The number 31 has been worn by a lot of solid individuals. Some antagonizing – Reggie Miller, some a significant role player – the guy that is the intangible on the team of superstars – Kurt Rambis, and improving his stock with the Heat – Shane Battier. Others that were arguably the best at their position – Mike Piazza. Some immortal simply because of who was selected before and after them in the draft – Sam Bowie {Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan, respectively}.

Others just as memorable from the NFL – Jim Taylor for the Green Bay packers – who lead the league in rushing the only time that Jim Brown did not during Browns 9 Year career, Priest Holmes (who helped lead my fantasy team to a 14-3 record many years ago), Roy Williams the safety of horse collar tackles fame.

Grant Fuhr was truly astounding as the net minder of the other worldly Edmonton Oiler teams of the 1980s and a great goaltender during his entire career, add in Billy Smith from the Islanders and you have most of the 1980s Lord Stanleys covered, also solid, but without all of the Stanley Cups was  CUJO Curtis Joseph, and Ron Tugnutt of the 70 saves in a single game.

For my money however there is only one #31 and his name is Gregory Alan Maddux. Nicknamed the Mad Dog and the Professor, Greg Maddux looked more like he should be doing your taxes rather than making major league hitters look foolish. Maddux threw in the 80 mph range and amazingly won 355 games. Others were more powerful and flashy, Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez, but Maddux was more cerebral. Maddux won 4 consecutive Cy Young awards, and should have won the MVP in 1995, when he went 19-2 with a 1.64 ERA. Maddux was known for his pinpoint control and not walking hitters. Maddux won 18 gold gloves. When scouts came to look in on his older brother Mike, the patriarch of the family Dave told them ‘you will be back for the little one’

During the 1994 season that was cut short by a strike, Maddux went 16-6 with a 1.56 ERA – teammate John Smoltz said of Maddux – Imagine you go out and throw a complete game and give up 2 runs and your ERA goes up. During one of his games against the Astros, Maddux was completely dominating the Houston players, such to the point when Maddux reached first base late in the game the Astros Jeff Bagwell said to Maddux – There is no higher league than this, you are embarrassing us. High compliments from a fellow all star.

Maddux should be a first ballot hall of famer next season. If any baseball writer can say with a straight face that Maddux does not deserve to be in the HOF he needs to have his voting rights removed. The fact that Maddux put up the numbers that he did in the ‘steroid era’ of baseball is all the more remarkable. If Maddux used performance enhancers he surely was ripped off because at 6’0″ 170 he probably should have been behind a lectern and not on a mound.