Posted by Ed on August 7, 2007, 12:00 am But 17 years later, the 41-year-old former Billerica High star became only the 23rd pitcher and just the fifth lefthander to become a 300-game winner when he and the New York Mets beat the Chicago Cubs 8-3 last night in front of a capacity crowd of 41,599 and a nationally televised game at Wrigley Field. "I had no reason to (think about winning 300). My first (full) season I lost 17 games," Glavine told The Sun in an interview earlier this season. "As a young player you're just trying to stay in the big leagues as long as you can. "The average length of a player's career is still only about four years, so my goal was to do that and hopefully stay around a little longer." He's stayed around long enough to earn $110 million and the mantle as one of the greatest and most durable lefthanded pitchers of all time. Warren Spahn (363), Steve Carlton (329), and Eddie Plank (326) are the only southpaws to have won more games in the majors than Glavine. Lefty Grove won exactly 300 games. Cy Young is the all-time winningest pitcher with 511 victories. With his parents, Fred and Millie, his wife Christine and his four children, and other relatives and close friends watching from the stands, Glavine pitched 6 1/3 innings last night against the Cubs, allowing six hits and two runs. He walked one and struck out one. Glavine also ignited the Mets' offense by singling home Lastings Milledge with the first run of the game in the second inning. Glavine, one of the best-hitting pitchers in baseball, is batting .244 this season. Five relievers followed Glavine to the mound before the Billy Wagner nailed down the historic victory. It was his second try at 300 following his 299th victory. He had a no-decision Tuesday against the Brewers in Milwaukee when the Mets bullpen couldn't protect a 2-1 lead for him. "I think the feeling right now is probably relief," Glavine said. "At some point in time -- I don't know when -- the historic side of it will sink in. "I know the company I'm in, and I'm as proud as can be to be in that company." Baseball commissioner Bud Selig, who was in San Diego to watch San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds attempt to set the all-time home-run record, phoned Glavine to congratulate him after his feat. Unless Randy Johnson, who has 284 victories, comes back from back surgery at age 44 to pitch again, Glavine may be the last to join the 300-victory circle. No other active pitcher is remotely close. "I guess it would be pretty cool to be the last one to do something in the history of the game," Glavine replied. After the 1990 season, Glavine's major-league record with the Atlanta Braves was an undistinguished 33-41. But he began his march toward Cooperstown and the National Baseball Hall of Fame the following summer with the first of three straight 20-win seasons and the first of his two Cy Young Awards. Glavine also had 20-win seasons in 1998 and 2000. He notched his 100th victory in 1994 and his 200th in 2000. "I didn't first start thinking about 300 until I got my 200th win," he said in that March interview. "Then I started doing the math, looked at my age (34), and thought if I stayed healthy I might have a chance. "But I didn't start thinking about seriously until I got to 250." His lifetime record stands at 300-197, and he is tied with Grove and Early Wynn for 22nd on the all-time victories list.
24.34.144.49
Glavine hurls his way into baseball history
By Chaz Scoggins, chaz@lowellsun.com
Lowell Sun
Article Last Updated:08/06/2007 01:50:04 PM EDT
LOWELL -- If you had asked Tom Glavine back in 1990 about his chances of winning 300 games in the major leagues, he undoubtedly would have thought the question was ludicrous. By then it had taken him three full seasons and part of a fourth just to win 30 and get to 10 percent of that hallowed total, and nobody would have even dreamed of asking such a question.
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