Phillies 1980’s All-Decade Team: Hall of Fame Legends Lead the Way

Garry Maddox

Maddox is an easy choice due to his defensive ability.  Entering the 1980’s he was in the midst of eight consecutive Gold Glove Awards. In fact, long time Mets’ announcer Ralph Kiner once said that “two-thirds of the Earth is covered by water. The other third is covered by Garry Maddox”.

In 1980, Maddox hit .259 with 11 home runs, 73 RBI, and 25 stolen bases, marking the eighth consecutive season with at least 20 stolen bases. Maddox also claimed his sixth Gold Glove Award and secured and NL Championship by catching the final out in Game Five’s extra-inning affair.

Maddox was sufficiently good at the plate the following two seasons, hitting a combined 34 doubles, 13 home runs, and 101 RBI in 223 games. But it was his defense that kept him in the lineup, snatching the last two of his Gold Glove Awards.

One of the many veterans on the 1983 NL Championship team, Maddox platooned in centerfield, hitting .275 in 97 games.  The following season Maddox thrived in a similar role, hitting .282 with 11 doubles and five home runs in 77 games.

Clearly, near the end of his career, Maddox appeared in 105 games in 1985, but hit only .239 in 218 at-bats. After six games as a 36-year old in 1986, Maddox retired.

Maddox was at his best during the 1970’s through the early 1980’s but was plenty good enough to earn a spot on the 1980’s All-Decade Team.