GaryMrMets
08-03-2004, 12:52 AM
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/sports/9299698.htm
Posted on Mon, Aug. 02, 2004
Wrigley Field was abuzz, but Maddux's bid for 300 comes up short
By PAUL HAGEN
hagenp@phillynews.com
CHICAGO - Well, at least they got to see Sammy Sosa hit a home run.
The fans who filled every nook and cranny of Wrigley Field, including commissioner Bud Selig, came to see righthander Greg Maddux attempt to win his milestone 300th game.
As a bonus, yesterday marked the Cubs debut of shortstop Nomar Garciaparra. The atmosphere at the venerable old ballfield was supercharged.
"They're always enthusiastic here, but this had a little different feel," Phils manager Larry Bowa said.
Said shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who led off the game with a homer off Maddux: "It was definitely one of the most exciting regular-season games I've ever played in."
Maddux got a standing ovation when he walked slowly to the bullpen 25 minutes before the game started to begin warming up.
Garciaparra got a standing ovation the first time he stepped into the batter's box.
Garciaparra grounded into a doubleplay his first time up and ended up going 1-for-4 with an RBI single in the seventh as the Cubs rallied to win, 6-3.
"It was great," said Garciaparra, who had been openly unhappy with the Red Sox. "Not only to wear this uniform but to play in front of these fans. The ovation I got. Those are the kinds of things you'll never forget. I know I won't. I hope they know how much I appreciate it."
Maddux pitched to no decision after going six innings. The future Hall of Famer said he agreed with manager Dusty Baker's decision to take him out.
"I think I could have started the seventh, but I don't know if I could have made it out of it," he said. "I was pretty much done.
Selig, like most of the throng, was hoping to witness a piece of baseball history.
"I love being at milestones," he said. "The first pitcher I saw win his 300th game was Warren Spahn. If memory serves me, he beat the Cubs, 2-1, in 1961 with the help of a great catch by Gino Cimoli. It's a remarkable feat."
The commissioner, who turned 70 on Friday, agreed with the prevailing opinion that it might be a long time before another pitcher wins that many games.
"Tom Glavine [of the Mets] is the only other candidate and he's still got [41] wins to go," he noted. "Now pitchers go on the fifth day instead of the fourth, there's more emphasis on middle relievers and for some reason pitchers don't seem to have the same durability as they did a generation or two ago."
Also on hand was Braves general manager John Schuerholz. It says something about the respect Maddux commands that the GM who let him go as a free agent last winter showed up.
Posted on Mon, Aug. 02, 2004
Wrigley Field was abuzz, but Maddux's bid for 300 comes up short
By PAUL HAGEN
hagenp@phillynews.com
CHICAGO - Well, at least they got to see Sammy Sosa hit a home run.
The fans who filled every nook and cranny of Wrigley Field, including commissioner Bud Selig, came to see righthander Greg Maddux attempt to win his milestone 300th game.
As a bonus, yesterday marked the Cubs debut of shortstop Nomar Garciaparra. The atmosphere at the venerable old ballfield was supercharged.
"They're always enthusiastic here, but this had a little different feel," Phils manager Larry Bowa said.
Said shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who led off the game with a homer off Maddux: "It was definitely one of the most exciting regular-season games I've ever played in."
Maddux got a standing ovation when he walked slowly to the bullpen 25 minutes before the game started to begin warming up.
Garciaparra got a standing ovation the first time he stepped into the batter's box.
Garciaparra grounded into a doubleplay his first time up and ended up going 1-for-4 with an RBI single in the seventh as the Cubs rallied to win, 6-3.
"It was great," said Garciaparra, who had been openly unhappy with the Red Sox. "Not only to wear this uniform but to play in front of these fans. The ovation I got. Those are the kinds of things you'll never forget. I know I won't. I hope they know how much I appreciate it."
Maddux pitched to no decision after going six innings. The future Hall of Famer said he agreed with manager Dusty Baker's decision to take him out.
"I think I could have started the seventh, but I don't know if I could have made it out of it," he said. "I was pretty much done.
Selig, like most of the throng, was hoping to witness a piece of baseball history.
"I love being at milestones," he said. "The first pitcher I saw win his 300th game was Warren Spahn. If memory serves me, he beat the Cubs, 2-1, in 1961 with the help of a great catch by Gino Cimoli. It's a remarkable feat."
The commissioner, who turned 70 on Friday, agreed with the prevailing opinion that it might be a long time before another pitcher wins that many games.
"Tom Glavine [of the Mets] is the only other candidate and he's still got [41] wins to go," he noted. "Now pitchers go on the fifth day instead of the fourth, there's more emphasis on middle relievers and for some reason pitchers don't seem to have the same durability as they did a generation or two ago."
Also on hand was Braves general manager John Schuerholz. It says something about the respect Maddux commands that the GM who let him go as a free agent last winter showed up.