2014 MLB Hall of Fame Inductees: Greg Maddux, Frank Thomas, Tom Glavine
Feb 24, 2013; Dunedin, FL, USA; A detail of a MLB logo on the batters circle during a spring training game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Cooperstown will welcome three of the game’s greats during this year’s induction ceremonies on Sunday as Greg Maddux, Frank Thomas, and Tom Glavine are inducted as the 2014 MLB Hall of Fame class. The trio of players will all enter the Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility, deservedly so after having remarkable careers.
Collectively the group represents some of the best the game has ever seen. Two 300-game winning pitchers, who collectively won five consecutive NL Cy Young Awards in the early 1990s. Plus a slugger with more than 500 career home runs who’s .419 OBP ranks only with the sports’ best hitters of all time.
Maddux, Thomas, and Glavine have reached the pinnacle of their respective careers and will share in the event along with three of the game’s best leaders in Tony LaRussa, Joe Torre, and Bobby Cox.
Mar 6, 2013; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Team USA pitching coach Greg Maddux leans against the dugout railing during the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
355 career wins, good enough for 8th all time. 5008.1 IP, 13th all time. 20 consecutive seasons of 194.0 IP or more, including a five year stretch from 1991 through 1995 where he led the National League. 3,371 strikeouts, 10th all time. 18 Gold Glove Awards, including 13 straight from 1990 through 2002. Eight All Star Games. Four Cy Young Awards, in consecutive seasons spanning 1992 to 1995.
The Professor was one of the best. Ever.
Greg Maddux left a resounding impact everywhere he played, which speaks largely to the reasoning behind why his Hall of Fame plaque will feature a blank cap. He established himself and won his first Cy Young Award as a Chicago Cub and then left following the 1992 season, joining the Atlanta Braves as a free agent where he helped the team reach the postseason eleven consecutive years (taking out the strike shortened 1994 season, of course). He won three more Cy Young Awards his first three seasons with the Braves and ultimately helped the team to its lone World Series Championship in 1995.
Maddux finished out his career at the age of 42, joining the Los Angeles Dodgers for the stretch run after a midseason trade and pitching into the NLCS. He won the Gold Glove that year too.
Named on 555 out of 571 ballots – 97.19% – Maddux will take his rightful place in the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
Jul 14, 2013; Flushing, NY, USA; MLB former player Frank Thomas hits a home run during the 2013 All Star Legends and Celebrity softball game at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
521 home runs, tied for 18th all time with Willie McCovey and Ted Williams. A .301/.419/.555 career slash line in over 10,000 plate appearances. Five All Star Game appearances. Two Most Valuable Player Awards, won back-to-back in 1993 and 1994.
The Big Hurt, one of the most feared hitters to ever wear the Chicago White Sox uniform.
Thomas arrived on scene with a bang when he stepped into the Chicago lineup full time in 1991. He rattled off seven consecutive seasons where he’d finish in the Top 10 in MVP voting, winning the award twice. He’d hit .330/.452/.604 during that stretch, with 250 home runs and 823 RBI. Of note, he also walked 835 times versus just 528 strikeouts. Thomas could hit, and hit well.
His body began to wear down on him in the second half of his career, but he still produced a pair of Top 5 MVP finishes and a number of productive seasons.
Thomas was named on 478 of the 571 ballots – 83.71% – and will take his place in Cooperstown, with a White Sox cap on his plaque, in his first year of eligibility.
Apr 26, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of Atlanta Braves hat and glove in the dugout against the Cincinnati Reds in the third inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
305 wins, 21st all time and the 4th most by a left-hander. Five 20-win seasons, including three straight from 1991 through 1993. 4413.1 IP. Fourteen seasons topping 200.0 IP. Ten All Star games. Two Cy Young Awards.
Occassionally overshadowed by Maddux’ dominance, Glavine’s craftiness as a left-hander was another piece of the puzzle that gave the organization one of the most dominating pitching staffs in all of baseball for years at a time. Glavine was resilient, reliable, and fiercely consistent throughout his career. His 300 victories were no accident, as it was the accumulation over a solid and lengthy career.
Glavine nearly didn’t follow a path towards baseball, having also been drafted to play hockey for the Los Angeles Kings.
Glavine was named to 525 of the 571 ballots – 91.94% – in his first year of eligibility.