New Documentary Sheds Light on Dodgers’ Hall of Famer

At the end of one of the most decorated MLB careers in history, starting pitcher Greg Maddux represented the Dodgers on the mound.

Wednesday, MLB Network announced an upcoming documentary on the Baseball Hall of Famer called “One of A Kind.” The documentary will premiere on Aug. 25 at 5 p.m PT.

The documentary will feature interviews with a long list of MLB players. Included among them, per an MLB press release, are Barry Bonds , Randy Johnson, Chipper Jones, Tom Glavine, and John Smoltz. They will help tell the story of an all-time great who spent 23 seasons in the Major Leagues.

Maddux was drafted straight out of Valley High School in Las Vegas, selected by the Chicago Cubs as the 31st overall pick of the 1984 MLB draft. He went on to build a reputation for being a strategic pitcher, always anticipating the batter’s next move. This reputation inspired Maddux’s nickname, “The Professor.”

In the preview for the documentary, former Atlanta Braves teammate Chipper Jones shared a story that encapsulated Maddux’s tactical approach to pitching. The Braves’ pitching coach, Leo Mazzone, suggested Maddux intentionally walk Diamonbacks slugger Luis Gonzalez. Maddux had his own idea. He made a plan to get Gonzalez to hit a pop-up, and he executed, shocking his teammates and coaches — and offering one of many demonstrations of his high pitching IQ.

After seven seasons with the Cubs, Maddux was traded to the Atlanta Braves. He spent more than a decade of his career with the franchise. In his third season with the Braves, Maddux won the 1995 World Series. That season, he led the league in ERA (1.63) and games won (19).

Maddux joined the Dodgers for the first time in 2006. He made 12 appearances and logged a 3.30 ERA. The Dodgers traded him to the Padres the following season, but his stint in San Diego did not last long.

In 2008, Maddux was traded back to the Dodgers for his final big league season. In seven games with Los Angeles, Maddux posted a 5.09 ERA.

The Dodgers might not have gotten Maddux at his best, but the retirement tour in L.A. afforded the future Hall of Famer a chance to connect with a young Clayton Kershaw . Sixteen years later, Kershaw has his own Hall of Fame resume, carrying the torch of the lessons he learned from Maddux in a Dodger uniform.

Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

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