Garry Lee Maddox (born September 1, 1949) is an American former professional baseball player and business entrepreneur. He played in Major League Baseball as a center fielder from to . Maddox began his career with the San Francisco Giants but, rose to prominence with the Philadelphia Phillies where his impressive defensive play earned him eight consecutive Gold Glove Awards and, where he was a member of the 1980 World Series winning team.
In 1986, Maddox was named the recipient of the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award for his work on behalf of local charities. After his athletic career, he went on to become a successful businessman in Philadelphia and continued with his local charity work. Maddox was inducted into the Philadelphia Phillies Wall of Fame in 2001.
Early life
Maddox was raised in Los Angeles, California. Instead of cheering for the Los Angeles Dodgers, he grew up rooting for the archrival San Francisco Giants. Willie Mays was his favorite player, and he wore number 24 when he played Little League Baseball. Maddox was a 1968 graduate of San Pedro High School.
Military career
Maddox was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the second round of the 1968 amateur draft and signed to a minor league contract. While playing with the Giants' minor league affiliates in Salt Lake City and Fresno, California, Maddox discovered that other Giants minor league rookies received higher bonuses and were paid more per month, so he requested that the team's front office staff place him on the same level. When team management refused, Maddox quit the team and joined the United States Army. After basic training, he volunteered for service in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. He served in the Army from 1968 to 1970, including a year in Vietnam, before receiving a hardship discharge so he could help support the Maddox family after his father became ill.
Exposure to chemicals in Vietnam left Maddox's skin highly sensitive, and he has worn a full beard ever since to protect his face.
Professional career
San Francisco Giants
Maddox resumed his baseball career after leaving the army. Starting 1972 with the Phoenix Giants of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, he batted .438 with 14 extra-base hits and 22 RBI. On April 25, he was promoted to the big leagues by the Giants. In San Francisco, he replaced Mays as the Giants' centerfielder; Mays would be traded to the New York Mets on May 5. On May 4, 1975, the Giants traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies for first baseman Willie Montañez after the Phillies had failed in their efforts to acquire Rusty Staub from the Mets. The Phillies traded Montanez with the intention to replace him at first-base with Dick Allen. Maddox went on to win his first Gold Glove Award as the top center fielder in the National League. Montanez was traded away the next year.
Philadelphia Phillies
As if to prove that 1975 was no fluke, Maddox proceeded to earn a Gold Glove in each of his first eight seasons as a Phillie. Dubbed the "Secretary of Defense" in 1976 by Daily News columnist Bill Conlin, Maddox and his ballhawking prowess later provided inspiration for one of baseball's better known quotes: "Two-thirds of the Earth is covered by water, the other one-third by Garry Maddox."
In 1976, Maddox had his best year as a hitter, with a .330 batting average, and helped the Phillies win the National League East, their first postseason berth since the Whiz Kids in the 1950 World Series. But the team lost three consecutive National League Championship Series, including in 1978 against the Los Angeles Dodgers as Maddox made a crucial error in Game Four. With the score tied in the bottom of the tenth inning, two out, and Ron Cey on first, Maddox misplayed Dusty Baker's fly ball. He started back on the ball, then charged forward, and the ball glanced off his glove, allowing the Dodgers to stay alive after what would have been the third out. Bill Russell then followed with a single to center. With Cey running on the play, Maddox charged the ball but it skipped past him as Cey scored the winning run to put the Dodgers in the World Series. Because Maddox would have had to execute a near perfect field and throw to get Cey out at the plate, he was not charged with what would have been his second error of the inning.
In the 10th inning of the fifth and final game of the 1980 NLCS against the Houston Astros, his double scored Del Unser for the pennant-winning run. In the bottom half, he caught Enos Cabell's fly ball for the final out to put the Phillies in the World Series for the first time since 1950. The Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals for their first World Championship.