glavine got this chance. Classy spot – he called Maddux “the best pitcher ever”.
I’ve never seen Friday night crowds there that early – kudos to Braves fans (except for the drunks near 401, row 25 starting the wave in the bottom of the 1st).
batgirl
July 18th, 2009
9:31 am
so much for the “poetry in motion” remarks that used to be said of him. Benes ate dirt..yes!
gayle
July 18th, 2009
9:57 am
After the mistakes with Smoltz and Glavine, after being irrelevant for many years, the Braves finally did something right in honoring Maddux. I had season tickets in the late 90’s and I knew then that when Mad Dog was pitching, I was seeing the best. And last night was the first time that the Braves played with inspiration in such a long time – it was a pleasure to see.
dan.....k
July 18th, 2009
10:27 am
Thanks for all the great memories, Maddog. You are hands down, my favorite baseball player of all time.
Sage of Bluesland
July 18th, 2009
10:30 am
Since noone bothered to answer my question, I’ll do it for you.
Postseason stats for Greg Maddox: 11-14, 3.27 ERA
Some “dominance” there, huh?
See, it’s different in the regular season fattening up against the rampant mediocrity in the league as opposed to facing real teams in clutch situations.
All things being equal, I’d take John Smoltz any day.
maddogette
July 18th, 2009
10:52 am
hey, abudefdef, we sound like kindred spirits (of the braves fan kind)…cuz I’m an eternal optimist when it comes to the bravos…I feel as if we’ll put together a substantial win streak & knock off each team above us in the division, we definitely have a shot…gotta continue to play small ball with an occasional big bopper to give enough run support to our AWESOME pitching staff.
godspeed while on your mission in kuwait…my son-in-law is being sent TO korea in sept. GO BRAVES!
B from Kennesaw
July 18th, 2009
11:00 am
Was at the game last night. I have to agree it was one of the best crowds I’ve seen in a long time. The energy was amazing. Maddux in my mind is the GREATEST EVER. Just wanted to point out something I think should be noted. During the ceremony on the field to honor Maddux, all of the Braves players came out to honor him as well. All the players were cheering and clapping, all except for one. Garret Anderson did not once clap or show any emotion. What a complete piece of s$%t and SOB. No class what so ever. Get rid of that loser right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bill
July 18th, 2009
11:10 am
Two proms same night, same beautiful lady. Did Carla become Mrs Bradley.
MJM
July 18th, 2009
11:12 am
Great article on the best pitcher in history.
Jay
July 18th, 2009
12:09 pm
Sutton said it the best, when describing watching Maddux pitch, “It was a remarkable experience”. It was remarkable I got to see the prime of one of the all-time greats. Thank you Maddux.
chzbykr
July 18th, 2009
12:41 pm
Great read Mark, I loved watching Maddox pitch, and just about as much watched for the 2-3 times a game he would produce a fielding ace. A phony? only if genius is wasted. Obviously not with Dog. Keep up the very good work Mark.
a643dp
July 18th, 2009
1:04 pm
Another great Maddux quote:
Interviewer : “Greg, what is your favorite pitch to throw?”
Maddux: “Strike 1″
Bleu_Bayou42
July 18th, 2009
1:05 pm
The Cox story brought a competitive tear to this ole never has never was.
vanomania
July 18th, 2009
1:10 pm
in 2001, I attended the game in which he threw his 100th career complete game, 32nd career shutout, and tied his career high in strikeouts with 14. I was bending down to tie my shoe laces and a ball lands a row in front of me. Most of the section had cleared out so I quickly jumped down to retrieve it. Apparently, it was the game ball and Maddux that tried to throw it to his family. His wife Kathy, seemed reluctant to ask for the ball, but i readily gave it up without asking for anything in return. She pressed for my address anyway and I was excited to receive two autographed baseballs in the mail! A few weeks later, I attended another Maddux complete game shutout. His wife recognized me again during the standing ovation for the last out. She came over and said she wanted to put me on the guest list for his next start and also take me down to meet him. He lost that game against the Dodgers. I remember Gary Sheffield hitting a bomb off him. I did ge ut to meet him, but I had borrowed a digital camera from a friend without learning how to operate it. A friend that I had brought along had a disposable film camera that we used instead. The lighting down in the hallways was very poor and the camera didn’t have a flash, so the picture didn’t even come out.
