Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz headed back to his roots this week. He was back in his hometown of Lansing, Michigan on Monday to speak at an event for Michigan State student-athletes.  

Smoltz was the keynote speaker at the Spartan Academic Excellence Gala.  He planned on attending MSU before being drafted out of high school by the Detroit Tigers.

Nearly 350 Spartan athletes were honored for their achievements in the classroom.  Most impressively, they celebrated Michigan State soccer player Sarah Kovan became the school's 17th Rhodes Scholar.  

Smoltz had one of the most successful and versatile careers of any pitcher in recent memory.  He won 213 games and also collected 154 saves. 

An eight-time All-Star with the Atlanta Braves, Smoltz is also known as one of the greatest postseason pitchers ever.  He went 15-4 with a 2.67 ERA in 41 playoff games.  

Last year, Smoltz was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot.  He currently teams with Joe Buck in the lead broadcast booth for Fox's MLB coverage. 

To inquire about John Smoltz's speaking fee and appearance cost, contact the agents at Athlete Speakers by calling us at 800-916-6008 or by Starting Your Booking Request Now.

John Smoltz Talks About Being Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame: