Elliott Maddox facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Elliott Maddox
Maddox in 1977
Outfielder / Third baseman
Born: (1947-12-21) December 21, 1947 (age 77) East Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
April 7, 1970, for the Detroit Tigers
Last appearance
October 1, 1980, for the New York Mets
MLB statistics
Batting average	.261
Home Runs	18
Runs batted in	234
Teams
Detroit Tigers (1970) Washington Senators / Texas Rangers (1971–1973) New York Yankees (1974–1976) Baltimore Orioles (1977) New York Mets (1978–1980)

Elliott Maddox (born December 21, 1947) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) player. He was chosen by the Detroit Tigers in the first round of the draft in 1968. He played his first MLB game in 1970.

Early Life and College Baseball

Elliott Maddox was born in East Orange, New Jersey, and grew up in Vauxhall, New Jersey. He went to Union High School. In 1966, the Houston Astros picked him in the baseball draft. However, he decided to go to the University of Michigan instead.

While at college in 1968, he was a great hitter. He won the Big Ten batting title with a .467 batting average. Later that year, the Detroit Tigers drafted him again. Maddox also became a Reform Jew in the 1970s.

Playing for the Detroit Tigers

Maddox quickly moved up through the Tigers' minor league teams. He played in the outfield and at third base. In 1970, at age 22, he made his big league debut with the Tigers.

He played as a backup outfielder and also filled in at third base. In his only season with Detroit, he hit for a .248 average. He also hit three home runs and had 24 runs batted in (RBIs). The Detroit Sports Broadcasters' Association named him the "Tigers Rookie of the Year." After this season, Maddox was traded to the Washington Senators.

Time with the Washington Senators

In 1971, Maddox had a slow start with the Washington Senators. His batting average was low for much of the season. But he improved a lot in August and September. He finished the season with a .217 average.

He started as a utility player, meaning he could play many positions. As he started hitting better, manager Ted Williams used him more often in center field. He was known for his excellent fielding skills. On the very last day of the 1971 season, Maddox hit in the final run for the Washington Senators team before they moved.

Moving to the Texas Rangers

In 1972, the Senators team moved to Arlington, Texas, and became the Texas Rangers. Maddox continued to play in center field, often sharing playing time with another player. His manager, Ted Williams, used Maddox's speed by having him bat first in the lineup more often.

That season, he scored 40 runs and stole 20 bases, which was his highest number of stolen bases in a season. In 1973, his playing time went down under new managers. In 1974, the New York Yankees bought him from the Rangers.

Years with the New York Yankees

Elliott Maddox's time with the New York Yankees started slowly in April 1974. But in May, he hit very well, with a .371 batting average. He also got on base a lot by drawing walks. This led his manager, Bill Virdon, to move him to the lead-off spot in the batting order.

He also switched from right field to center field. For the 1974 season, he finished with a .303 batting average, which was sixth best in the American League. He also scored a career-high 75 runs. He was excellent in center field, leading all American League center fielders in assists and double plays.

In 1975, Maddox continued to play well. However, his season was cut short by an injury. On June 13, he slipped on a wet field at Shea Stadium while chasing a fly ball. At the time of his injury, he was batting .307. He had to have knee surgery.

Maddox did not return to the Yankees until June 1976. He only played in a few games before his knee injury bothered him again. He came back in September and was part of the Yankees' team for the playoffs. This was the only time Maddox played in the post-season. He played in the 1976 American League Championship Series and the World Series.

Playing for the Baltimore Orioles

In January 1977, Maddox was traded from the Yankees to the Baltimore Orioles. He had a second knee surgery in November 1976, which was more successful than the first. His debut with the Orioles was delayed because he needed to recover from this surgery.

When he joined the Orioles in July, another player, Al Bumbry, was already the starting center fielder. Maddox played a part-time role for the Orioles. He batted .262 with two home runs and nine RBIs in his half-season with Baltimore. After the season, he became a free agent.

Final Years with the New York Mets

Maddox signed with the New York Mets in November 1977. He was one of the first free agents to sign with the Mets. The Mets manager, Joe Torre, thought Maddox was their best defensive center fielder. However, the Mets already had a star center fielder named Lee Mazzilli. So, Maddox was moved to right field.

His return to New York was delayed in 1978 due to a leg muscle injury during Spring training. When he started playing, his batting average was low, but he still got on base a lot by drawing many walks. He also played 43 games at third base, which was the most in his career. Maddox was not happy about playing third base and wanted to be traded.

He stayed with the Mets for the 1979 season. He got his wish to play right field, but an ankle injury in April kept him out for 18 games. Another player took over in right field while he was out. Maddox was injured again in July with a pulled hamstring.

In 1980, Maddox played third base for the Mets. He had a good fielding percentage at third base. He also hit a career-high four home runs. This was his first full and healthy season since 1974.

Retirement from Baseball

In 1981, the Mets had younger players ready to play center field and third base. So, Maddox was released from his contract. He tried to join the Yankees again but did not make the team. He then signed with the Philadelphia Phillies and played one season with their minor league team before retiring from baseball.

Career Statistics

Elliott Maddox played for 11 seasons in Major League Baseball. Here are some of his career numbers:

He had a very good .989 fielding percentage as an outfielder throughout his career.

Personal Life and Later Career

Elliott Maddox became an investment banker after he retired from baseball. He also returned to baseball for a short time as a hitting instructor for the Yankees in 1990 and 1991. Later, he became a counselor for children in Florida.

Maddox enjoyed traveling the world. He coached baseball and football in Israel, where he had a part-time home. He also helped start the first Little League teams in Poland. In 2004, he was honored by being inducted into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. In 2007, he was inducted into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame.

See also

• List of Jewish Major League Baseball players