One of a Kind is the latest edition of the MLB Network Presents docuseries, focusing on the career of Hall of Famer Greg Maddux. And while the film excels in the areas MLB Network Presents usually excels (archival footage, interviews with all of the necessary individuals), it truly stands out for its discussion of the process behind the game on the field.
Interviews with Maddux shape the film, with his wit and insight helping craft an entertaining, thoughtful narrative throughout. Interviews with Maddux’s brother Mike, Braves teammates Tom Glavine, Chipper Jones, Eddie Perez, and John Smoltz, and contemporaries Barry Bonds and Randy Johnson help flesh the tale out even more. The former Braves trio of Glavine, Maddux, and Smoltz also sits together for a discussion that really brings back the memories.
The process discussions throughout the film are incredibly insightful, taking you into Maddux’s mind and the way it worked when attacking hitters. A long segment features Maddux and Bonds discussing several matchups between the two and the thought process both took when facing each other. It’s a stark departure from the “throw ball, see ball, hit ball” conversations you usually hear from athletes when they talk about critical moments in games.
Greg Maddux – one of Major League Baseball’s best-ever to throw a baseball – will be profiled in One Of A Kind – a new MLB Network Presents documentary that will premiere on Sunday, August 25th at 8 p.m. ET. Known as The Professor and The Mad Dog, the program will uncover how Maddux was able to achieve one of baseball’s most-decorated and consistently successful careers, serving as the only pitcher in history to amass 300 wins, 3,000 strikeouts and less than 1,000 walks. A maestro with the baseball, Maddux opens up on his approach to dominating the sport in his own distinct way, which led to him notching at least 15 victories for an incredible 17 straight seasons. A who’s who of baseball luminaries will be featured across the documentary opining on the masterful Maddux, including Barry Bonds, Randy Johnson, and Atlanta Braves teammates Chipper Jones, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz. As highlighted in the documentary, every great player has their rival, and for Maddux, it was Bonds. The two will break down several specific at-bats and discuss the chess match that followed. A clip from One Of A Kind featuring Bonds and Maddux can be viewed here.
Maddux’s early struggles upon making it to the Majors will be a focus of the program, with commentary from former Cubs teammate Rick Sutcliffe. Former Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone will detail his special bond with Maddux upon first connecting with him during the Spring of 1993, plus former Braves batterymate Eddie Perez will detail how Maddux would call his own signals in his particularly unique way, ever so calculated with each pitch. Clips from a new interview with Maddux, Smoltz and Glavine will be interspersed throughout the program, as they discuss their incredible success as the Big 3 with the Braves. Baseball historians Joe Posnanski and Tom Verducci will marvel at the brilliance of Maddux, with Verducci remarking, “I never got to see van Gogh paint, but I got to see Maddux pitch.”
In addition to a 23-year run that featured greatness on the mound, the program will also highlight Maddux’s unique clubhouse personality that his teammates still talk about to this day. Maddux’s brother Mike Maddux will spotlight Greg’s formative years as part of a Military family, followed by his ascension to MLB, and eventually facing each other during Greg’s rookie season in 1986. Maddux will discuss the famous contract negotiation when he was a free agent in 1992 that led him from the Cubs nearly to the New York Yankees and ultimately to Atlanta.
The few parts of One of a Kind that disappoint are typically only because they’re not all that interesting. While Maddux’s memories of his 1992 contract negotiations with the Chicago Cubs are interesting, the potentially juicy reasoning for his decision not to sign with the New York Yankees that offseason falls flat (he didn’t want to leave the National League, where he would spend his entire career).
Maddux’s post-Braves career talk also falls a bit flat, but then again, he only pitched eight playoff innings after leaving Atlanta and while he won five more Gold Gloves, he didn’t make an All-Star Team or have an ERA under 3.00. There just wasn’t a lot to talk about during those years in Chicago, San Diego, and Los Angeles.
On an unrelated note, I’m personally offended that there’s no mention of the Nike “Chicks Dig The Long Ball” ad starring Maddux and Glavine. I think that would have been an incredible segment to add a bit more humor (not that this really needs all that much more humor) to the feature. At least we got a Yahoo long read about it in 2019.
Overall, One of a Kind is a worthy entry to the MLB Network Presents lineup. It’s thoughtful, entertaining, insightful, and gives viewers plenty of new stories we hadn’t heard before.
One of a Kind airs at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 25 on MLB Network.
