1976 Topps #503 - Elliott Maddox

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• Elliott Maddox was a major leaguer from 1970-1980. Maddox was drafted  by the Detroit Tigers in 1968 and played in the minors in 1968 and 1969. Maddox was brought up to Detroit in 1970 and batted .248 in 109 games. Elliott played 2B, SS, 3B, and all three OF positions in 1970. After the 1970 season Maddox was Traded with Denny McLain, Norm McRae and Don Wert to the Washington Senators for Ed Brinkman, Joe Coleman, Jim Hannan and Aurelio Rodriguez.
• Maddox was a fourth outfielder and backup third baseman during his time with the Senators/Rangers. In 1971 Elliott batted .217 in 128 games and in 1972 he batted .252 with 20 stolen bases in 98 games. Maddox batted .238 in 100 games in 1973. After the 1973 season he was purchased by the New York Yankees.
• Elliott was the regular center fielder in 1974 and had his best season. He batted .303 (6th in the AL) in 137 games and finished 8th in AL MVP voting. Maddox was off to a good start in 1975 when he injured his knee in Shea Stadium on June 13. Elliott missed the rest of the 1975 season and was never the same player after the injury (he had two reconstructive surgeries in 1975 and 1976). He later sued for damages but lost the case when it was ruled that he knew about the condition of the turf and played anyway. Maddox batted .307 in 55 games in 1975.
• In 1976 Maddox played in only 18 games and batted .217 as he continued to attempt to come back from the injury. He batted .222 in the ALCS and .200 in the World Series. After the 1976 season he (and Rick Bladt) were traded to the Baltimore Orioles for Paul Blair.
• Maddox batted .262 in 49 games for the Orioles in 1977. After the 1977 season Elliott became a free agent and signed a five-year contract with the New  York  Mets.
• Elliott batted .257 in 119 games in 1978 and .268 in 86 games in 1979. Maddox was tried as the regular third baseman for the  Mets in 1980 and batted .246 in 130 games. Maddox was cut before the season in 1981. He signed with the Philadelphia Phillies on June 15, 1981 but never played for them (probably due to the strike).
• After his playing career Maddox worked as an investment banker on Wall Street for several years and then worked as a roving coach for the New York Yankees for a couple of years. He then  moved to Florida and worked as a clinical social worker doing counseling for troubled kids.
• Liked to face: Frank Tanana (.500 in 16 AB); Rudy May (.400 in 25 AB); Mickey Lolich (.389 in 54 AB)
• Hated to face: Ken Sanders (.000 in 10 AB); Steve Rogers (.083 in 12 AB); Steve Carlton (.121 in 33 AB)