I grew up in a baseball house. My family has had season tickets for the Angels since the stadium opened, and everyone is an Angels diehard (well, except me and my cousin, the outcast Dodger fans). That’s why, even though my dad played college football, it was always baseball on our TV. Baseball was the only sport I played growing up, and baseball cards quickly became my favorite hobby. I have very fond memories of my grandpa teaching me how to throw in his back yard, games of wiffleball in the front driveway with my dad, and nachos and suicides at the little league field. My parents both worked so I spent a lot of time at my grandparents’ house watching Atlanta Braves games day in and day out. Why was my Grandma such a big Braves fan? I guess I’ll never really know.
Sorry, I’m rambling…
Most kids love the longball. I mean, nothing really excites a crowd like the crack of a bat and watching that ball fly over the fence and into some young fan’s outstretched glove. Even I fell victim to it, as Ken Griffey Jr. became my favorite baseball player, and probably the reason I still wear my hat backwards in softball. But as I grew older, I began to love pitching. Now, I was never good enough to be anything more than a batting practice tosser in high school, but I loved pitching. To this day, I have cravings to go out and throw. To see if I can paint the outside corner, or get that curveball to break just a bit more. Now when I buy cards off of ebay, I only search three names: Clayton Kershaw, Nolan Ryan, and Greg Maddux.
In my morning internet adventures, I came across this article over at SI that really made me sad. The description of Greg Maddux’s mastery, the execution of all the things I want[ed] to be, all coupled with the knowledge that I will never see it again. Yesterday Maddux called it a career. While watching the press conference at a bar last night, some friends and I mused about Maddux being the best right-hander of our generation. To me there is not question. People can talk about Pedro outstanding few years, or Clemens, or even Ryan but to me Greg Maddux was the best.
I don’t think I’ll ever see another pitcher quite like him, getting by so well with so few physical tools. Although, I guess to be fair you have to point out that most pitchers get by pretty well without all the mental tools Maddux had at his disposal. I’m sure he will coach somewhere, and try to impart those mental tools onto others. Teams will be beating down the door to have Maddux work with their hurlers, and whoever happens to land him will be very lucky. They will have one of the all-time greatest on their side.
Tonight, before I go to bed and dream about being able to pitch in some sort of capacity just one more time, I will raise my glass to Maddux and hope all of you will join me.
I thought you like ‘catching’ – hiyo!
Stamps!!1!