It appears that the greatest (unenhanced) pitcher of the last 25 years is going to announce his retirement. ESPN.com ran a story that Greg Maddux will formally retire at a press conference on Monday.
The numbers are amazing: 355 wins (8th all time), 4 Cy Young Awards, 18 Gold Gloves. More than the numbers, though, was the way Maddux worked at his craft. You always got the feeling, when watching him on the mound, that every pitch had a purpose. That purpose might not become evident until a later at bat, or even a later game against the same opponent, but it was always there.
Even at his peak, Maddux didn't have the overpowering stuff of a Clemens or a Randy Johnson, but he was consistently great. Maddux won at least 15 games a year from 1988 to 2004. Was there anyone else in the game you could rely on more to play the game at such a high level?
Plus, he made one of the greatest commercials of all time with teammate Tom Glavine.
My favorite part is when he says, "Hey! We got Cy Young winners over here!" The glasses that make him look more like a college professor than an All-Star pitcher just complete the effect.
I'll miss the opportunities to watch Maddux pitch, but I will look forward to the day he is inducted in Cooperstown.
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