On August 25 at 8 p.m. ET, MLB Network is releasing a documentary on Atlanta Braves legendary starter Greg Maddux, showcasing The Professor's excellent career.
There have been many stories and videos made about one of the greatest pitchers of all time, but there hasn't been one quite like "One of a Kind" that lets you in the mind of Mad Dog himself.
The House That Hank Built was fortunate enough to get an early look, and we're excited to share what we think.
Is MLB Network's new documentary on Greg Maddux worth the watch?
Yes, but it might feel like it takes a minute to get there. (Some spoilers are below for those who want to go into the documentary without knowing what's coming.)
The one underwhelming aspect of “One of a Kind” was the documentary's attempt to establish The Professor’s origin story. Although it’s tough to pin the blame on MLB Network entirely – after all, it does concede sports came naturally to Maddux – the introduction to the Hall of Famer struggles to decide whether he's an underdog or the chosen one.
The documentary plays up his homesickness when he first left Las Vegas for minor league baseball (during which never had an ERA above 3.19), while breezing past his struggles in the big leagues during the 1986 and 1987 seasons, only telling the story of hitting a batter to stand up for his team.
Once Maddux's career begins to take off, however, the real show begins. We get to see how quickly the Chicago Cubs lived and died by Maddux's performances. As his brother Mike states, it’s euphoric to watch Maddux blossom into the pitcher he is known as today. Because of this, we’re just as up in arms as Mad Dog when the Cubs don’t give him the contract he deserves.
When we get into the mind of Maddux — how to make strikes look like balls and balls look like strikes — we understand, but can’t comprehend how it’s physically possible. When Maddux gets batters to homer on purpose, we’re in awe of the result, and dumbfounded by the process. Thankfully, we haveRandy Johnson to assure us that we’re not the only ones who can’t fathom how he managed to work hitters.
Where the documentary shines is when it introduces “the nemesis." Barry Bonds was one of the few hitters who could outsmart Maddux.
The seven-minute chess match between the two players makes the documentary worth your time. It's one of the few instances where the baseball layman can get a behind-the-curtain look into a battle between a pitcher and hitter.
The documentary cuts back and forth as the two dissect three different at-bats. At points, Maddux predicts which pitch the Maddux of different eras would throw, and which pitch he should've thrown. Bonds echos.
How Greg Maddux called his own Pitches...before PitchCom. 🤯
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 23, 2024
[From the upcoming MLB Network Maddux Documentary: One of a Kind] pic.twitter.com/GsRMhR6Ccf
If cerebral discussions of pitch selections and locations aren't your jam, don't worry, there is plenty of goofy Maddux throughout the documentary. Chipper Jones summarizes it best when he states that Maddux walks the fine line between being a fierce competitor and a comedic character. "One of a Kind" makes sure to highlight that aspect of Mad Dog during back half of the documentary.
Overall, "One of a Kind" is an entertaining look into the mind and mythology of Greg Maddux and is certainly worth the watch whether you lived through his prime or never got the opportunity to watch him pitch in a Braves uniform.