No one else has said anything, so I thought I'd start a topic just to say goodbye to a guy who is a real class act and who always has done it the right way. He is all about what is good in the game. What a refreshing change from the crap of the past few years to be talking about a guy who kids really can look up to and know that you can be successful by following the rules. A no-doubter for the HOF, probably on the 1st ballot.
Yeah he's the anti-Roger Clemens isn't he. Not a power pitcher, extreme control, no drama in his career, 18 gold gloves or something like that. Will go off into the Sunset a well respected player.
The greatest pitcher in the steroids era IMHO and did it without cheating. Hats off Mad dog. We'll miss you. ps I have like 3 dozen of these things at my parents house somewhere
I remember watching Maddux pitch in his prime. He once completed a game in something like 87 pitches. He was the master at inducing ground balls and making the biggest HR hitters dribble the ball back to the pitcher like babies. The thing that impressed me the most was that the catcher's mitt rarely had to move when Maddux pitched. He was like a champion dart thrower on the mound. In 1995 he was 19-2 with a 1.63 ERA and 10 CG. Those stats will probably never be touched again.
Wow! I did not remember those details. That was a very impressive season. 10 complete games and a 1.67 ERA? I agree, Aquila. Can't be touched in today's game.
From 1992, his last year with the Cubs, thru the 1998 season he did not have an ERA over 3.00 and put up some profane numbers in the process. 1992 20-11 2.18 ERA 199 K's 9 CG 1993 20-10 2.36 ERA 197 K's 8 CG 1994 16-6 1.56 ERA 156 K's 10 CG 1995 19-2 1.63 ERA 181 K's 10 CG 1996 15-11 2.72 ERA 172 K's 5 CG 1997 19-4 2.20 ERA 177 K's 5 CG 1998 18-9 2.22 ERA 204 K's 9 CG It is an impressive career from top to bottom. No matter how you slice it, he's one of the best that ever was.
I remember a Sporting News article in the late 90s that declared either that '95 season or the '94 season as the best ever for a baseball player based on a certain set of criteria. That article was right before some of the insane steroid induced seasons but still that 19-2 mark and those ERAs in '94 and '95 were incredible. Consider also that the both the '94 and '95 seasons were shortened by strike. If you figure in a few extra wins, those numbers look even more incredible. Truly one of the greats and I gotta agree with Corey, the best of our time. You can have Clemens (even before the steroids stuff came out), I'll take Maddux in his prime.