((HT: AJC/Rogers))
For as many impressive numbers as Greg Maddux ((Pictured, thanks Curtis Compton/AJC))put up in his career, getting jersey No. 31 to the façade of the Coca Cola Skyfield of Turner Field Friday night had to be a highlight.
Standing on a platform not far from the mound where he pitched for seven of his 11 years with the Braves, flanked by his family and now fellow Braves Hall of Famers, Maddux said he was “at a loss for words” over cheers from the better part of a sellout crowd.
“It’s a tremendous honor,” Maddux said with Braves players and coaches on the field behind him.
Maddux flushed when his No. 31 was unveiled next to No. 3 (Dale Murphy), No. 35 (Phil Niekro), No. 44 (Hank Aaron), No. 41 (Eddie Mathews) and No. 21 (Warren Spahn).
Baseball immortality comes numerically and Maddux has always appreciated that.
“Every ballpark you go in, you always look at the jerseys and you try to guess the numbers,” Maddux said earlier in the afternoon, following his induction into the Braves Hall of Fame. “Who was number 8 for the Astros or whatever? It’s cool to think maybe there will be a couple little rookie dudes [at Turner Field], trying to guess whose number that is.”
It should be decades before anybody has to guess. Maddux leaves his mark on Atlanta not only as a member of one of the best rotations in history with Tom Glavine and John Smoltz, but one of the best pitchers ever. His 355 wins are eighth-most in history.
He was honored with a full day of events, from the Hall of Fame luncheon with a record 850 guests, to Friday night’s pre-game ceremony, which helped draw just the fifth sell-out at Turner Field this season.
Fans like Mike Burcham, 28, drove seven hours from his hometown of Cincinnati and spent $1,000 between the luncheon, his hotel room and two tickets seven rows behind home plate.
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said. “He’s probably the only player I’d spend this much money to come see.”
Two rows behind Burcham were Maddux fans who hadn’t come as far but went to some trouble of their own. Craig Serritella of Canton brought his 3-year-old son Daniel Maddux — “Max” — to learn a little about his namesake.
All day Maddux fans, former teammates and coaches had been trying to put his career into perspective.
Braves broadcaster Don Sutton told luncheon guests of all the players he’d seen over the years, from Sandy Koufax, Tom Seaver and Bob Gibson to Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente, he enjoyed watching Maddux the most.
“I used to think, that’s not the best fastball in the game, that’s not the best curveball, it’s not the best slider, it’s not even the best changeup,” Sutton said. “But that’s the best pitcher I’ve ever seen.”
Maddux is used to shaking off praise, just he shook off like the sign for a pitch he didn’t want to throw.
“Let’s face it,” Maddux said afterward, smiling. “Everyone is forced to say something nice. . . . It’s like ‘Geez, Don, this is supposed to be fun, man.’ It’s just very humbling, very exciting. If I’d have known I was that good, I’d probably still be playing.”
No, this is as close as it will get for Atlanta now. It was a nostalgic day. Former Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone remembered a night in Montreal when Maddux told him he’d treat him to the best food in town.
They wound up at Wendy’s and eventually back in Maddux’s hotel room eating hamburgers, drinking Labatt’s beer and talking pitching. Mazzone was still buzzing about it after the luncheon was over, waiting on his car at the Omni hotel valet stand.
“The only thing better (than the day’s events) is if we were going to the ballpark and he was getting ready to pitch tonight,” Mazzone said.
Here's highlights from his induction ceremony into the Atlanta Braves Hall Of Fame
((HT: AJC.com))
Carroll Rogers from the AJC has a good piece on Maddux here...
Mark Bradley calls Maddux the "smartest ballplayer ever" here... and a slob...
