I'm still trying to let this factoid sink in; Greg Maddux's Sunday win gives him 15 consecutive seasons with 15 plus wins.

No one has done that other than Cy Young, from 1891-1905.

I am shellshocked that no one, save Young, has demonstrated such a level of consistency in the entire history of MLB. Weirder, only two pitchers are in this level of company.

Maddux is a master painter than we, in this time, will not appreciate until he is gone.

Especially amazing when you consider that the first five of those years were with THE CUBS (in a hitter's park) AND it includes the strike-shortened '94 season (only 16-6).

Put it in perspective, during that same stretch, the great Roger Clemens (and I mean that straight-up, not facetiously) only won 15 games during eight of those 15 seasons. Eight! Including a four-year stretch (1993-96) where he failed to win even 12 games, pitching for very good teams. And the Rocket's a first-ballot Hall of Famer, too.

If only the Braves can keep both of them after this season. But sadly, I think the 1-2 combo of Maddux and Glavine will have run its course once they are eliminated from the playoffs. We talk about how great a 1-2 combo Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling are, but you can't beat the consistency and win totals of Maddux and Glavine.

MSU Bulldog wrote, [quote] you can't beat the consistency and win totals of Maddux and Glavine

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And it should come as no surprise that, this year, Maddux and Glavine passed Koufax-Drysdale on the career wins total for a 1-2 combination on the same team.

That's some sweet company.

Maddux is one of the best. He had that extraordinary year--was it 1997?--in which he issued just 20 walks in 232.2 innings! His 1994-1995 seasons also were spectacular. In 1994, the strikeshortened season, he still managed 10 complete games, 3 shutouts, and a 1.56 ERA. The next year, a full season, Maddux went 19-5, 10 CG, 3 shutouts, 23 walks in 209 innings, to finish with a superb 19-2 record. His precision and low walks and ERAs are along the lines of Juan Marichal, Carl Hubbell and Jim Palmer, though Palmer and Marichal both post more glitzy win totals. I've always thought that if Maddux pitched for a team with just a bit more power, those many 18-19 win seasons would have at least topped off at 20.

I heard it reported that Maddux threw 200+ innings in every one of those 15 seasons. That's amazing!

I'm guessing he's never had a serious arm injury because he's more of a "finesse" pitcher, rather than a full-out hard-thrower?? Any logic to that, guys? Or am I out to lunch as usual?

I've always loved Maddux because he pitches, he doesn't just throw the ball. He's a true artist.

I've always thought he was cute--especially with glasses--but was bummed to see a can of chewing tobacco in his back pocket in a recent picture. Ewwwwww.