Maddux superfans with daughter named after ace meet the legend himself
ATLANTA – When Jarrod Brown got an inkling that Greg Maddux might be at some of the All-Star festivities this weekend in Atlanta, he rushed to see what events he could take his family to in hopes of seeing the Hall of Fame pitcher in person.
Brown and his wife, Erin, are Atlanta natives and huge Braves fans. They met playing softball. They go to Braves games all the time. Maddux is Erin’s all-time favorite player – so much that when Jarrod and Erin welcomed their daughter to the world nine years ago, they named her Maddux. (Erin’s choice, Jarrod explained, and who was he to argue?)
So when Jarrod noticed that Greg Maddux would make an appearance Saturday morning at the Capital One All-Star Village, the very first event held after the village’s grand opening, he wanted to make sure they were there.
Brown just had to figure out how to get a Capital One card, because cardholders get exclusive early access to the All-Star Village from 9-10 a.m., Saturday through Tuesday.
“Opened an account and got a credit card so we could get in for the early access,” Brown said. “It was like a two-hour process of signing up, getting the tickets, talking to customer service. Worth it, though. It’s been crazy.”
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Worth it for the Brown family because not only did they get to meet Maddux, but they were also surprised with tickets to Monday’s Home Run Derby and Tuesday’s All-Star Game at Truist Park.
MLB officials saw the Brown family in line Saturday and asked if they wanted to be part of the grand opening. It felt almost scripted when they learned that the 9-year-old Maddux was named after the four-time Cy Young winner.
She got to be part of the opening, take photos with Greg Maddux and even got an autographed ball.
“I was really excited,” Maddux Brown said, shyly but with a big grin on her face.
The excitement was palpable from all four Brown family members, even 7-year-old Myles, who was eager to meet Blooper and the rest of the mascots throughout the All-Star Village on Saturday.