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Tim Hudson Announces Retirement

At the end of the season San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Hudson will retire after a 17-year career. Hudson described the decision as the "right thing to do."

"I feel like it's the right thing to do, the right time for my family," Hudson said of retirement. "I played this game a lot longer than I thought I would and had a long career. Nights like tonight are very gratifying to go out there in this stage in my career to give my team a chance to win."

Hudson is one of 55 pitchers ever to have 200 wins and 2,000 strikeouts. Sandy Koufax and Dwight Gooden aren't on that list.

Hudson, a Columbus Georgia native made his name in the early 2000's as a member of the three headed pitching monster in Oakland, along with Barry Zito and Mark Mulder.

In 2000 Tim Hudson finished with a 20-6 record, got his first All-Star nomination and finished second in the CY Young voting behind a Pedro Martinez season that may be the greatest season of all time. (Seriously, go look at how dominant Pedro was at that time. It's unbelievable.)

Then, in 2001 Mulder got involved, finishing second in the AL CY Young voting and could have easily finished first if the winner (Roger Clemens) didn't pitch in New York at the time.

Finally, in 2002 the Oakland aces broke through as Barry Zito finished first in the AL CY Young voting with a 23-5 record and a 2.75 ERA in front of Pedro who, again, was as dominant as anyone you'll ever see.

That 2000 A's team started the run of four straight years in the playoffs with a payroll of a little over $30 million. (26th out of 30 teams in MLB) That A's team lost to a Yankee team that was at the end of a run of four World Series in five years and had a payroll three times as much as Oakland's of over $92 million.

By the way Hudson, when he was second in the AL Cy Young voting was making only $250,000 a year. During Hudson's career with Oakland he won over 70% of his games and a second All-Star nod in 2004.

After six years with the A's Hudson was traded to the Atlanta Braves. In his time with Atlanta, Hudson won 133 games, making an All-Star game and winning the NL Comeback Player of the Year award in 2010 after coming back from Tommy John surgery.

On November 18, 2013 Hudson signed a two-year $23 million deal with the Giants. As a Giant he set a franchise record by not issuing a walk for 30 2/3 innings and also became the oldest pitcher to start a Game 7 of the World Series. Although he wasn't the best in that game he made his fourth All-Star team before finally winning a ring thanks to the relief pitching of Madison Bumgarner.

Hudson may not be a Hall of Famer but that doesn't mean he was a valuable piece for every team he played with for nearly two decades.

 

Giants Celebration Video Tim Hudson by KRON 4 on YouTube

 

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