Maddux’s drive powered him to 300th win
As he did with his previous 299 victories, Greg Maddux attained No. 300 in workmanlike fashion.
It was only fitting for a pitcher whose work ethic took him to the top of the baseball world.
On Aug. 7, 2004, the 38-year-old Maddux allowed an un-Maddux-like seven hits, three walks and four runs over five-plus innings against the Giants in San Francisco – exiting the game with two on and no outs in the top of the sixth and the Cubs leading 6-3.
The 42,578 fans at SBC Park – knowing history was at hand – swept Maddux off the field with a standing ovation.
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The Giants quickly scored their fourth run, but relievers Jon Leicester, Kent Mercker, Mike Remlinger, Kyle Farnsworth and LaTroy Hawkins combined to shut out the Giants over the final three innings as the Cubs prevailed 8-4. It was the 300th time Maddux had been credited with a big league victory, making him just the 22nd pitcher in history to reach that milestone.
“It feels good just to be able to play this game for as long as I have,” Maddux told the Chicago Tribune following the win. “Just to be in the game as long as I have is pretty special. That’s what it’s all about.”
The win pushed Maddux’s record to 11-7 in his first year back with the Cubs since an 11-year stint with the Atlanta Braves. Maddux debuted with the Cubs in 1986 and won the first of four straight National League Cy Young Awards with Chicago in 1992 before leaving for Atlanta via free agency.
He finished the 2004 season with a record of 16-11, the 17th straight season he had reached the 15-win mark. No pitcher in the game’s history has had as many.
“You don’t win 300 games with your best stuff all the time,” Cubs manager Dusty Baker told the Chicago Tribune. “It’s the sign of a guy who really knows how to pitch when he can win without his best stuff.”
Maddux would go on to pitch through the 2008 season, finishing with 355 wins, a 3.16 ERA, 3,317 strikeouts and eight All-Star Game selections. He helped himself in the field with a record 18 Gold Glove Awards.
“To win 300 games, you’ve got to have a lot of help,” Maddux said. “There’s no pill you can take to prevent injury, so you have to be fortunate. (And) you’ve got to play on some good teams.”
Maddux was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2014.
Craig Muder is the director of communications for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
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