In 1976, Maddox had his best year as a hitter, with a .330 batting average, and helped the Phillies win the National League East, their first postseason berth since the "Whiz Kids" in the 1950 World Series. But the team lost three consecutive National League Championship Series, including in 1978 against the Los Angeles Dodgers as Maddox made two errors in Game Four. With the score tied in the bottom of the tenth inning, two out, and Ron Cey on first, Maddox misplayed Dusty Baker's fly ball. He started back on the ball, then charged forward, and the ball glanced off his glove. Bill Russell then followed with a single to center. Maddox charged, but the ball skipped past him; had he fielded the ball cleanly, he could have thrown Cey (who was not known for his baserunning speed) out at the plate. Instead, Cey scored the winning run to put the Dodgers in the World Series.