John Smoltz took the podium in Cooperstown, N.Y., Sunday full of gratitude for the people who helped him accomplish something he never dreamed of: an induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
"This is truly a treat," Smoltz said as he began his speech that was complete with fun stories from his life and baseball career.
BASEBALL HALL OF FAME: Most memorable moments in John Smoltz's career
After thanking his wife and children, Smoltz directed his attention to his parents, who originally wanted him to be an accordion player.
"You didn't know much about sports or baseball," he said. "You pretty much knew about what you knew, and that was playing the accordion because that's how you guys met. You were accordion teachers, and I'm thankful for the opportunity that you started me in my quest to be the next Lawrence Welk at the age of 4.
"I played until the age of 7 and then I hit you with the ultimate whopper of all whoppers. At the age of 7 I said, 'I know what I'm gonna be in life and I'm gonna be a Major League Baseball player.' You loved me enough to give me room to go after my dream."
After thanking fellow Hall of Famer and former Braves manager Bobby Cox, who traded for him in 1987, Smoltz humorously donned a black wig for part of his speech, explaining that it was so former teammate Greg Maddux couldn't tease him for being bald. He then offered thanks to his catchers, including Greg Olson, noting how difficult he was to catch at times.
Smoltz, the first pitcher in the Hall of Fame to have returned from Tommy John surgery, has been spoken out about the dangers of the surgery and had an important message for parents of aspiring baseball players.
"I've been given the opportunity as one of the only players, the only one right now, to be inducted in the Hall of Fame with Tommy John surgery," Smoltz said. "It's an epidemic. It's something that is affecting our game. It's something that I thought would cost me my career.
"I want to encourage the families and parents that are out there to understand that this is not normal to have a surgery at 14 and 15 years old. That you have time. That baseball is not a year-round sport. That you have an opportunity to be athletic and play other sports. Don't let the institutions that are out there running before you guaranteeing scholarship dollars and signing bonuses that this is the way."
Following a 21-year career, 20 with the Braves and one split between the Red Sox and Cardinals, Smoltz retired with a 213-155 record with 154 saves and 3,084 strikeouts. The eight-time All-Star and 1996 NL Cy Young winner led the NL in wins and strikeouts twice and was the only Braves player to be a member of the team for the entirety of Atlanta's 14 straight NL East titles from 1991-2005. Smoltz is the only pitcher in MLB history with at least 200 wins and 100 saves.