Greg Maddux starts -- and finishes -- in relief
Greg Maddux, who will announce his retirement on Monday, pitched in 744 games in the regular season and another 35 in the postseason.
The total is 779 games, all but nine as a starter. Yet his first and last appearances in his Hall of Fame career came as a reliever.
His last game: Oct. 15, 2008, in the Dodgers' 5-1 loss to the Phillies. It was the final game of the National League Championship Series. After what could have been the farewell game for him, Nomar Garciaparra and Jeff Kent, Maddux spoke warmly of his teammates. But he spoke little of his future.
In the final inning of his career, he gave up two runs, both unearned, as shortstop Rafael Furcal became the first player in 42 years to make three errors in one postseason inning.
His first game: Sept. 3, 1986, before four current major league teams -- the Diamondbacks, Marlins, Rays and Rockies -- came into existence. He was the last pitcher, and the losing pitcher, in the Cubs' 8-7 loss to the Astros, in 18 innings. The game was suspended on Sept. 2 and completed the following day. He actually made his major league debut as a pinch-runner, for catcher Jody Davis, in the bottom of the 17th inning.
Players in that game included Ron Cey, Davey Lopes, Nolan Ryan -- and Gary Matthews and Chris Speier, the fathers, respectively, of current Angels Gary Matthews Jr. and Justin Speier.
So you might figure that Maddux was the last active player from that game.
Well ... no. The Cubs' starting pitcher that day was Jamie Moyer, now 46, who just won his first World Series ring with the Phillies.
-- Bill Shaikin
Photo: Greg Maddux in his last MLB game on Oct. 15 at Dodger Stadium against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Five of the NLCS. Credit: Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images
