Legend vs. Legend

CHICAGO – Of the thousands of pitchers who have appeared in a major league game, only 22 have achieved the grand milestone of 300 victories.

Two of those immortals will go head-to-head tonight in Houston when the Cubs’ Greg Maddux is to face Houston’s Roger Clemens in the first meeting of 300-game winners in the National League in 113 years.

They seem to be the Yin and Yang of pitchers, with Clemens (329 victories) relying on his power arm and Maddux (305) on his control and guile. But, as Maddux insists, they are cut from the same cloth.

“I think we do everything exactly the same,” Maddux said. “He just does it at faster speeds. You look at me like I’m crazy, but I’m telling you the truth.

“He does it just a little bit better and a little bit longer.”

There were four matchups of 300-game winners in the American League from June 28, 1986, to Aug. 4, 1987, all involving California’s Don Sutton, who had two starts against Phil Niekro and one apiece against Tom Seaver and Steve Carlton.

The last time two N.L. pitchers with 300 or more victories faced each other was Philadelphia’s Tim O’Keefe against St. Louis’ Jim “Pud” Galvin on July 21, 1892.

Clemens and Maddux have hooked up once before, in June 2000 when Clemens was with the New York Yankees and Maddux was in Atlanta.

“We both gave it up,” Maddux said. “I gave it up more than he did, though.”

The Braves won the game 11-7, with reliever Mike Remlinger notching the victory.

Clemens and Maddux may share equal billing on any marquee, but they do have diverse personalities, which may be why Clemens is considered the bigger star. He even has a clause in his contract which allows him to be away from the Astros on days he’s not pitching, giving him an opportunity to watch his sons play baseball.

“Good for him,” Maddux said.

Asked if he would like to have similar latitude, Maddux replied: “I’m not in his situation. I’m not in a situation of even considering doing something like that. More power to him, man. If anybody has earned the right to do something like that, it’s him. He has more than paid his dues.”

Maddux doesn’t care if he resides in Clemens’ shadow or not. He insists they both share the same basic approach to their jobs.

“I think we do it the same way,” Maddux said. “I think we should all go out on the fifth day and pitch when it’s our turn to pitch. And if you do it long enough, stuff is going to start to add up.”