Behind the Braves Podcast | Tim Hudson

Well, Tim, thank you for joining behind the brave. So great to have you here and have you take some time. We're recording this on father's day. So happy father's day. First of all. Thank you. I appreciate that. And we've actually got, I believe one of your old teammates, Jaya Jurgens. He's in here. His, I believe it's his family that we got in here. Yeah, man. He's, he's got a cute couple of cute girls, one on the way. So I was like, man, good thing those kids look like their mom. Yeah, they're cute as a button. Oh, that's awesome. I love that. Well, uh, you're here for alumni Sunday today. Just first, first question is it, I guess it's gotta be fun just coming back and hanging out for a day, isn't it? It is, it is. You know what, uh, you know, this organization, they do such an incredible job of, of bringing, uh, former players back and staying plugged in the community and staying plugged in with the organization. And, um, you know, it's, it's fun to come back and you see the fans and, and, you know, watch the team play. My kids love it. They love when I come back for alumni weekends and, and catch some games. And, you know, my son might be one of the biggest Braves fans around. So it's, it's always exciting. I know he gets fired up whenever we're able to come back. Yeah. You got three kids. I do. I have two girls, my oldest, and then my son's the youngest. And, um, my oldest is actually graduated from Auburn last year. She's in Nashville going to Belmont, uh, going to be an OT. Oh, that's awesome. Occupational therapist. And then, um, Tess, my middle daughter, she's a sophomore at Auburn and Kade's a freshman at Auburn. So, um, yeah, we're freshly out of, uh, kids from the house. We're empty nesters. So figuring out if me and my wife like each other, um, some days are better than others, you know, sometimes up in there, you know, she's, you know, I'm still trying to find a couple of her hiding places from me, she's got a couple of spots in the house that I hadn't, hadn't figured out where they are yet, but, uh, I'll find them. Oh, I love that. Well, so the kids are getting older, obviously, you know, you've been retired for a little bit. Uh, so what, what are you doing now? What are you doing with your time in retirement? Well, you know, this is actually the first, uh, the first year that I'm actually really, really retired, you know, after, after I retired from playing, uh, you know, I jumped right into, to, you know, my son was 11 and 12, so I got into coaching his little travel ball teams and doing that whole crazy travel ball circuit thing, which is insane. And, um, and then going into his freshman year in high school, um, you know, I got the coach, a pitching coach job at Auburn, so I spent three years there at Auburn and, um, which was awesome. I loved every minute of it. And, uh, you know, but the three years that I was there, um, was during Cade's freshman, sophomore and junior year in high school. And I, you know, I watched him play ball three times. So, you know, during that, that time, you know, I just really felt like I'd, you know, I needed to spend some time with him going into his senior year of high school and, um, you know, decided to shift gears a little bit and I actually coached his high school team last year, his senior year. And it was, um, it was pretty incredible. And it was one of my favorite years in baseball, honestly, just because I knew that it was going to be his last year playing ball and who knows if, you know, where I fit in the coaching scheme anymore. And, um, so we just kind of had a great time with that. And, um, now he's a freshman at Auburn. He joined the fraternity. We both play in a men's league softball league. So it's, things are good. You know, I just try not to pull my hamstring on Tuesday nights. Are y'all on the same team together? Oh, that's awesome. He's way better than I am. He hits the ball further than I do. I'm kind of disappointed. I'm gonna be honest with you. Do you pitch in these games? No, it's only like 40 feet. My reaction time is not good enough to, to get out of the way of a line drive. Um, they put me at third base and first base and I just watch balls go by me. I don't even hardly catch them. Those guys are good. Yeah. Well, you mentioned Auburn and, uh, we've got the college world series going on right now as we're talking. And, uh, I encourage like Braves fans, if you haven't checked out college ball or the college world series, it's so much fun. It's just, it's, it's great. It's very entertaining. And you had a heck of a career at Auburn, obviously SEC player of the year. I mean, this time of year, do you ever think back on those times? Like when we're, I love watching the college world series. Do you think back to those days at Auburn when this is the time of year? Absolutely. You know, it's such a, you know, as a, as a college baseball fan, I mean, it doesn't get any better than the college world series. It was, you know, I went, it was 97 when I played at Auburn and we went to the college world series as a player and it was, you know, seeing how much it's changed from, you know, however many years ago, 30 years ago to now, I mean, it was, it's, it's incredible, you know, uh, fortunately for, you know, my last year at Auburn, we was able to go to the college world series as a, as a coach in 22. So that was, um, that was so fulfilling for me just because, um, you know, I went as a player and then