Starting Nine: Drive to 300
The Hall of Fame's Starting Nine includes must-see artifacts from every big league team. Check out the Cubs Starting Nine online.
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.
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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.
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 victory 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 with 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’s cap from his 300th win is on display in the Museum’s One for the Books exhibit.
Craig Muder is the director of communications for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Starting Nine
The Hall of Fame's Starting Nine is a lineup of must-see artifacts from our vast collection containing tens of thousands of pieces that preserve the magical moments and memorable stories of our National Pastime. Our curators have spent countless hours hand-picking special objects from every major league team to create a lineup of pieces you simply won’t believe we have!
