Joe Maddon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Joe Maddon |
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Maddon with the Chicago Cubs in 2016
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| Manager | |
| Born: February 8, 1954 Hazleton, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| MLB statistics | |
| Managerial record | 1,382–1,216 |
| Winning % | .532 |
| Teams | |
As manager
As coach |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Joseph John Maddon (born February 8, 1954) is a famous American former professional baseball manager and coach. He led three different teams in Major League Baseball (MLB): the Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago Cubs, and Los Angeles Angels.
Maddon started his MLB coaching career with the Angels in 1994. He even served as an interim manager a few times. He became the full-time manager for the Rays in 2006. In 2008, he led them to win the American League pennant.
After leaving the Rays, Maddon joined the Cubs in 2015. He guided them to the 2015 National League Championship Series and was named the Manager of the Year. In 2016, Maddon helped the Cubs win their first World Series title since 1908. He managed the Cubs until 2019. From 2020 to 2022, he managed the Angels.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Beginnings
Joe Maddon grew up in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. His father, Joseph Anthony Maddon, was a plumber. Joe played baseball and football at Lafayette College.
Maddon began his professional baseball journey in 1975. He signed with the California Angels as a catcher. He played in the minor leagues for four seasons. He never played in the major leagues as a player.
Coaching and Managing Career
Starting with the Angels (1979–2005)
In 1979, Maddon stopped playing and became a coach. He started as a scout for the Angels. He then managed teams in the Angels' farm system. He also worked as a hitting instructor for minor league players.
Maddon became a major league coach for the Angels in 1994. He held different roles, like first base coach and bench coach. He also stepped in as interim manager three times. This happened when other managers were sick or left the team. He had a combined record of 27 wins and 24 losses as an interim manager.
He became the bench coach under manager Mike Scioscia in 2000. In 2002, Maddon helped the Angels win the World Series. He spent a total of 31 years with the Angels organization.
Leading the Tampa Bay Rays (2006–2014)
On November 15, 2005, Joe Maddon became the manager of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The team was rebuilding with many young players. In his first two seasons, the Rays had losing records.
First Winning Season and World Series (2008)
In 2008, Maddon led the Rays to their first winning season ever. They also won their division title. The team was full of young stars like David Price and Evan Longoria. The Rays won the American League East, beating strong teams like the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.
They then won their first playoff series against the Chicago White Sox. Next, they beat the Red Sox in a thrilling seven-game series. This sent the Rays to their first World Series ever. They played against the Philadelphia Phillies but lost in five games. After this amazing season, Maddon won the American League Manager of the Year Award.
Continued Success and Playoff Appearances (2009–2013)
In 2009, Maddon signed a contract extension with the Rays. He also managed the American League All-Star team to a victory.
In 2010, the Rays made the playoffs again. They won their second AL East championship. However, they lost to the Texas Rangers in the first round of the playoffs.
The Rays made the playoffs for a second year in a row in 2011. They clinched a Wild Card spot on the very last day of the season. This was impressive because they started the season with zero wins and six losses. They lost to the Rangers again in the playoffs. After the season, Maddon won his second AL Manager of the Year Award.
In 2012, Maddon earned his 500th career win as a manager. The Rays finished the season with a winning record. In 2013, he got his 600th win. The Rays made the playoffs again as a Wild Card team. They lost to the Boston Red Sox in the first round.
Final Season with the Rays (2014)
The 2014 season was tough for the Rays. They had many injuries and finished with a losing record. On October 14, 2014, the Rays' General Manager, Andrew Friedman, left the team. This allowed Maddon to leave his contract too. The Rays tried to keep him, but Maddon decided to leave. He finished his time with the Rays with 754 wins and 705 losses.
Leading the Chicago Cubs (2015–2019)
After leaving the Rays, Joe Maddon became the manager of the Chicago Cubs. He signed a five-year contract.
Turning Around the Cubs (2015)
On May 14, 2015, Maddon got his 800th managerial win. The Cubs had finished in last place for three years in a row. But under Maddon, they had a great second half of the season. They clinched their first playoff spot since 2008. They finished with 97 wins, a huge improvement.
In the Wild Card game, the Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates. They then won their playoff series against the St. Louis Cardinals. This was the first time the Cubs won a playoff series at their home field, Wrigley Field. The Cubs then played the Mets in the NLCS but lost in four games. Maddon won the National League Manager of the Year Award.
World Series Champions (2016)
Maddon's young Cubs team was expected to do well in 2016. They started the season very strong and stayed in first place. They finished the regular season with 103 wins. This was their first 100-win season in over 80 years.
In the playoffs, they beat the San Francisco Giants in four games. On October 22, 2016, the Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers to win the NLCS. This was their first National League pennant since 1945. Their long streak of not winning a pennant was finally over. Then, they faced the Cleveland Indians in the World Series. In a thrilling Game 7, the Cubs won the World Series. This was their first World Series title in 108 years!
Later Seasons with the Cubs (2017–2019)
On May 16, 2017, Maddon won his 1,000th game as a manager. The Cubs won their division again in 2017. They beat the Washington Nationals in the first round of the playoffs. However, they lost to the Dodgers in the NLCS.
In 2018, the Cubs won 95 games. They finished second in their division and lost a Wild Card game. In 2019, the Cubs did not make the playoffs. On September 29, Maddon and the Cubs announced that his contract would not be renewed. He finished his time with the Cubs with 471 wins and 339 losses.
Return to the Los Angeles Angels (2020–2022)
On October 16, 2019, Maddon returned to manage the Los Angeles Angels. He signed a three-year deal.
Shortened Season (2020)
The 2020 season was shorter due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Angels finished in fourth place in their division and missed the playoffs.
Full Season and Shohei Ohtani (2021)
In 2021, Maddon managed his first full 162-game season with the Angels. He allowed star player Shohei Ohtani to both hit and pitch. This was a big deal in baseball. Maddon even let Ohtani bat for himself as a starting pitcher, which was very rare. The Angels finished the 2021 season in fourth place and missed the playoffs.
Final Season with the Angels (2022)
In 2022, Maddon made a unique decision in a game against the Texas Rangers. He intentionally walked a batter with the bases loaded. This meant the batter got to first base, and a run scored. This was a very unusual move, especially since the Angels were already losing. However, the Angels ended up winning that game!
On June 7, 2022, Maddon was fired by the Angels. The team was on a 12-game losing streak at the time.
Uniform Number
Joe Maddon wears the unusual uniform number 70. He once said that his favorite number was 20. But he lost that number when another player joined the Angels. So, he was given number 70 and decided to keep it forever. This way, his number would never be taken from him again.
Charity Work
Maddon has a charity called the Respect 90 Foundation. This organization helps young people in inner cities. They host a charity golf tournament every year in his hometown. They also hold a charity boxing event in Chicago.
Personal Life
Joe Maddon has two children from a previous marriage. He also has five grandchildren. He married his second wife in 2008.
Images for kids
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Maddon in 2013.
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