you go as a coach and it is way cooler going as a coach than it is as a player because you just see all the work that the players put in every day, all the hard work day in and day out. And for them to get rewarded to play on the biggest stage in college baseball is, uh, it's incredible. It makes you feel good. It makes you feel like you really done your job as a coach to help the boys be prepared. And, um, you know, I can't wait for Auburn to get back again. I know, I know the sec is, it's a big boy league. It's the best amateur league in base in, in, in college baseball. And, um, you know, it's a lot of fun to watch it now. I know that they're well represented in the college world series with gosh, AMM Florida. Um, you know, it's just, it's, I mean, they're, they're, they're so good. Yeah. That, that league and ACC is really coming on as well. So it's, it's a lot of fun baseball right now to watch. Yeah. It was half and half this year, right? It was four sec, four ACC. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Four and four. And it's, um, you know, Kentucky's been a lot of fun to watch. I mean, they're always, you know, that, that coach up there in Lexington has done such an incredible job with that program. And, you know, Florida has, you know, coming into the year, they were expected to do great things and they stumbled throughout the year and all of a sudden now they caught fire at the right time. A and M is, I mean, they're, uh, they're really, really, really good. They're, they're a ball club. It's, it's awesome to, to watch in Tennessee. I mean, Tennessee's Tennessee. I mean, you know, Tony has done an incredible job. That's, that's a really tough place to go up there and play in Knoxville. And, you know, I saw it firsthand my, my last year at Auburn and it's fun. It's not easy, but I love it. It's, it's, it's, it's, it's a great environment. That's awesome. Well, I was fortunate enough, um, for your Braves hall of fame induction a few years ago. I was here, uh, working was my 10th year at the Brave. So I was working and was, it was one of my favorite nights on the job, just cause it's, you know, I love showing up to the ballpark every day, but kind of those unique nights like that are so cool. So I believe you and Joe Simpson went in together and a lot of fond memories of that Bobby given Joe a hard time for having a, maybe a longer than normal, uh, speech, but, um, when you look back on that, the whole experience of first of all, being told you're going to make the team hall of fame and then actually getting inducted, what was that like for you? You know, it's very surreal. I mean, you know, I mean, I grew up in, you know, just outside of Columbus, Georgia, you know, in small town, Salem, Phoenix city area. And, um, you know, I grew up a brace fan and I grew up, you know, watching Bobby Cox and John Smoltz and Tom Glavine and Greg Maddox and chipper Jones and all these guys, you know, I was a fan way before I was a player. And, um, you know, in 2005, whenever I got traded to Atlanta, I mean, I had to pinch myself. I was like, man, I can't believe I'm actually, I'm looking across the locker room and I'm seeing chipper Jones and Bobby Cox and Andrew Jones and across the way, and I was like, golly, you know, it's like, what a dream come true for, you know, a small town kid from, from Alabama. And, um, and for, you know, I've been able to play, I've played nine years and, and, you know, nine of my, of my years and, you know, quote unquote, the prime of my career was, um, I was very blessed and lucky, uh, very lucky to be as healthy as I was. And, and, um, you know, so, and after it was all said and done after, you know, they thought that I'd done some things cool enough to be inducted into the Braves hall of fame. And it's just, you know, what an honor. I mean, it's, you know, this is, um, you know, this organization is, is top notch and they always do things right. And they always surround themselves with awesome people. And, and, and, um, you know, so for them to think that much of me and my family is, it's very humbling and, and I'm, you know, I'm just happy that I can claim this place as being part of my family and, and, and part of, you know, whatever, you know, uh, chapters of my career that, that I had. And, um, it's great to be back. You mentioned you were a Braves fan growing up. Did you have a favorite player growing up? Who was your guy or the multiple? Yeah. You know, there's always a lot, a lot of players that you pull forward as a kid growing up. I mean, but Dale Murphy was the guy, you know, back when, you know, I was, I was coming up, you know, in the mid, late eighties. And, uh, you know, he was just, he was the guy, you know, and, um, you know, it's funny, we were playing in a golf tournament, a couple, you know, about a month or so ago for the, up here in Atlanta. And, you know, he and I was kind of going around and playing with some folks and I looked at him and I was like, Hey gum, Dale Murphy, you know, he still hits it further than I do. And he's like 25 years older than me, you know, but still hits it a mile. I was like, that's, that's what you get though. When you, you know, when you have a swing like you, well, you're obviously you're in the Braves hall of fame of being a pitcher, but you had a few homers in your career. I remember seeing them. I was, I was, since you brought up that, uh, hitting, I did want to ask when you would hit a home run as a pitcher, what