Future HOFer Greg Maddux

[G-Fafif]

Caught some of Greg Maddux's retirement press conference. Was asked about Mets-Braves battles at Shea. Gave a surprisingly deep and relatively emotional answer about what great games those were, what a great stage that was, what, well, great fans we were. Even namechecked a Shea bullpen security guard and marveled at the "war stories" they traded. Will post exact quotes when video is up, but it seemed heartfelt and the perspective of someone who really got it.

Interesting that Maddux, in the one time I ever heard it come up, found nicer things to say about playing in front of Mets fans than his former rotationmate who actually played for the Mets ever did.

Rooted against him as he pitched against the Mets and found his self-limited pitch count a little vexing (even allowing that he knew himself best), but Greg Maddux was one of those opponents I enjoyed standing and applauding for out of respect when he took the mound. There really isn't any other pitcher I can say that about in recent years.

[Valadius]

The anti-Clemens.

[Centerfield]

Class schmass. Maddux can blow me.

[metirish]

Fire that security guard now , seriously what "war stories" would a guard working Shea have?


Maddux was great but I have to say for all the games he won and all his greatness I feel nothing for him, maybe I got dragged down with his late career and missed the brilliant young Maddux .

[willpie]

Everyone says he's really smart. Might make a hell of a pitching coach. His brother ain't half bad...

[G-Fafif]

The question about the Mets-Braves rivalry and playing at Shea was, if my ears weren't failing me, asked by Matt Yallof of SNY. Here's the full answer.

]It was fun. It was always fun going to New York. We had Chipper on our team, and Chipper always used to do big things there. It was fun watching the guys play there and it was also fun being a part of it. Shea Stadium was one of the best places to play baseball on the road, and especially when the Mets were good, and there was just a buzz in the air there that you'll never forget. There was a smell there at Shea that you'll never forget. There were just certain things about Shea Stadium, that 'this is a pretty cool place to be' and you're just lucky to be a part of it. Sittin' down there in the bullpen with Jimmy Jet, the security guard down there, talkin', tellin' war stories until the game starts. You have a lot of memories of every ballpark and it seems like you spend a lot of time in the bullpen at Shea Stadium.

Can't vouch for the name of the security guard, though it would be comforting to know at least one Jet stayed at Shea.