-Greg Maddux 2008 as a Padre
Baseball is America's pastime that includes beautifully cut grass, finely raked dirt, and usually a tasty hot dog from the concession stand. Much deeper inside the game there is a young boy's dream to one day run onto a Major League field in a uniform that they earned. Baseball is a game of earning a spot,and sometimes earning a spot is easier for some players than others. The reasoning for why some players have a better chance than others may be because of; size, strength, durability, and of course skill.
Baseball scouts search for the future ballplayers of the Major League and in the case of Greg Maddux, physique did not matter. Greg Maddux was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1984 and he was 5'11 weighing about 160. As his career progressed he grew to 6'0 and 170 pounds. This is not an ideal size for a Major League pitcher. The average height of a Major League pitcher is 6'3. Another fact is that the average velocity for a Major League Pitcher's fastball is 92 mph. Maddux averaged 89-90 mph. It is relevant to say that Maddux did not reach the normal size or normal force compared to his competition but it did not stop him from becoming one of the greatest pitchers of all time. He fought through the adversity and became the first Major League pitcher to win four consecutive Cy-Young awards and win 18 gold glove awards. He was a perfectionist of his crafty pitching mechanics and changes in pitches. He dominated consistently throughout his whole career and he did it not by size or strength but by mind and belief. Maddux is a perfect example of an underdog who proved everyone wrong. He did not need to throw 100 mph or be a huge figure on the mound. He studied the game and worked his butt off to become a Hall of Fame pitcher. He was an "underdog" transformed into a "Mad Dog".....that was his nickname by the way.
Video link for Greg Maddux and his wisdom
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