When Greg Maddux notched his 300th career victory almost two years ago, people said he would be the last pitcher to reach that esteemed mark.
At the time, fellow Hall of Fame shoe-in Randy Johnson said, "I don't think 300 wins will be achieved beyond Greg Maddux."
Johnson included himself. At 42 years of age, Johnson has 271 career wins and pitches without the ankle-breaking slider he threw the past two decades. So maybe he was right.
In fact, among all active pitchers who started the season with at least 200 wins, the youngest is 38-year-old whipper snapper Mike Mussina, currently at 232.
The 300-win pitcher may be an endangered species. But there is one man who's really close: Former Atlanta Braves pitcher Tom Glavine.
When Glavine signed with the New York Mets in 2003, his ERA and win-loss record never came close to any of the previous 12 seasons with the Atlanta Braves. He did, however, hang in there enough to average 11 wins in the last three years.
This year a resurgent Glavine is benefiting from being in the Mets rotation, a team that forgot how to lose. With 10 wins so far, the 40-year-old has 285 career wins—27th on the all time list.
The optimistic "if he keeps this up" projected win total this year is 22. Assuming that were the case, Glavine would rise up to 297 victories, needing only three next year.
The Mets have a $12 million option on Glavine for next year. If that's too much for Mets GM Omar Minaya to spend on retaining the last player in history (presumably) to win 300 games, Glavine may ape his former teammate Maddux and return to his roots in Atlanta for the milestone. (Maddux was a longtime Atlanta Brave but began his career as a Chicago Cub and returned "home" to win his 300th game in Chicago.)
Since I didn't follow baseball until the early '90s, I grew up with the TBS generation and therefore a well-wisher for the Braves and that legendary pitching rotation. Being left-handed just like Glavine, I cheered for him above the others. The Braves' division title in '91 launched Glavine's long and successful career, including winning two Cy Young awards, nine All-Star appearances, and one World Series MVP trophy.
Fifteen years later, he could win his 300th game with that same team, solidifying a plaque in Cooperstown and shutting the window behind him.
Most MLB Wins (Active)
1) Roger Clemens, 341
2) Greg Maddux, 325
3) Tom Glavine, 285
4) Randy Johnson, 271
5) Mike Mussina, 232
6) David Wells, 227
7) Jamie Moyer, 209
8) Pedro Martinez, 204
9) Curt Schilling, 201
10) Kenny Rogers, 200
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