Star pitcher Maddux bids farewell

Right-hander Maddux was nicknamed 'Mad Dog' for his competitive nature

Greg Maddux, one of baseball's all-time pitching greats, has ended his career.

He retires eighth on Major League Baseball's win list after 23 seasons with the Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, LA Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

"I appreciate everything the game has given me. It's going to be hard to walk away, but it's time," said Maddux, 42.

"I have a family and I need to spend more time with them. I still think I can play the game, but not as well as I want, so it's time to say goodbye."

Maddux has more wins than any living pitcher and ranks eighth on the all-time list with 355 victories - one more than Roger Clemens.

Texas-born Maddux captured his only World Series crown in 1995 with the Braves.

Maddux, who threw 35 shutouts and 109 complete games with a 3.16 earned-run average, won four consecutive Cy Young awards with Atlanta from 1992 through to 1995.

The future Hall of Famer was also known for his fielding, winning a record 18 Gold Glove awards.

606: DEBATE Where do you rate Maddux among MLB's pitching greats? BBC Sport's Mark Barden

In 2007, Maddux went 14-11 with San Diego and the Padres chose to keep him for the 2008 campaign.

But after a 6-9 showing in 26 starts, the Padres traded Maddux to the Dodgers for the final weeks of the season.

Working mainly in the bullpen for the National League West division winners, Maddux went 2-4 and surrendered two runs in four innings during the play-offs.

Maddux said he told his team-mates before the start of the season that it would be his last, but chose not to make it public to avoid a farewell tour atmosphere.

"I don't think they believed me, but I was telling the truth," he said. "I didn't want a dog-and-pony show in the last couple of months of the season."