was that like when you come back to the dugout, did you come in kind of looking at like, looking at chipper and those guys going, this ain't hard guys. It ain't hard. It's easy sport. Come on, let's be honest. No, you know what, for a pitcher to hit a home run, that's, that's, that's way cooler than anything you'll do on the mound. I mean, you can strike guys out and whatever, but when you hit a Homer, it's like, dude, you can just, I mean, I milk it as well. I mean, I, I take 30 seconds to run the bases, you know, it's just like, yeah, you know, I don't get to do this a lot, you know, but, um, you know, maybe do a back, you know, a little twirl around first base and we were pimping it before pimping. It was cool, you know, but, uh, a lot of times it's cause I was so hot and tired. I was like, man, I can't run fast. I gotta just take my time. You go, go, go back out and pitch. You got to rest up a little bit, right? But it's, you know, coming in dugout, it's, it's just, it's so cool because the guys are, I mean, it's the dugout is so happy for pitchers when they come in after they had a Homer, cause they know we don't do it a lot. And, um, and it would be the same thing as if, as if a position player had to pitch and all of a sudden he goes up there and strikes out a couple of people. I mean, that's probably a really, really cool moment for a position player if they get out there and are able to strike out a big league hitter. Yeah. So, um, you know, it is, it is fun and, uh, you know, too bad it doesn't happen anymore with the way the rules have changed, but, um, I always enjoyed it. It's fun. It's, it's great to be able to go out there and try to help yourself at the plate when you, as a pitcher, because not many can do it. Yeah. You, I think one of your games where you hit a home run. Where that you won the game. And I think there was the only run score was on your home run. If I remember right. I don't have the box score from it, but then my, my fan mind, that's how it happened, you know, you know, what's incredible. We was playing the blue Jays at Turner field and it was zero to zero in like the eighth inning and I come up with one guy on base and no outs and, um, Freddy Gonzalez was a manager. He, he let me hit for myself. I thought he was gonna either make me bunt or pinch hit for me. And, uh, golly, if he didn't let me swing away and, um, man, he threw a fastball about middle end and I got the head out on it and hit a homer and it was two to nothing. It was, but the coolest part is that swing is actually on a baseball card. Really? I have. Yeah. And the only reason I know it is because. Oh, we got it right here. Yeah. Oh, here we go. Check this out. Right. Huh? Oh, there we go. Yeah. No worries. Awesome. The only reason I know is because you look at the dugout behind me and they're going nuts, right? So it's, it's pretty cool. That is awesome. I love that. Yeah. And actually it was funny because they put the timer on me to run the bases right there. And it's like 30, 30 seconds to run the bases, but it was the eighth inning. I was hot. It was July. I mean, you're going for a complete game. Yeah. You carry and you carry in the whole team and like, come on guys, you want me to throw a shutout and hit a homer. I mean, come on, I hadn't done this since little league. Uh, what was it like? I remember when you, uh, you got injured and then I remember with the Braves and then your first game back. And then ultimately you go on the following year to win comeback player of the year. What was that like? I mean, when in that, that has to, I feel like going through adversity and then come through it on the other side and then to get some, not that you need the recognition for it, but getting some recognition for it. It's gotta be a pretty cool deal. Yeah. You know, especially cause you know, I wasn't a, I mean, I wasn't a young player when that happened either. You know, I was, I was getting up there and age just a little bit. So it wasn't like, you know, you're a young guy and you get heard and you come back and everything's good. You know, when you start getting, you know, on the wrong side of 30, you know, things are, things don't heal up quite as quick as they used to. And, um, so it was, uh, you know, the, you know, the Braves, you know, they have such an unbelievable training staff and doctors with the organization that, you know, it's, they do everything they can to help you come back from injuries. And, um, you know, I was determined to come back as good or better than I was. And, um, you know, fortunately I was able to do that and be healthy. Um, and it's, you know, I think it's just all about how you're wired, you know, uh, you know, between the years. And, you know, I was always a guy that had to kind of prove myself pretty much every level I ever played at, you know, growing up. And, um, it was just another, it was just one of those challenges where it's like, okay, this is the next little hurdle, little adversity you're going through and, you know, how are you going to respond to it? And, um, you know, I think I had just enough, oh, Alabama redneck in me to keep doing it and grinding away. And, and, um, you know, but then also to be able to be recognized around baseball is, is you're not only able to come back and be, you know, get your game back, but also, um, be considered, you know, one of the better ones in that league that year at doing it. So it was pretty cool. That's awesome. So when