Greg Maddux began the first few years as a major leaguer with the then struggling Chicago Cubs. The Cubs picked up Maddux in the 1984 draft and he made his Cub debut in 1986 ironically a pitch runner for catcher Jodi Davis in a extra innings game versus the Houston Astros. Maddux would pitch in the 18th inning and gave up a home run to Bily Hatcher to take the loss in the game.

In his first full year as a major leaguer in 1987, Maddux struggled with a 6-14 record and a 5.61 ERA, but the following year Maddux would finish with an 18-8 record and a 3.18 ERA.; a streak that would lead to 17 straight years of Maddux winning 15 or more games in his career. http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=118120 He also won his first Cy Young Award with the Cubs.

Because of a break down in negotiations, Maddux would leave the Cubs in 1993 and signed with the Atlanta Braves where his career would flourish. He would win three Cy Young awards and a World Series title with the Braves. http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=118120

Maddux's most dominating season was the 1995 season when he was almost untouchable. That season, he had a record 19-2 with a 1.63 ERA, the third lowest ERA in history and second only in the National League behind Bob Gibson. http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=118120

Maddux left the Braves in 2004 to pitch for his former club, the Chicago Cubs. While pitching for the Cubs, Maddux won his 300th game, an 8-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants. Maddux would spend the last couple of years of his career on the West Coast pitchingfor the San Diego Padres and the LA Dodgers before retiring from the game in 2008.

Maddux along with John Smoltz and Tom Glavine were considered the best pitching staff in the 1990's and Maddux one of the best pitchers in his generation.

Greg Maddux's achievement's are a laundry list of accomplishments such as winning 18 Gold Golves (his last in 2008), being an eight time All-Star not to mention winning his first and only World Series with the Braves back in 1995. But his highest feet was being the first pitcher in National League history to win four Cy Young awards in a row. At the time, it was a testament of not only what a great pitcher he was, but how dominate he was as well.

Maddux didn't blow hitters away like a Roger Clemens or a Randy Johnson (both multiple winners of the award also), but his pitching style which mainly relied on his command of his pitches and painting the corner to get outs,intimidated a lot of hitters.

Maddux's influence on the game itself will be long felt by generations of pitchers for many years to come.