Bill Madlock

Bill Madlock
Birthdate 1/12/1951
Death Date
Debut Year 1973
Year of Induction
Teams Cubs, Dodgers, Giants, Pirates, Rangers, Tigers
Positions First Base, Second Base, Third Base

On the last day of the 1976 season Bill Madlock went 4-for-4 to raise his average from .333 to .339 and edge Ken Griffey Sr. for the batting crown.

 

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Madlock became an everyday player after his trade to the Cubs for Fergie Jenkins

Madlock became an everyday player after his trade to the Cubs for Fergie Jenkins

Bill Madlock started his big league career with the Texas Rangers as a 22-year old in 1973. In 21 games as a September call up, he hit .351. In October that year the Rangers traded him to the Cubs for Fergie Jenkins. As Chicago’s everyday third baseman, Madlock hit .313 in ’74 and finish
In 1975 Bill Madlock was the star among stars as the All Star Game Most Valuable Player

In 1975 Bill Madlock was the star among stars as the All Star Game Most Valuable Player

Bill Madlock had a year to remember in 1975. Just 24 years old coming into the season, he was selected to his first All Star Game. With a roster littered with Hall of Fame players, the Cubs third baseman made the most of his chance. The NL scored first on back-to-back homers by Dodgers Steve Garvey
Bill Madlock is the only four-time batting champ without a plaque in Cooperstown

Bill Madlock is the only four-time batting champ without a plaque in Cooperstown

Bill Madlock enjoyed a 15-year big league career, winning four batting titles and appearing in three all star games. There are many interesting footnotes to the batting championships. Madlock’s four crowns were the most by a third baseman until Wade Boggs won his fifth title in 1988. Madlock i
A .305 lifetime hitter, Bill Madlock finished his career with 2,008 hits and 348 doubles

A .305 lifetime hitter, Bill Madlock finished his career with 2,008 hits and 348 doubles

Bill Madlock had quite a career. The 15-year MLB veteran won batting titles in 1975, ’76, ’81, and ’83. An infielder who played primarily third and second base, Madlock received support in MVP balloting in six different seasons. By the time he finished, Madlock had 2,008 career hit
Bill Madlock earned a lifetime pass for free admission to any regular-season MLB game

Bill Madlock earned a lifetime pass for free admission to any regular-season MLB game

Earning a lifetime pass to all big league games is a little-known honor for those who played or worked for clubs. Over the years the requirements for receiving the pass has changed over the years. During Bill Madlock’s storied baseball career, once a man played ten years in the bigs he earned

A Story about Bill Madlock

Lifetime passes were the brainchild of NL President Ford Frick; here’s a pictorial history

June 18th, 2016 Leave a comment

Lifetime pass

A newspaper man turned league publicist turned league president came up with a brilliant idea in 1934 — reward longtime National League players with a lifetime pass to all NL games. Senior Circuit owners approved Ford Frick’s proposal at the league meeting in December of ’34. A few months later, Frick sent out ornately decorated paper Lifetime Passes to the NL’s greatest players. He even sent one to Babe Ruth who appeared in all of 28 games for the Boston Braves in 1935. A 21-year veteran of the American League, the Babe was grateful if not surprised when he remarked, “At least the National League has a heart”. An image of the original paper pass presented to Hall of Fame outfielder Sliding Billy Hamilton can be seen below. A similar pass curiously issued to Stan Coveleski, a lifetime American Leaguer is also shown. Perhaps shamed by Ruth’s remarks, the American League joined forces in 1936 to issue a pass to all Major League contests. Players with twenty or more years of service received a solid gold pass. Seventeen men qualified for the true “golden ticket” — Ruth, Fred Clarke, Ty Cobb, Eddie Collins, Bill Dahlen, Harry Davis, Red Faber, Walter Johnson, […]

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3 responses to “Bill Madlock”

  1. rk says:

    if Rolen is in then Madlock should be a sure shot . Disgraceful that he is not in

  2. Reed says:

    Amen to that!

  3. John Summins says:

    A very good player not an all time great. He may have batted for high averages but he never had a 200 hit season, 100 runs batted in or scored a lot of runs

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"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball…"

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