ATLANTA, Ga--Atlanta starter Greg Maddux's lunch box was stolen from his locker Friday, following his perfect game against the New York Mets.  The theft taints the best-pitched game of Maddux's career, going nine innings and notching a personal best sixteen strikeouts. 

 

When questioned by MLB officials, the four-time Cy Young winner refused to point the finger of blame.  Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said of Maddux, "I think he knows more than he's letting on.  We told him he shouldn't be afraid to come forward.  But he just kept telling me he didn't want to be a tattletale, he didn't want to be a tattletale."

 

"Greg's not the kind of guy that would make a big thing out of this," said Braves manager Bobby Cox, "He mostly just keeps to himself, playing Dungeons and Dragons or reading comic books while the other guys work out.  He can be pretty sensitive sometimes."   

 

"It was a just stupid lunchbox anyway," Maddux said at a press conference.  "Whoever wants it can have the stupid thing."

 

Privately, however, the Atlanta ace lamented the loss of his lunch pail and thermos.  "He's been really depressed since it happened," said Atlanta outfielder Chipper Jones.  "He was always talking about how cool that lunch box was, because Spider-Man was fighting the Green Goblin on it."

 

Though Maddux remains tight-lipped about possible culprits, officials do have some leads.  Mets slugger Mo Vaughn was later seen eating from a similar lunch box.  When the aging 1995 MVP was questioned about his Spider-Man thermos, he said, "Oh this?  It's mine, I've had it for a long time."  Vaughn declined to comment on why the thermos had the initials "GM" carved into it.

 

The Mets first baseman had a particularly rough night against Maddux, striking out three times on just ten pitches.  "Hey, even if I did take his dumb lunchbox, what's the little wimp gonna do about it?  I'd give him a knuckle sandwich!" said the 255-pound Vaughn.  He added, "Haw-haw-haw!"

 

Said Chipper Jones, "We all know Mo did it..  He even walked through our locker room, eating one of those homemade Moon Pies that Greg's mom makes for him.  He asked Greg if he wanted a bite, then said 'Sike!'  What a douche bag."

 

Maddux said he plans to buy another lunch box, and a combination lock for his locker.