1981 Topps Garry Maddox

The front: Maddox waits for the pitch at Shea Stadium. He played in three day games at Shea that year, August 16 and 17. He had seven hits in eleven at-bats, including home runs in both games of the Sunday doubleheader.

The back: 1980 was Maddox’s last year as a regular; he never again reached double-digits in steals.

The player: Maddox was a great all-around player. He was best known for his fielding (the famous quote was “two thirds of the Earth is covered by water, the other third by Garry Maddox"), winning eight gold gloves. He was also an excellent hitter. In 1,749 games for the Giants and Phillies, he hit .285 with 117 HR, 754 RBI and 248 SB.

The man: As a nineteen-year-old minor leaguer in 1968, Maddox was sent to Vietnam, a year he described as “pure hell” in an extensive interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer in 2013. The interview discusses the horrors Maddox saw in Vietnam, but does not mention the most well-known aspect of Maddox’s service there – he suffered chemical burns to his face that made shaving nearly impossible, hence his famous beard.

Maddox has had a very successful career in business after his baseball career. He owns two businesses in the Philadelphia area. A.Pomerantz & Sons is an office furniture dealer, and World Wide Concessions sells business promotional items. From 2003 to 2010, Maddox sat on the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, an impressive role for a former athlete. He is also involved in numerous charitable initiatives.

My collection: I have 28 of his cards, from 1974 to 1986. I would be interested in trading for 1973 Topps #322.