Greg Maddux
The Professor of Pitching
Gregory Alan Maddux (born April 14, 1966), also known as "Mad Dog" and "the Professor," is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), primarily with the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs. He is widely considered one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history.
- Role
- Starting Pitcher
- Affiliation
- San Diego Padres
- Years with Team
- 2004–2006
- Status
- Retired / Hall of Famer
- Key Achievement
- Inducted into National Baseball Hall of Fame (2014)
- Signature Style
- Pitching by the book, extreme control
Lore & Background
Maddux was the first pitcher in MLB history to win the Cy Young Award four consecutive years (1992–1995), a feat matched only by Randy Johnson. During those four seasons, he had a 75–29 win–loss record with a 1.98 ERA. He is the only pitcher in MLB history to win at least 15 games for 17 straight seasons, holds the record for most Gold Gloves by any player with 18, and is 8th on the all-time career wins list with 355. He is one of only ten pitchers to achieve both 300 wins and 3,000 strikeouts, and the only pitcher to record more than 300 wins, more than 3,000 strikeouts, and fewer than 1,000 walks (exactly 999 walks overall).
In Their Own Story
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across Petco Park as Greg Maddux stepped onto the mound, his cap pulled low against the glare. The crowd hushed, not for a roar of excitement, but in anticipation of the quiet storm he was about to unleash. He adjusted his gloves, studied the batter with a calm, calculating gaze, and delivered a pitch that seemed to defy physics—a curveball breaking late over the plate. It wasn't just a strike; it was a statement that even at 40, the Professor still owned the diamond.
Reader's Guide
Maddux played for the Chicago Cubs (1986–1992) and Atlanta Braves (1993–2003). He also played for the San Diego Padres from 2007–2008, signing with them on December 5, 2006. He won the 1995 World Series with the Braves. Since retiring, he has served as a special assistant to the general manager for both the Cubs and Texas Rangers. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014 with 97.2% of the vote.
Did You Know?
- Maddux is the only pitcher to record more than 300 wins, more than 3,000 strikeouts, and fewer than 1,000 walks.
- He holds the record for most Gold Gloves by any player with 18.
- The term 'Maddux' was coined in 2012 to describe a complete game shutout in fewer than 100 pitches; Maddux holds the record for most such games (13) since 1988.
- He is the only pitcher in MLB history to win at least 15 games for 17 straight seasons.
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