Greg Maddux retired last week after compiling a 3.16 career ERA over 23 seasons. I did a double-take after seeing that career number, thinking it was surely a typographical error. But no, it was right on the money. As someone who wasn't even born when Maddux made his first start, it was easy to forget just how dominant he was.
In particular, I was surprised to rediscover what a prolific strikeout pitcher Maddux was in his prime. Believe it or not, Maddux struck out 204 batters in 1998 and struck out 170 or more batters 9 times in his career. Eight years he recorded ERAs below 3.00 (including seven consecutive seasons from 1992-1998) and recorded back-to-back sub-2.00 ERA seasons in 1994 and 1995 (1.56 and 1.36, respectively).
Several years, his K/BB ratio approached 9. By comparison, Roy Halladay's 5.28 was the best K/BB ratio in 2008.
Simply amazing. Mad dog, you will be missed.
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