Meet Bill Madlock

BILL MADLOCK

"Mad Dog"

Positions: Third Baseman and Second Baseman

Full Name: Bill Madlock Jr.

Bats: Right - Throws: Right

Born: January 12, 1951, in Memphis, Tennessee

Organizations: Pittsburgh Pirates (7), Chicago Cubs (3), San Francisco Giants (3), Los Angeles Dodgers (3), Detroit Tigers (1), Texas Rangers (1)

BILL MADLOCK'S WALL OF GLORY

HONORS AND AWARDS

• All-Star: 3 (1975, 1981, 1983)
• All-Star Game MVP: 1 (1975)
• World Series Rings: 1 (1979)

BATTING

• Batting Average: 4 (1975, 1976, 1981, 1983)

WHO?

"The Mad Dog" is an American former professional baseball player, who played mainly as third baseman from 1973 to 1987. Madlock is notable for winning the National League batting title four times. Since 1970 only Tony Gwynn has won more NL batting crowns (8). He held the record of 4 batting titles by a third baseman until it was eclipsed by Wade Boggs (1988)

Bill Madlock debuted at the end of the 1973 season with the Texas Rangers. Despite batting .351 in 21 games, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs with OF Vic Harris for future HOF SP Fergie Jenkins. With the Midwest team "Mad Dog" hit above .300 each year (from 1974 to 1976) and won his first two batting titles (.354 in 1975, and .339 in 1976).

After Madlock requested a rise in his salary to 200.000 dollars, he was traded to the San Francisco Giants, in a transaction that sent OF Bobby Murcer to Chicago. The Giants had already a Third Baseman, Darrell Evans, so they moved Mad Dog to second base, He played there for 2 years and a half, before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he won the World Series in 1979. While with the Bucs (1979-1985), Madlock won his last 2 batting championships (.341 in 1981, and .323 in 1983). He later played with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Detroit Tigers. 

Bill Madlock played for 15 seasons in MLB, ending his career with a .305 AVG, 2008 hits, 163 HR, 860 RBIs, and 174 SB. 

MY COMMENT:

"Mad Dog"

Bill Madlock won his nickname not just because it resembled his last name. He had a fiery temper that made him being involved in several incidents, that included 18 game ejections (and he was also ejected 3 times during his two years as a Detroit Tigers coach, in 2000 and 2001).

Despite his famous temper, Madlock was a great hitter, with  9 seasons batting above .300, conquering 4 batting titles, and almost a fifth one (second to Al Oliver in 1982). His exciting run for the 1976 batting championship is well-remembered: it was decided in the last game of the season when Madlock got 4 singles and raised his AVG from .333 to .339 while facing the Montreal Expos. In the meanwhile the Cincinnati Reds OF Ken Griffey Sr. was relegated to the second place going 0-for-2 against the Atlanta Braves, lowering his AVG to .336. Epic!

He also was a decent defender, and has some speed, too (32 SB in 1979 was his career-high)

He is the only player with 4 batting crowns that is not in the Hall of Fame.

BEST FIVE SEASONS

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos
1975	24	CHC	NL	130	514	77	182	29	7	7	64	9	42	34	.354	.402	.479	.881	*5
1976	25	CHC	NL	142	514	68	174	36	1	15	84	15	56	27	.339	.412	.500	.912	*5
1979	28	TOT*	NL	154	560	85	167	26	5	14	85	32	52	41	.298	.355	.438	.792	54/3
1982	31	PIT	NL	154	568	92	181	33	3	19	95	18	48	39	.319	.368	.488	.856	*5/3

*Played with the San Francisco Giants and the Pittsburgh Pirates
Note: If you are using a cell phone to look at this table, put it horizontally for a better experience
What do you think? Do you think that Mad Dog is underrated? Share your thoughts!