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I'm a Cubs fan. Loved Greg Maddux. Hated it when he left for Atlanta.

The HOF just announced that Maddux would NOT have a logo on his HOF Plaque. This is not unprecedented....



Jim Hunter with no logo.........


As much as I hate to say it, Maddux should go into the Hall as an Atlanta Brave

This is from an extended ESPN interview in 2009 with Jeff Idelson, HOF President.

ESPN: Why not just avoid all the controversy by showing players without a cap or wearing a cap without a logo or with the logo obscured?

JI: That's always an option, and there are some instances where we've recommended not showing a logo. But we generally prefer to show a team logo, because our visitors identify with them.

He still identifies himself closely with the Cubs even though his best years were ATL. Smart call.

Right. Now when I discuss the Braves, it will be "Remember when we had Smoltz, Glavine, and that other guy?"

Ten years and the Braves gave him a team to win Division titles and a World Series. Not to slap the Cubbies, but his years with the Braves put him in the HOF. His call, but I do not agree.

Edwards Kings wrote:Right. Now when I discuss the Braves, it will be "Remember when we had Smoltz, Glavine, and that other guy?"

Ten years and the Braves gave him a team to win Division titles and a World Series. Not to slap the Cubbies, but his years with the Braves put him in the HOF. His call, but I do not agree.

The Braves stole him from Chicago ... do not reward bad behavior.

Not bad, just arrogant, elegant and smart....

the Cubs went cheap with Maddux. and now, I don't feel bad for the lovable losers. here's to another 100+ years sans title.

NorCalAtlFan wrote:the Cubs went cheap with Maddux. and now, I don't feel bad for the lovable losers. here's to another 100+ years sans title.

Sure it was about money, everything is; but it wasn't ALL about the money. Maddux actually left several million on the table when he rejected a larger offer by the Yankees that winter and signed with the Braves instead.

From some things I've read, it was then Cubs GM Larry Himes that really blew the negotiations with Maddux. Himes just didn't think that Maddux was great.

Himes should have said, "Greg, you are the best pitcher in baseball and we really want you, but this offer is the best we can do". Instead apparently, Himes just kept telling Maddux and his people that Greg was a good pitcher, but not great, and this is the best offer you will get from us. Period.

I've never seen a confirmed report about the actual dollar offer the Cubs made to Maddux, but supposedly it wasn't that far off from what Atlanta offered.

Yet despite what happened in 1992, Maddux came back to Chicago in 2004 and won his 300th game with the Cubs.

My best guess is that Maddux, when asked, wanted the Cubs logo on his HOF cap.

Everyone, and I mean everyone, including Cubs fans, thought that Maddux would/should have a Braves cap on his HOF plaque. And if Maddux had answered "Braves cap" when asked, does anyone doubt that he would have gotten one.

The HOF wants to serve the wishes of the players, but they also want to maintain the integrity of the museum. That's why they rejected Wade Boggs' supposed request to have a TB cap on his plaque, and chose the Expos for both G Carter and A Dawson when both players had requested the Mets and Cubs respectively.

Still guessing, I think that when faced with the request to wear a Cubs cap, the HOF said no and offered ATL or No-Logo.

We know the answer.

Oh. One more thing. I feel good about a WS title for the Cubs sometime in the next 100 years. I think Theo is turning the ship around slowly, but it is turning.

Also part of the story ...

Larry Himes, after no communication with Maddux for an extended period of time, gave him a short deadline take-it-or-leave-it-offer. A day after Himes unreasonable deadline (and his refusal to return Greg's phone calls), Maddux agreed to sign with the Cubs in spite of having a higher offer from Atlanta on the table. Himes told him it was too late to accept; next day he's a Brave.

So in addition to being a bad talent evaluator, he seemed to be a power-trip idiot, a bad communicator and bad negotiator ... although I'm sure all of those are related. Meanwhile, on the DePaul campus on the Northside of Chicago, I told my roommate who hated the Cubs (and loved the Sox), that the Cubs just had just thrown away their shot at a World Series for the next 15 years and Maddux would be in the HOF. Not fifteen, but 21 years later ... and soon to be 25 years later with no WS ... hear we are. How one man destroyed the hopes of 10 million. Best thing about this - Maddux never held it against Cubs fans, he knew it was just one idiot that happened to be in charge that didn't want him there.

Great stuff in here, guys. Thanks for posting.

Maybe this struck a cord with me because the Braves now are a little like the Braves then. Core of good, young players. Pitching depth but no clear ace (yes, Smoltz, Glavine, and Avery were very good, but not top-of-the-rotation marquis guy like Maddux). With the Braves behind him, Maddux was able to kick it up a notch in results. With Maddux at the top of the rotation, the Braves owned the division. I can definitely see similarities.

I guess with this being Georgia's big year in the HOF (Cox, Maddux, Glavine), Frank Thomas (born in Columbus, GA) and Torre (played and mis-managed for the Braves), I wanted it all. BTW...who the hell let LaRussa in? He has not roots in Georgia?

Edwards Kings wrote:Maybe this struck a cord with me because the Braves now are a little like the Braves then. Core of good, young players. Pitching depth but no clear ace (yes, Smoltz, Glavine, and Avery were very good, but not top-of-the-rotation marquis guy like Maddux). With the Braves behind him, Maddux was able to kick it up a notch in results. With Maddux at the top of the rotation, the Braves owned the division. I can definitely see similarities.

I guess with this being Georgia's big year in the HOF (Cox, Maddux, Glavine), Frank Thomas (born in Columbus, GA) and Torre (played and mis-managed for the Braves), I wanted it all. BTW...who the hell let LaRussa in? He has not roots in Georgia?

Glavine and Torre should have went in as Mets.