Joe Gargiulo
July 18th, 2009
1:20 pm
Mark,
Great assessment of Greg Maddox. He is at the top of the “smartest pitcher I’ve ever seen” list.
Same can be said respectively of Bobby Cox as a baseball manager; I’m sure he’ll have his day honor if he ever retires.
Joe Gargiulo
Cotati, Calif.
Fed up
July 18th, 2009
2:02 pm
Greg Maddox is a cottonpicking MAGICIAN. I watch batter after batter go for his junk wondering why in the world they would swing at his junk balls. Thats because he has to perform magic, now you see it and now you don’t. Thanks Mad Dog, how about a managers job
Ok folks, look...
July 18th, 2009
2:05 pm
People, Greg’s last name is MADDUX not MADDOX!!! If you can read the title of this blog, you can see for yourself.
Fed up
July 18th, 2009
2:07 pm
Ok folks look, is that all you have to add. We missed a letter, get over it
Scott B
July 18th, 2009
3:00 pm
Thanks, Mark. I never tire of stories about him. A fascinating, intriguing, cat this Maddux dude.
Kwikbill
July 18th, 2009
3:13 pm
This is a great article…well written, and the humor was fantastic….and no doubt…all true!!
All I'm Saying Is...
July 18th, 2009
5:01 pm
Sage of Bluesland: Excellent post! Maddux and Bobby Cox were both far better during the regular season than the post-season. They both put together in 1995 so we will have to be thankful for that.
And remember, baseball is a team game so its not all on GM or BC that we didn’t win more than one WS (i.e. our bullpen stunk most of the time (if we had a shut-down closer we would have won in 1992 (remember Reardon giving up a two run homer in game two at home costing us the game?) and 1996 (remember the hanging slider to Leyritz by Wohlers?) easy and Lonnie (didn’t score on double when he lost the ball and didn’t look at his third base coach) and Liebrandt (gave up game winning homer to Pucket, first batter he faced) cost us a critical game in 1991)).
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
July 18th, 2009
7:50 pm
Great piece Mark, (I bet there weren’t 10 things you wanted to change on this one). I think Maddux has the most interesting stories I have heard since Mickey Mantle. Bet Maddux drinks Dos XX when he drinks beer. Someone needs to put them all in a book. I think you are the man for the job.
KJ
July 18th, 2009
7:52 pm
“Since noone bothered to answer my question, I’ll do it for you.”
noone (sic) bothered to answer your question, because you’re a trolling idiot.
A 3.2 ERA in the postseason is pretty damned good; regarding his record, a pitcher can’t control how terrible his team’s offensive production is, and the Braves had some pretty abysmal postseason offenses.
Now do the world a favor, and go play “swallow the stuff under the sink”.
Gang Greene
July 18th, 2009
8:10 pm
KJ, thank you for that. That crap about Maddux in the postseason is just that- crap. Here’s an idea nobody ever thinks about. The dude was throwing 250 innings every year. At some point, the pitcher fatigues. HE could be dominant some years, but later on (say 1998 against SD) he just got the ball up a little more. And I think they lost that game 3 3-1. And for the batters, geez, Bonds and Sheffield and Chipper and you know all of those great hitters are garbage too because they failed in the postseasopn. Look, there’s a reason why guys like Lemke or Leyritz are always the heroes. Pitrchers simply will not let the big bats beat them. There talent is no less.
And just the absolute stupidity of fattening up on mediocre teams to the tune of 355 times is simply frightening.
Gang Greene
July 18th, 2009
8:21 pm
And I have one more. I’ll try this one without the typos (been doing yardwork all day in the brutal California heat of the central valley). Maddux nor Glavine did not get any more calls outside the zone than any other pitcher of their caliber. You know, guys who throw strikes. The cathcer rarely moved for Maddy. Yes, I know William VanLandingham would have been a hall of famer if only the umps loved him as much as Maddux and gave him the extra inch. To here some tell it, these guys got a foot outside and in. It’s called working the zone. They could do it. YEa, you are going to get an extra inch as the game goes on when you are consistently hitting your spots. To use this as some discredit to their greatness is silly. And knowing what we know now about the state of baseball in this period, could an extra inch when you are killing your spots even be considered an advantage?
