Maddux and Glavine Should be First Ballot Hall of Famers
Mar 15, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; United States pitching coach Greg Maddux (31) during the World Baseball Classic against Puerto Rico at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Tim Kurkjian had a great article over the weekend about voting Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine into the Hall of Fame at the same time. The results of this year’s Hall of Fame class will be revealed this Wednesday, January 8th.
These two guys made history in their 10 years together for the Braves. Here are some of their accomplishments as teammates from 1993-2002:
- 347 wins
- 4 Cy Young Awards (Glavine also won it in 1991, Maddux in 1992)
- 3 World Series appearances (1 title), 7 NLCS, 10 NL East Championships
Both of their numbers are retired, and they are members of the Braves Hall of Fame. They’ll certainly both be in the Hall of Fame, the question is will it be this year upon the first ballot they have been eligible for.
I can still remember all the years of watching these two pitch (and Smoltz too). They were so consistent. So dominant. Maddux was a machine – good for 8-9 innings almost every time out. Glavine didn’t wow you every time out – but he was always winning, and in big moments too like Game 6 of the 1995 World Series.
Glavine was there from the start of the Braves run in 1991 (and even before) and he is still around today as a broadcaster of several games throughout the season. The day he left for the Mets was a very sad day; but all is forgiven now.
I was only nine years old when the Braves signed Greg Maddux but I still remember watching him pitch on Opening Day of the 1993 season at Wrigley Field vividly. A 1-0 win, the type of win that would become common during his tenure in Atlanta.
It would only be fitting if Maddux and Glavine were able to go in together. (Actually my hope was also that John Smoltz would have retired after the 2008 season as well and they could all three be inducted at the same time, but as we know he took one final year with the Red Sox and Cardinals.) We’ll see what happens on Wednesday, but hopefully these two masters of the mound get their due – the prestige of being a “first-ballot” hall of famer.