The Atlanta Braves will induct former Braves pitcher Tim Hudson and longtime Braves broadcaster Joe Simpson into the Braves Hall of Fame on Saturday, January 27 at the Coca-Cola Roxy in The Battery Atlanta. They will become the 32nd and 33rd members of the Braves Hall of Fame, which began in 1999.
Hudson enjoyed a 17-year Major League career in which he won 222 games and posted a 3.49 ERA with 2,080 strikeouts. He was acquired by Atlanta from the Oakland Athletics in a December 2004 trade. Over his nine seasons in a Braves uniform, from 2005-13, he earned 113 wins and a 3.56 ERA in 244 games.
Hudson's .611 winning percentage with the Braves ranks third in Atlanta history. He ranks fifth in Atlanta history in wins, ERA, games started (243), strikeouts (997) and innings pitched (1,573). Hudson led the Braves in wins four times and tied for the lead once and he recorded double-digit victory totals seven times as a Brave.
Hudson missed most of the 2009 season due to "Tommy John" surgery, but he returned in 2010 to post a 17-9 record with a 2.83 ERA in 34 games. He was named to the National League All-Star team that season and he finished fourth in N.L. Cy Young Award voting. He was also named the N.L. Comeback Player of the Year and the winner of the annual Hutch Award.
Hudson is one of only 21 pitchers in Major League history to win at least 200 games, post 2,000 strikeouts and have a .600-or-higher career winning percentage. He made a total of four All-Star squads in his career and ranked in the top six of Cy Young voting four times in his career.
He was a seven-time Braves Roberto Clemente Award nominee and with his wife Kim founded the Hudson Family Foundation, which is committed to making a positive and long-lasting impact in the lives of children who have a genuine need for assistance with regard to a specific physical, emotional or financial circumstance.
In March, Simpson will begin his 27th season as a Braves broadcaster, his 12th calling games on FOX Sports South and FOX Sports Southeast. He also calls games for Turner Sports during the MLB Playoffs.
He played professionally for 11 seasons, beginning in 1973 when he was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third round and then went on to play for the Seattle Mariners, Kansas City Royals and California Angels. He retired following the 1984 season.
Simpson worked as an analyst on Seattle Mariners telecasts for five years before joining Turner Sports in 1992, where he called games with fellow Braves Hall of Fame members Skip Caray, Pete Van Wieren and Don Sutton.
He was named "Georgia Sports Broadcaster of the Year" in 1995.
Hudson and Simpson will join Hank Aaron, Bill Bartholomay, Lew Burdette, Skip Caray, Bobby Cox, Del Crandall, Ralph Garr, Tom Glavine, Tommy Holmes, Ernie Johnson, Andruw Jones, Chipper Jones, David Justice, Herman Long, Javy Lopez, Bill Lucas, Greg Maddux, Rabbit Maranville, Eddie Mathews, Dale Murphy, Kid Nichols, Phil Niekro, Dave Pursley, John Sain, John Schuerholz, John Smoltz, Paul Snyder, Warren Spahn, Don Sutton, Ted Turner, and Pete Van Wieren in the Braves Hall of Fame.
Tickets to the Braves Hall of Fame Induction Gala can be purchased at www.braves.com/gala. The Gala is part of the Braves Chop Fest Weekend, Saturday, January 27 and Sunday, January 28 where a wide array of activities with current and former players will include autograph sessions, panel discussions, photo opportunities, clinics, etc. For more information on Chop Fest visit www.braves.com/chopfest.