Las Vegas, NV--

If you ever had the chance to see Greg Maddux pitch in his storied career it is easy to say he is one of the best players to ever hit the diamond. He is also one of the nicest guys off the field as evidenced by his humble comments at the official retirement press conference today at the MLB Baseball Winter Meetings.

"I really just came out here today to say thank you," he said in the main ballroom of Bellagio hotel. "I appreciate everything this game has given me. It's going to be hard to walk away obviously, but it's time. I have a family now that I need to spend some more time with. I still think I can play the game, but not as well as I would like to, so it's time to say goodbye."

Maddux who has called Las Vegas his home, met his wife in Las Vegas could not find a better place to say goodbye to a game he truly loved for 23 years. His career tallied 355 wins , 4 Cy Young 23 major league seasons.

An eight-time All-Star, Maddux won 13 or more games in 20 straight seasons a streak that ended this year. He spent his final season with the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers, finishing 355-227. His remarkable resume includes a record 18 Gold Gloves, including one this year.

Maddux broke into the majors in 1986 with the Cubs and pitched for Chicago again from 2004-06. The right-hander helped the Braves win the 1995 World Series and went 8-13 with a 4.22 ERA during his final season.

As he took a walk down the hotel corridor, Maddux took the time to show what a true player he really by signing autographs for nearly everyone who wanted them.

"I think I decided actually two years ago, but I ended up playing one more year anyway," he said. "But I pretty much knew last spring training. I had kind of told some teammates and some people in baseball that this was going to be my last year. I don't think they really believed me, but I think I was telling the truth that time."