Chicago Cubs: Looking back at some awkward homecomings

Chicago Cubs: The mishandling of Greg Maddux is one of the biggest blunders in franchise history

It was Opening Day, 1993 at Wrigley Field against the Atlanta Braves. Before the season had started, Cubs fans were already heartbroken after former ace and 1992 NL Cy Young winner Greg Maddux signed a five-year, $28 million deal with the Braves in the offseason. To pour salt into the wound, it would be Maddux to face the Cubs at Wrigley on Opening Day.

Wrigley greeted their former ace with a spat of boos and hisses. They had felt betrayed that someone who did so much for them and loved Chicago would just bolt to Atlanta. Signs around the ballpark made by fans would read, “Greg Who?”

It even got so ridiculous that a fan who snagged a foul ball off Maddux’s bat immediately threw it back on the field and was cheered loudly for doing so. Seemed fitting, Maddux would shutout the Cubs as the Braves went on to win 1-0.

The crowd did not faze Maddux, and he would go on and pitch to a 2.63 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 2.95 FIP in 363 starts (11 seasons) as an Atlanta Brave before returning to the Cubs in 2004.

It is sad because Maddux got the heat for the Cubs mishandling of re-signing the future Hall of Famer. The Cubs had an “okay” offer for him, and Atlanta swooped in with a better one, and the Cubs did not counter. When they finally did get him back in 2004, he was nearly 40. His best years were behind him.

Today, the name and number of Greg Maddux hangs on the Wrigley Field flag pole, and it is nearly impossible to find a Cubs fan who does not love Maddux. He gave the Cubs many good seasons and always expressed his love for the city and fans. Hard feelings, as they should be, are long gone.