Maddux to Announce Retirement Monday

by digitalbenjamin on Dec 5, 2008 3:49 PM CST

Gmaddux_medium The full story can be found here: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081205&content_id=3703970&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc&partnerId=rss_chc

What a great run for Maddux. I'll be sad to see him go. It was always a pleasure watching him pitch.

Thanks for the memories Greg! We'll miss you. Who wants to share a favorite memory?

(p.s. I'll wait for someone to come up with a reason this impacts the Peavy deal : )

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

Tweet Comment 24 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Mad Dog

Simply a fierce competitior and a class act. Although his playing days are seemingly behind him, I look forward to seeing what the future holds for him. A sure first ballot HOF, it would be nice to see him in the blue pinstripes again as a pitching coach.

by Tangled Up In Blue on Dec 5, 2008 4:04 PM CST reply actions

BTW

Great choice for the picture Ben!

by Tangled Up In Blue on Dec 5, 2008 4:05 PM CST up reply actions

Classic!

Love those unis, and the moustache makes it. Plus the old “Rated Rookie” logo really takes me back.

"Well, we're out of cake! We only had three bits and we didn't expect such a rush! So what do you want?"
"What, so my choice is 'or death?' Well, then I'll have the chicken, please."
--Eddie Izzard

by znohitter on Dec 5, 2008 4:13 PM CST up reply actions

"Rated Rookie"

I always wondered what, exactly, a “Rated Rookie” was. Could you be an “Unrated Rookie?”

by Tangled Up In Blue on Dec 5, 2008 4:22 PM CST up reply actions

Maybe it's kinda like an unrated movie.

Those always get my attention.

Yes, yes ... winter is indeed a pond upon which all of us must skate, braving frostbite and runny noses in the hopes that our cars will start and we shan't embarass ourselves slipping on a patch of black ice. Spring is more a quagmire of cold mud and slush, and fall is a pile of fallen leaves that may or may not hide a pile of doggy doo-doo. But summer, ah summer is an oasis of endless green that disappears all too quickly beneath our feet as we rush through its warm, glorious bliss.

by daver on Dec 5, 2008 4:25 PM CST up reply actions

Tonight, on Cinemax...

“Unrated Rookie”

starting the Cubs farm system

"Well, we're out of cake! We only had three bits and we didn't expect such a rush! So what do you want?"
"What, so my choice is 'or death?' Well, then I'll have the chicken, please."
--Eddie Izzard

by znohitter on Dec 5, 2008 4:28 PM CST up reply actions

Although

Maddux would probably be the best pitching coach in baseball, I think he seems like the kind of guy who will stay away from baseball and play golf every day for the rest of his life.

"Chicago Cubs fans are ninety percent scar tissue" - George F. Will

by tizzle on Dec 5, 2008 4:18 PM CST reply actions

This came a surprise to me...

I thought he’d come back one more year at least.

I haz blurg: hotbeans.wordpress.com

by digitalbenjamin on Dec 5, 2008 4:24 PM CST reply actions

digiben, I'm officially declaring you the winner...

…in the “Maddux Retires Fanpost Deathrace.” Having said that, we all should have exercised due restraint and discretion and let Doggie Stalker have this one.

Best wishes to Mad Dog on a long, enjoyable, productive life after baseball.

by daver on Dec 5, 2008 4:24 PM CST reply actions

Maddux's last win

In September, with the Cubs about to or already clinched, I decided to check to see how Maddux was doing with the Dodgers. I wondered where he stood with career wins and if he could pass Clemens before the end of the season.

I did a quick Google search and found that he had passed Clemens with a win against the Giants two nights earlier, in a win that was BARELY reported. It was on the West Coast on like a Thursday night against a terrible San Francisco team.

But it was kind of fitting. Maddux never really did anything to get attention. He just went out and won. Kerry Wood was my favorite Cub of the past 10 years, Sandberg was my favorite Cub as a kid and I’ll always have a soft spot for Gracie.

Maddux means a lot to me in a different way. I watched him win a Cy Young for the Cubs as a 12-year-old. And I watched him come back in what was supposed to be the year in 2004. No other player had an impact on the Cubs throughout so much of my life.

I remember telling someone last year that if I found out that Greg Maddux was juicing, I would never watch baseball again. Thanks for being an upstanding guy for so long, Mad Dog. You will be missed.

by elgato on Dec 5, 2008 4:30 PM CST reply actions

Maddux "juicing"

Perhaps if Merlot is the juice. He is a SERIOUS wine connoisseur. I know of two quotes from him on the subject of steroids.
He said “If I did take them, I should get a refund” and " Maybe I should have take them , I would last longer, have a bigger neck and
get zits on my back" ( can’t promise that is word for word but close).

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry

by Doggie Stalker on Dec 5, 2008 7:02 PM CST up reply actions

Love that baseball card...

… with the pornstar mustache. He looks like a 16-year-old kid trying to grow one.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 5, 2008 4:46 PM CST reply actions

That card looks like Wayne Newton

Doesn’t he look like a young Wayne Newton in a baseball uniform with that cheesy moustache?
Danke Schoen Mr. Maddux

by cubssouvenirman on Dec 5, 2008 7:31 PM CST up reply actions

I have

that card!!!

Dear Santa:: All I want for X-mas this year is an official 2009 Jake Peavy Cubs Jersey. Oh and a Beimel one too. I've been a real good guy for the most part!!!

by cubsluver22 on Dec 5, 2008 5:01 PM CST reply actions

Hmmm

Gotta wonder if he’ll get any Hall of Fame consideration

by WittyUserName on Dec 5, 2008 5:12 PM CST reply actions

Naaa

I haz blurg: hotbeans.wordpress.com

by digitalbenjamin on Dec 6, 2008 12:39 PM CST up reply actions

In addition to all his other honors...

… his retirement right now gives him one more distinction.

Up to now, there has been only one pitcher with 3000+ strikeouts who had less than 1000 walks in his career — Fergie Jenkins, who walked 997 batters lifetime.

Greg Maddux will become the second. He walked 999 batters in his career.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Dec 5, 2008 5:41 PM CST reply actions