April 14

His teammates called him “Mad Dog” or “Professor.” We can’t say what opposing batters called him. He was unhittable, one of the best pitchers in Major League history.

Greg Maddux was born in San Angelo, Texas, in 1966. Drafted by the Chicago Cubs, he struggled after making his Major League debut in 1986, so he adjusted his mechanics. Lacking a blazing fastball, he studied opposing batters’ tendencies, then dominated them with pinpoint control and off-speed pitches that were virtually impossible to hit.

Maddux won his first Cy Young Award as the majors’ best pitcher in 1992. The next year he signed with the Braves and won three more Cy Youngs — the only pitcher in history to win the award four years in a row. In 11 seasons with the Braves, he led them to 10 division titles and a World Series championship in 1995. He retired with over 3,000 strikeouts and 355 career wins.

This Hall of Fame shoo-in was born on April 14, 1966, Today in Georgia History.