Monster Card Monday: 1995 Greg Maddux

As a Cubs fan, I have mixed feelings about Greg Maddux.  I guess I can’t really blame him.  The fault lies with Cubs management who weren’t willing to pay out for quality pitching.  After his first twenty win season in 1992, my Cubbies felt they couldn’t afford to keep Maddux around.  Then he got the last laugh by leading the NL in ERA the next three years for the Atlanta Braves.  Maddux won the Cy Young for the Cubs in 1992.  After signing with the Braves, he won three more for a record four years straight. 

This card is based on one of those years, the 1995 season.  Pastor Rich Zawadzki thought this would be a good complement to the 1994 Maddux card which was posted shortly after his Hall of Fame induction. 

With a slightly higher ERA at 1.63, Greg Maddux had a dominating W-L record winning 19 and losing only 2.  His BB/9 IP ratio had also improved over 1994.  In 1995, Maddux walked just 1.0 batter per nine innings pitched. 

With an A&C grade and XZZ ratings, Greg Maddux’s 1995 card is about as good as it gets. 

With a lower ERA, Maddux could get an A&B grade but there are those APBA fans who would argue that an A&C is stronger since it comes into play more often than the A&B.   Let the argument ensue on that one. 

Maddux received a single Z in 1994 but was awarded the coveted double Z in 1995. 

Maddux’ nicknames on his cards ranged from “Doggie”, “Mad Dog”, “The Professor”.  The year before it was denoted as “Batboy”. 

Ever wonder why Greg Maddux was always rated P-2?  Well, he did win 18 Gold Gloves.  But there was a reason for that.  Maddux led the NL in Range factor among pitchers 14 years and assists for pitchers 11 times. 

Thanks, Rich!