When I Think Of Greg Maddux I Think Of This…

I’ve got Greg Maddux on the brain today….  I don’t know why either.  Maybe it’s due to all of the action involving the Atlanta Braves pitching staff over the last few weeks.  Smoltz, Lowe, Kawakami, etc, etc, etc….  I guess I just realized that after 23 years Maddux won’t be suiting up for anyone in April.

So that leads me to this.  When I think of Greg Maddux I think of this:

The year was 1995 and Greg Maddux put on a year long display of the most dominant pitching I have ever seen in my lifetime.  Never known as the most dominant pitcher on his team(probably Smoltz) or in the game, 1995 was the year that Greg Maddux ruled the baseball world.

The numbers.

• 19 wins, 2 loses
• 10 complete games
• 209 2/3 innings pitched
• 39 runs allowed
• 1.63 ERA
• 181 Strikeouts
• 23 walks allowed
• 7.87 K:Walk ratio
• 1 wild pitch

Maddux won the Cy Young award in 1995 for the 4th season in a row.  This was a unanimous vote with Maddux earning all 28 1st place votes.  Maddux also finished 3rd for the league MVP award but actually had more 1st place votes than the player that finished in 2nd place – Dante Bichette.  Maddux rounded out the year with another Gold Glove award and All-star game selection too.

This was also the season that Greg Maddux won his lone World Series Championship.  In the 1995 postseason, Maddux started 5 games while going 3-1.  In 38 innings of work, he struck out 19 while walking just 7 batters.

A truly amazing season by one of the classiest baseball players of my generation.  I am just happy that I was able to witness this greatness for myself!!!

Tearing Through A Pack Of 1989 Donruss

I received 1 pack of 1989 Donruss in the contest I won on the Autographed Cards blog.

Here are the results from the pack: 

Jack McDowell, Ray Hayward, Tom Gordon, Johnny Paredes, Todd Burns, Jose DeJesus, Tim Leary, Hensley Meulens, Wes Gardner, Willie Frasier, Bill Long, Bobby Bonilla(DK), Oswald Perez, Juan Castillo, and Eric King.

In my opinion, if it wasn’t for ‘Bobby-Bo’ this pack would have been a complete Dud!!!

 

“31 in 31″ – The 1970′s – Card #11

“31 in 31″ – The 1970′s – Card #11

Gary Carter – 1975 Topps – #620

Had it not been for a player named Johnny Bench, Gary Carter may be considered the best catcher in baseball history.  In this case, 2nd place is not too bad of a spot to be in when you’re behind one the greatest players in major league history.

Gary Carter brought a level of offensive and defensive consistency to the catching position for 19 seasons.  An 11-time All-star, Carter was the team leader during his days with the Montreal Expos and New York Mets.  His solid offensive play, highlighted by winning 5 Silver Slugger awards, and his dominant defense in which he won 3 Gold Gloves established him as one of the most complete players during the 1970′s and into the 1980′s.  With a career batting average of .262, Carter captured 2,092 hits during his playing days.  And with 324 homers, 1,225 RBI, and 1,025 runs scored, Carter provided punch to the offense that was rare from the catcher’s position during those times.  Due to the rarity of this kind of production by a catcher, Gary Carter finished in the Top 17 for the MVP award 7 times during his career.

Gary Carter played in 1 World Series match-up in 1986 and his New York Mets won the title in 7 games.  During that series, Carter batted .276 while hitting 2 home runs and knocking in an amazing 9 runs.

Tearing Into Another Pack Of 1990 Fleer – Pack #2

 I received 4 packs of 1990 Fleer in the contest I won on the Autographed Cards blog.

Here are the results from Pack #2

Dan Gladden, R.J. Reynolds, Pat Borders, Von Hayes, Ron Hassey, Fred McGriff, Devon White, Glenn Wilson, Dave Winfield, Sandy Alomar Jr, Danny Tartabull, Andres Galaraga, Scott Coolbaugh, Rick Dempsey, and Scott Hemond/Mark Gardner.

Of the cards, the Winfield, McGriff, and Galaraga cards stand out.  In this pack, there weare a few doubles from this pack that I got in pack 1.