Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux is the subject of the newest MLB documentary, MLB Network Presents: One of a Kind, premiering at 8 PM ET on August 25.
The documentary will show baseball fans just how Greg Maddux, also known as the Mad Dog, became one of the best pitchers in baseball history. He pitched for 23 seasons, winning four Cy Young Awards, and is the only pitcher in baseball history with 300 wins, 3,000 strikeouts, and under 1,000 walks. Maddux stunningly gave up only 999 walks in his career (although the claim of just how small a fraction of those hitters faced a 3-0 count is greatly exaggerated).
4-time Cy Young Award winner. 355 wins. World Series champion. First ballot Hall of Famer.
#MLBNPresents One of a Kind profiles the career of Greg Maddux pic.twitter.com/Uk0KlYN9IJ
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Greg Maddux Documentary to Air on MLB Network Later This Month
Laundry List of Guest Interviews
The way that managers use pitchers has changed over the years, but Greg Maddux earned at least 15 wins in 17 consecutive seasons (1988-2004). If not for finishing with 13 wins during the 2005 season, he would have accomplished the feat in 19 consecutive seasons. Maddux’s Atlanta Braves teammates Chipper Jones, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz will offer their comments along with Randy Johnson and Barry Bonds. Clips from an interview with the Braves Big 3 will be shown throughout. Bonds, much like the late Tony Gwynn, was something of a rival for the Mad Dog. The two will sit down to break down and discuss a number of at-bats during their careers. Baseball writers Joe Posnanski and Tom Verducci also make appearances. Verducci even comments, “I never got to see van Gogh paint, but I got to see Maddux pitch.”
It took a few seasons for Maddux to grow into the Hall of Fame pitcher that he eventually became. Former Chicago Cubs teammate Rick Sutcliffe discusses Maddux’s career during the early years. Former Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone also discusses his bond with Maddux after the two first started working together in 1993. Rather than catchers calling a game, former Braves catcher Eddie Pérez talks about how Maddux had his own unique and calculating way of calling pitches. His brother, Mike Maddux, discusses their family background.
The Man Himself
One of the things that Greg Maddux will definitely discuss is the free agency contract negotiations during 1992. He could have gone to the New York Yankees. Instead, he decided on the Atlanta Braves. In doing so, he would be a contributor to a Braves club that became a perennial contender. In addition to winning the World Series in 1995, the club won two more National League pennants in 1996 and 1999. The Braves won nine consecutive NL East titles while Maddux was on their roster.
After the documentary ends, MLB Network will air his 14-strikeout performance against the Milwaukee Brewers on May 2, 2001, at 9:30 PM ET.
Photo Credit: © Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
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