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Video: MLB Icon Greg Maddux's Secret Signs for Calling His Own Pitches Revealed

Jack MurrayAugust 23, 2024

27 July 2014: Greg Maddux acknowledges the crowd during the class of 2014 National Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, New York. (Photo by Jerome Davis/Icon SMI/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Jerome Davis/Icon SMI/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

They called Greg Maddux "The Professor" for a reason.

In MLB Network's upcoming documentary, "One of a Kind," which tells the tale of Maddux's Hall of Fame career, the right-hander delves into his thought process behind pitch selection.

What is perhaps more notable is that his catcher with the Atlanta Braves, Eddie Pérez, revealed that Maddux would actually call his own pitches.

MLB Network @MLBNetwork

Greg Maddux used to call his next pitch based on how he caught the throw from the catcher 🤯<br><br>📺 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLBNPresents?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLBNPresents</a> "One of a Kind" - Sunday at 8pm ET <a href="https://t.co/9vcXS4PxAv">pic.twitter.com/9vcXS4PxAv</a>

"I never told this to anybody but he called his own pitches," Pérez said. "When he threw the pitch, he would signal fastball away, fastball inside."

Pérez then gestured how Maddux would notify him. which was by how he caught the ball. If he caught the ball in front of him, towards him, or did a facial touch or another gesture, it signaled the pitch he was going to throw.

Maddux explained his pitching philosophy and how he focused on confusing hitters rather than just trying to rifle it by them.

"It was just seeing how hitters see the ball and then what can I do with the ball to try to trick them," Maddux said. "If I'm going to try to throw a change-up, I know it's not worth it unless I have thrown a low fastball. There's no way to trick the hitter, it's like going fishing without bait."

Maddux's unorthodox strategy paid off. He compiled 355 wins, a career ERA of 3.16 and won four Cy Young's, four ERA titles and a World Series championship. His best years came with the Braves, as he earned 194 wins and a 2.63 ERA in his 11 seasons with the franchise.

This snippet shows how special of a player Maddux was, and fans will get a chance to see the entire story when it debuts on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.