By the way, how about the series in 97 when Gregg called the ball about 2 feet outside for Livan Hernendez? Was that fixed? I’m being serious here. Baseball was doing all kinds of shady things at that point, and Huizuenga has been rumored to have mob ties for years. Is it really that far outside the realm of possibility. Remember Gregg never got his job back after the strike. Just a thought.
stevew
July 19th, 2009
7:36 am
I was intrigued by the lead but loved the article. Wish I could interview all his past teammates and write a book, Guaranteed best seller…And I don’t agree that he would not have made it as a professional wrestler..Greg Maddox would have made it in any profession he had chosen..
NoleRick
July 19th, 2009
12:17 pm
I throughly enjoy this piece!
fieldofdreams
July 19th, 2009
12:46 pm
Greg Maddux, if you’re listening: Please coach our pitchers. Please scout for us. Please stay in our organization, in some capacity. Jerry West only won once, too, but he got several more as an executive. You, Smoltz, and Chipper could do the same for the Braves.
Mark Bradley
July 19th, 2009
2:09 pm
Thanks to one and all for the kind words.
And Ms. Whalen did not become Mrs. Bradley, Bill. (Lucky for her, I’d say.) Last I heard, she was married and living in San Diego.
Jay Stone
July 20th, 2009
12:20 am
The thing that sticks with me about Maddux is how unassuming he has always been. I was covering one of his starts, and his record when his team scored four or more runs was something like 88-2 over five years, and he’d won that night 7-2 or something. So I asked him about that record after the game and he said, “You’re supposed to win when your team scores four, dude. You’re going to win 7-5 sometimes, right?” Another story: After he’d left the Braves, he was pitching against them with the Padres and a couple of ball/strike calls had gone against him. The Braves scored two or three runs. At the end of the inning, he crosses paths with the home plate umpire and says, “I’m really bad, and if I have to throw five strikes to get an out, it’s going to be ugly.” (the umpire was miked for national TV). Just very polite, and then he kept on walking to the dugout. So solid. And I love that his departure from Atlanta didn’t included any criticism of the Braves on the way out the door.
dawes
July 20th, 2009
8:19 am
you should be shame what you said about maddux their is not a nicer out their
timthebrave
July 20th, 2009
12:11 pm
Sage of Bluesland, And Jair Jurrgens is awful. He is only one game over .500 and Vasquez has been terrible this year too. Just got to .500. Thanks for the great insight on Maddux. What would we do without it
dawes
July 20th, 2009
2:30 pm
i going miss greg maddux he was my favorite pitcher ever i don,t think theie ever been a pitcher good as him and never will be he is a first hall of fame ballot
Often Disappointed/Never Surprised!
July 20th, 2009
2:31 pm
I see your “speed”, and I will raise you “movement”! Winning hand every time. Way to go Greg!
dawes
July 20th, 2009
2:33 pm
bill bradley is a sport writer he should watch he said
MB
July 20th, 2009
2:53 pm
Loved watching him play, but I am glad he retired as now I see him at least 2-3 times a week. Our sons have played on the same baseball team for almost 3 years. He always has a great baseball stories to tell and loves teaching the kids about baseball, heck he even throws B.P. every once in awhile (lucky kids). He is as great a person as he was a great baseball player. THANKS GREG.
Human Trend » Mad Dog’s Jersey Retired By Braves
July 24th, 2009
1:13 am
[...] Rogers from the AJC has a good piece on Maddux here…Mark Bradley calls Maddux the “smartest ballplayer ever” here… and a slob… Share and [...]
What was and will be « Rowland's Office
January 1st, 2010
2:51 pm
[...] his absence was disappointing). Favorite moment: Maddux exhorting the Braves to beat the Mets. From Mark Bradley’s column the following day: Andy Benes was pitching for Arizona and plunked a Braves’ hitter. Cox told his [...]