Bill Madlock was born on December 1, 1951, in Tennessee. He grew up in Decatur, Illinois, where he attended Eisenhower High School. Madlock was a talented athlete, excelling in basketball, football, and baseball during his high school years.
Madlock was drafted by the Washington Senators in 1969 but chose to attend Southeastern Oklahoma State University instead. He was later selected by the Texas Rangers in the 5th round of the 1970 amateur draft and made his Major League debut in 1973.
In 1974, Madlock was traded to the Chicago Cubs, where he replaced the legendary Ron Santo at third base. He quickly became a fan favorite in Chicago and went on to win two National League batting titles with the Cubs in 1975 and 1976.
In 1979, Madlock was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he helped lead the team to a World Series Championship that same year. He would go on to win two more batting titles with the Pirates in 1981 and 1983 before finishing his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1987.
Madlock was a four-time National League batting champion, finishing his career with a .305 batting average. He became the first player in MLB history to win multiple batting titles with two different teams. Madlock was known for his consistent hitting and solid defense at third base.
Madlock married his wife Cindy and together they had four children named Jeremy, Sara, Stephen, and Douglas. He was known for his dedication to his family and community, often participating in charity events and youth sports programs.
Bill Madlock will always be remembered as one of the greatest hitters in Major League Baseball history. His accomplishments on the field and his contributions to the teams he played for have solidified his place in baseball history.
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