Sure is. I remember seeing him pitch in Milwaukee back in '97, the first game for the Braves back in Milwaukee since they skipped town. Before the game, he tossed me a ball that he picked up during BP. It was the first ball I'd ever gotten at a game. A class act, that one was.
I guess it all depends on how one defines "best". Arguments can be made for Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine. At the end of the day, though, I think Maddux takes it.
There's an interesting chicken-and-egg question regarding Atlanta's Big Three. Were the Braves so good for so many years because they had those 3 guys, or were those 3 guys so good for so many years because they were on the Braves? The answer is some of each. Mostly the Braves were so good because of those 3 pitchers, but it's also true that the team had excellent defenders and could always recruit key players due to the success of the team, and doubtless these factors contributed to those guys having such good careers. For example, look at how good Curt Schilling's numbers were once he left the Phillies and joined winning organizations (ARI and BOS.) Imagine if HE'D been with the Braves throughout the 1990's and early 2000's.
Best pitcher of his generation.
4 comments:
Sure is. I remember seeing him pitch in Milwaukee back in '97, the first game for the Braves back in Milwaukee since they skipped town. Before the game, he tossed me a ball that he picked up during BP. It was the first ball I'd ever gotten at a game. A class act, that one was.
I was going to suggest another pitcher, but then I looked at Maddux's stats a bit closer. Dang, he's good.
I guess it all depends on how one defines "best". Arguments can be made for Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine. At the end of the day, though, I think Maddux takes it.
There's an interesting chicken-and-egg question regarding Atlanta's Big Three. Were the Braves so good for so many years because they had those 3 guys, or were those 3 guys so good for so many years because they were on the Braves? The answer is some of each. Mostly the Braves were so good because of those 3 pitchers, but it's also true that the team had excellent defenders and could always recruit key players due to the success of the team, and doubtless these factors contributed to those guys having such good careers. For example, look at how good Curt Schilling's numbers were once he left the Phillies and joined winning organizations (ARI and BOS.) Imagine if HE'D been with the Braves throughout the 1990's and early 2000's.
Without a shadow of a doubt. If there is one guy you wanted up there for you, it would be the Mad Dog. A sure first rounder for the HOF.
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