Greg Maddux is easily one of the greatest pitchers to take the mound. Sporting several jerseys over his storied career, Maddux’s name has become synonymous with a performing pitcher. But how did he really feel about facing one of the greatest hitters of all time in Barry Bonds? The answer may yet surprise you. Maddux said that Barry Bonds was the easiest hitter to take the mound for.

Greg Maddux took the ballpark in direct opposition to Bonds 157 times in his 22-year career and stands as a good authority to comment on his skill set. Even so, Maddux would’ve had to have some baseball brain to say that Bonds is the easiest hitter to pitch to. But a twist in the tale awaits.

Greg Maddux on pitching to Barry Bonds

Maddux is one of the most humble presences to walk onto the diamond, and this could be why. In a recent clip surfacing on YouTube, Maddux talks about why Bonds was the easiest guy to pitch to. He says, “Because it doesn’t matter he should just walk.” All Maddux would’ve needed to do was throw to the catcher outside of the strike zone.

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Barry Bonds was one of the most feared hitters in the MLB, to the point where some managers even walked him with the bases loaded. All for the fear of a grand slam. And Maddux acknowledged that. “He was so much better than all the other hitters in the game,” said Maddux.

Perhaps also playing the thinking game for a bit, he added, “You gotta pick your fights. You gotta get 27 outs. And they’re not gonna be with him so….”

MLB Legend Greg Maddux Reveals The Shocking Reason Why New York Yankees Did Not Offer Him A Contract

Who was Greg Maddux?

Maddux troubled hitters great and small from the mound while on the Braves. But it was at Fulton County Stadium and eventually at Turner Field too where his most dominant stretch came about. Maddux was no less intimidating at the Wrigley Field either, where he started his career. His performances were so superlative and came about with such consistency that his name once became an adjective.

A Maddux describes a start in which a pitcher tosses a complete-game shutout on fewer than 100 pitches. The reason for this “co-incidence” is that Maddux is the only recorded player in the major leagues to repeat this feat 13 times. The next best pitcher has 7.

He was dominant in the Braves jersey and won 4 consecutive Cy Young Awards from 1992 through 1995. In a look back to yesteryear, Maddux’s stat line looks like something of a dream. And if any doubts ever existed, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first time on the Ballot in 2014 with a 97.4% vote.

A true giant of the game in the ballpark and a great mascot for the game too, Maddux truly has done it all. And even if Barry Bonds’ exclusion from the Hall of Fame may grind some gears, his reputation across the league as a hitter remains intact.