Editing Greg Maddux (section)

==Early life==
Maddux was born in [[San Angelo, Texas]], and spent much of his childhood in [[Madrid]], Spain, where the [[United States Air Force]] stationed his father.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2003/feb/06/hall-of-a-career/ |title=Hall of a career |work=[[Las Vegas Sun]] |date=2003-02-06 |accessdate=2022-08-07 }}</ref> His father exposed him to baseball at an early age. Upon his return to [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], Nevada, Maddux and his brother [[Mike Maddux|Mike]], who became a pro player himself, trained under the supervision of Ralph Meder, a former scout from the majors.<ref name="Meder1">{{cite news |last=Graney |first=Ed |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/sports-columns/ed-graney/peers-explain-what-made-maddux-smartest-pitcher-ever/ |title=Peers explain what made Maddux smartest pitcher ever |work=[[Las Vegas Review-Journal]] |date=2014-07-27 |accessdate=2022-08-07 }}</ref> Meder preached the value of movement and location above velocity, and advised throwing softer when in a jam instead of harder. Maddux would later say, "I believed it. I don't know why. I just did."<ref name="meder2">{{cite news |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/straight-pitch-maddux-takes-time-to-thank-baseball-camp-teacher/ |title=Straight pitch: Maddux takes time to thank baseball camp teacher |work=[[Las Vegas Review-Journal]] |date=2008-12-09 |accessdate=2022-08-07 }}</ref>

Though Meder died before Maddux graduated from [[Valley High School (Nevada)|Valley High School]] in Las Vegas in 1984, he instilled a firm foundation that would anchor Maddux's future career.<ref name="meder2"/> At Valley High, he was teammates on the school's baseball team with future Major League pitcher [[Steve Chitren]] and helped lead the school to a state championship as a junior in 1983.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Miech |first1=Rob |title=Phenom: The Making of Bryce Harper |date=12 March 2013 |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=978-1-250-03442-7 |page=24 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EDnDiGxaOoIC&pg=PA24 |access-date=30 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref> While in Las Vegas, he played [[American Legion Baseball]] with Post 8. He was named the organization's Graduate of the Year in 1984.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legion.org/baseball/alumni/greg-maddux|title=Greg Maddux - American Legion Baseball Alumni - The American Legion|website=www.legion.org}}</ref>

His brother, Mike, was drafted in [[1982 Major League Baseball draft|1982]]. When scouts went to observe the elder Maddux, their father, Dave, told them, "You will be back later for the little one."<ref name=KeownESPN>{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/espnmag/story?id=3336514 |title=HOW IN THE WORLD DID THIS GUY WIN 347 GAMES? |author=Tim Keown |publisher=ESPN |access-date=October 19, 2012}}</ref> Some baseball scouts were unimpressed by Maddux's skinny build, but [[Chicago Cubs]] scout Doug Mapson saw past the physique. Mapson wrote a glowing review that read in part, "I really believe this boy would be the number one player in the country if only he looked a bit more physical."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/03/11/cool-greg-madduxs-high-school-scouting-report/ |title=Cool: Greg Maddux's high school scouting report |date=March 11, 2011 |author=Craig Calcaterra |publisher=NBC Sports |access-date=October 19, 2012}}</ref>