Braves legend Chipper Jones once called Greg Maddux a 'dirtbag' and 'one of the grossest guys' due to his infamous pranks on teammates
Back in 2008, Atlanta Braves legend Chipper Jones opened up about his disgust for the type of pranks former teammate Greg Maddux played on the team. In an article for MLB.com, Jones termed Maddux a 'dirtbag' and 'one of the grossest guys' he ever had to share a locker room with.
Both Chipper Jones and Greg Maddux are Atlanta Braves legends. Jones spent all of his 18 seasons in the MLB in Atlanta, becoming an eight-time All-Star and winning the 1999 National League MVP. Maddux, on the other hand, played for Atlanta for 10 years of his illustrious 23-year career. Both players' only World Series win came in 1995 with the Braves.
Maddux had a history of going after his teammates. As much as he was dedicated and focused on the pitch, he was the complete opposite in the clubhouse. His prank ideas were apparently gross and of the worst kind.
"He's the same dirtbag he's always been," Jones said. "He's one of the grossest guys I've ever been around in my life. That was part of his charm. That’s how he kept the clubhouse mood light. That’s how he entertained himself."
Maddux might have been a prankster, but there have been plenty of instances where his teammates and coaches have lauded him for being the ultimate friend. While he was at the Cubs, General Manager Jim Hendry noticed something unique about him:
"He was a great teammate and a very caring guy. He was so helpful to so many players but he would never take credit for helping anybody. He’s one of those guys all the other players love and respect, and they always retell stories about things he might be accused of in the locker room. He’s one of a kind."
Chipper Jones and Greg Maddux drew the same ballot percentage for their Hall of Fame inductions
Chipper Jones and Greg Maddux were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014 and 2018, respectively. Both players were inducted in their first year of eligibility five years after retirement. A fun fact is that both of them received the same percentage of votes (97.2%).
Chipper Jones currently serves as a part-time hitting coach with the Atlanta Braves. Greg Maddux is still involved with baseball, taking up the role of an assistant coach for the 2023 Spring Training season for the Texas Rangers, where his brother Mike Maddux is the pitching coach.