Garry Maddox

Garry Maddox is an American former professional baseball center fielder, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies, from 1972 to 1986. Throughout his baseball career, Maddox was highly regarded for his outstanding defense.

Maddox was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the second round of the 1968 amateur draft and signed to a minor league contract. While playing with the Giants' minor league affiliates, Maddox discovered that other Giants minor league rookies received higher bonuses and were paid more per month, so he requested that the team's front office staff place him on the same level. When team management refused, Maddox quit the team and joined the United States Army. He served in the Army from 1986 to 1970, including a year in Vietnam.

Maddox resumed his baseball career after leaving the army and reached the major leagues with the Giants in 1972. In 1975, he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. Maddox proceeded to earn a Gold Glove in each of his first eight seasons with the Phillies. He was dubbed the "Secretary of Defense" in 1976 by Daily News columnist Bill Conlin. In 1976, Maddox had his best year as a hitter, with a .330 batting average, and helped the Phillies win the National League East, their first postseason berth since the 1950 World Series. In 1980, he was part of the Phillies team that won the World Championship. He was honored with the Roberto Clemente Award in 1986.