you, and, uh, when you were traded here to Atlanta 2005, I remember you and your, and your wife, Kim, I mean, it seemed like from day one, you guys became immediately heavily involved in the community and giving back and doing a lot of stuff with your foundation, Brace foundation. And I know the Hudson family foundation has been a big deal for you guys for a lot of years now. So how's that going? You guys still doing some work in, uh, in the Auburn area with the Hudson family foundation? Yeah, it is. It's, it's going great. You know, it's, um, you know, we, I've been very blessed to have a really awesome platform to do some things with through baseball and, you know, coming here to Atlanta and getting plugged in right away when I first got traded here. You know, it was just a great, uh, step to start our own foundation and it's been going strong for gosh, 15 years now. I don't, gosh, we started it in no eight. So I don't know. My math is a little, I'm a little out of the game here. I didn't get, I didn't work at the baseball working on math. Let's see, Carrie, the two, uh, but, uh, but yeah, a long time. Yeah, but you know what? It's, uh, it's been awesome, man. We've been able to really do some cool things with our foundation, helping families that are in need with kids and, you know, going through certain hardships and, um, you know, it's my wife's baby. She's, she's, she really is. Um, it's, and it's both of ours, honestly, but her, she really, um, she has really taken to heart to really help some people in Alabama and Georgia through our foundation. And, you know, I'm just happy to be able to, um, you know, to be blessed enough to have the opportunity to do it. And, um, it's our duty. It's our duty to do stuff whenever you're blessed, uh, in any area, whether it's sports or business or whatever, you know, I think we have a duty to, to give back whenever we can. Amen to that Hudson family foundation.com. Right. Okay. Um, so I have to, before I let you go, I have to admit, this is getting to talk to you just for a little bit as a little bit of a full circle moment for me, so going back to 2012 and again, my math like yours, it was a while ago. It was a long time ago, however many years ago that was. Uh, but at that time I was, uh, just always been a big brace fan was a baseball fan, wasn't working in the game. And I was in between jobs, as they say, but really hungry and desperate to work in sports somehow. So at the time for my own enjoyment and just, just throwing it out there, I was making some Braves, uh, parody songs and throwing them on YouTube. One of them was called teach me how to Huddie. Oh my gosh. So I put that out years ago and I hadn't watched it in forever. It'd been a while. So that was you. That was me. That was, I was that guy and I went and watched it this morning and I was the nostalgia of it. I was like, oh man, I remember being that guy chills. Oh, so I remember I was that guy in my twenties at the time, just desperate to work in sports. And I, I remembered making the song cause it was fun. I remembered, I was glad that people liked it. I'd forgotten to watch it this morning. At the end of the video, I put a message to follow me on Twitter at the very end. I said, also I said, follow Ricky mast on Twitter. Also, he needs a job, please hire him. And I'd forgotten about that. Uh, but now here I am, this is my 10th season working for the Atlanta Braves. Uh, so thank you for just, uh, you know, being out there and, and, uh, I remember at the time, I think you got a kick out of it and so it helped me help me break in. So thank you for providing me that opportunity. That is awesome. You know, I'm glad we finally met. Yeah, it's great to meet you. You know what? It's, it's so funny. My kids love it. They laugh at that. I mean, and honestly, I like it too. It makes me laugh every time I would watch it and see it. But when I was coaching at Auburn, our play, our, our pitching staff found that. Oh no, brother. And next thing I know they're playing it in the pregame batting practice. And like, I mean, I was just like, Oh my Lord. Well, sorry about that. I thought it was hilarious, but there's a couple of those knuckleheads. They just, man, they just wouldn't let me live it down. And I was just like, Oh, I was like, man, it was kind of a big deal back then. Y'all remember that song? Well, I, I, uh, actually shortly after there sometime after that, your wife, uh, messaged me on, on Twitter, I believe it was and said, Hey, want to surprise Tim with, uh, Top Gun day is coming up. And, uh, she said that, you know, Tim always said back in college that he looks like Maverick, Top Gun. Could you just do a little fun song about that? She's so full of it. So you didn't say you look like everybody thinks they look like Tom Cruz in college. I think I look more like goose to be honest. That was when I had hair and thought I was cool. But did you see the new, new top guy? It's good. I liked it. I've seen it a dozen. I thought it was good. Maybe the, maybe I think they're going to make another one. Maybe they can get you in that. Yeah. I thought it was good. Hey, you know what? Maybe I'll be a mechanic, an airplane mechanic in the background or something. Love it. You know, taking the trash out. Uh, well, Tim, thank you so much for taking the time, man. It's always great to have you back here. We look forward to seeing you every time you're here. And, uh, so thank you. Yeah. Thanks for having me guys. I enjoyed it.