by Daniel Cote

Created on: December 15, 2008

As many of you are well aware, Greg Maddux has decided to retire from the game of baseball at the age of 42. Maddux split last season between the Padres and Dodgers going 8-13 with a 4.22 ERA. Last year was only his fourth career losing season, and only the third season in which he did not pitch a complete game. For all of his astronomical career statistics, it is amazing that Greg Maddux does not get more attention. He is a sure first ballot Hall of Famer, yet you wouldn't know by the lack of attention he gets. Maybe it is because he never played in New York or Boston, or maybe it is because he spent his entire career in the National League. But just in case you are unaware of exactly how good this guy was as a pitcher, let me run through some of his most impressive career stats.

He is the first pitcher in MLB history to win 4 consecutive Cy Young Awards (1992-1995).
He is the only pitcher in MLB history to record 15 wins in 17 consecutive seasons.
Maddux won more games during the 1990's than any other pitcher in the Major Leagues.
Maddux ranks 8th on the list of all time wins with 355.
Only Warren Spahn has more career wins, 363, among pitchers whose entire careers were played after 1920.
He has a 3.16 career ERA which ranks second among active pitchers behind only Pedro Martinez.
He won 18 career Gold Glove awards
He was selected to 8 all-star games.
He has 3,371 career strikeouts and only 999 career walks.

For those of you who are still in awe over these statistics I'll give you some time to let it sink in.....

Now, maybe it's because he didn't throw 90 mph or maybe because he didn't look intimidating enough when he took the mound, but for some reasons hitters didn't fear facing Maddux like they did Randy Johnson or Roger Clemens. In fact, he looked like the type of person who was made fun of a lot in high school. Yet, with his devastating change up and pinpoint control, Maddux could make any hitter look like a fool. Maddux was never in the spotlight and never did anything to bring about any controversy. He was never accused of cheating or using steroids, only of receiving a generous strike zone from umpires. Maddux was a student of the game and aptly nicknamed the Professor. He never complained, he just went out on the mound every 5th day and did his job. If he is not the most underrated pitcher ever, he most certainly is the most under-appreciated pitcher of all time and it bothers me that he doesn't get the attention he deserves, but I doubt it bothers Greg one bit.

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