Maddux finishes to-do list

Twenty-five years ago, Greg Maddux was a senior at Valley High School, and the sun was rising on a baseball career that would be marked by greatness.

All he wanted then was to reach the major leagues, he said, and once he got there in 1986, all he wanted was to stay there about 10 years.

Maddux wound up lasting 23 seasons and accomplishing more than he ever imagined. The right-handed pitcher, who won four straight National League Cy Young Awards, will be remembered as one of the game's all-time greats.

The sunset of Maddux's career arrived Monday, when the 42-year-old officially announced his retirement at a low-key news conference at the Bellagio. The first day of baseball's annual winter meetings closed the book on Maddux's career, and the setting was Las Vegas, fittingly.

"It's going to be hard to walk away, obviously, but it's time," he said. "It's time to say goodbye."

Maddux walks away with 355 career regular-season victories, good for eighth on the all-time list and a certain spot in the Hall of Fame.

He pitched for four teams -- the Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres -- and became the first pitcher in history to win the Cy Young Award four consecutive years (1992-95).

Maddux won a World Series with the Braves in 1995, and pitched his final game for the Dodgers in October.

"I'm very proud of what I did on the baseball field," said Maddux, retiring with a 355-227 record and a 3.16 ERA.

Maddux was reflective but showed little emotion Monday. After being introduced by his agent, Scott Boras, he answered questions for about 30 minutes and disappeared behind a curtain.

Maddux was joined by his parents and family, including his wife, Kathy, and older brother, Mike, a former major league pitcher.

"Vegas is home, and it's always been home. My dad and mom brought us here, brought me here when I was young," he said. "I met my wife here. My brother and sister grew up here.

"I think it was important for me to never let the city I play in be home. It was always like my second home."

Maddux met two of his mentors, Ralph Medar and Rodger Fairless, in Las Vegas. Medar was a local pitching coach.

At 6 feet and 180 pounds, Maddux was not an overpowering pitcher. Medar taught him that changing speeds and pitch movement and location were the keys to success.

"When I was just learning how to pitch when I was 15, 16 years old ... Ralph Medar taught me that movement was more important than velocity. I don't know why I believed him, but I believed him," Maddux said. "You are only as smart as the advice you receive."

Maddux was a 1984 graduate of Valley High, where as a junior he went 8-1 and led the team to the state championship.

Medar died of a heart attack before Maddux finished high school, and Maddux leaned on Fairless, Valley's coach.

"I didn't know he had great potential, but he was a hell of a high school pitcher," Fairless said. "He's so precise in what he does, he's almost like an artist painting a picture."

A second-round pick by the Cubs in 1984, Maddux was a skinny 20-year-old when he made his first big league start against the Cincinnati Reds at Riverfront Stadium on Sept. 7, 1986. He threw a complete game in the Cubs' 11-3 victory.

After seven years with Chicago, he left for Atlanta. In 11 years with the Braves, Maddux won 194 games and pitched in three World Series.

"When I left Chicago in '92, I was not ready to leave," he said. "I got a chance to go to Atlanta and win, and win a lot."

Maddux led the majors in ERA four times, and in 1995 he went 19-2 with a 1.63 ERA for the Braves.

"He's a special competitor. One thing is he enjoyed the game, he loved it, and the other thing is he wanted to compete and win," Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said. "There were so many times that he pitched great games."

There are many numbers that exhibit Maddux's consistent excellence. In 1997 he won 19 games and allowed only 20 walks in 232 2/3 innings. In 2001 he set an NL record by working 72 1/3 consecutive innings without issuing a walk.

"Hands down, he's the best pitcher I've ever seen," said Hall of Famer Don Sutton, a 324-game winner.

Maddux won at least 15 games in a record 17 consecutive seasons, and has a record 18 Gold Glove awards.

"I think he'll be defined as among the greatest who ever pitched, at the top or near the top, and certainly in our era he's the best," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. "It's hard to fathom somebody being that good for that long."

Hendry brought Maddux back to Chicago in 2004. On Aug. 7 that season, Maddux beat the Giants 8-4 in San Francisco for his 300th career win.

Maddux spent his last two seasons with the Dodgers and Padres, going a combined 22-24 in 67 starts. His physical abilities diminishing, he leaned on his high pitching IQ.

"For me, watching him pitch was one of the days of the week that I looked forward to because I tried to think along with him," San Diego manager Bud Black said. "He puts so much preparation into every start. He's very much a student, he doesn't miss anything, and that's what makes him a guy who has a great baseball mind.

"He just loves to compete, whether it's golf, poker or a football pool, whatever. He is a tremendous competitor."

Nicknamed "Mad Dog" for his on-field attitude, Maddux said he knew two years ago that he was ready to retire.

"I ended up playing one more year anyway," he said. "I appreciate everything this game has given me.

"I don't really know a whole lot about anything, but I feel like I know a few things about baseball. I'm going to miss it, and hopefully I won't miss it too much."

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.