Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1994
- Class:
- 1966
Ken Tatum lettered in baseball for the Bulldogs from 1964-66. A starting pitcher for the Bulldogs, Tatum put up a 28-9 career record. He earned All-SEC honors in 1965 and 1966, leading the conference in ERA in 1966 and tallied a 10-2 record in his senior season. Tatum was a major part of the Bulldog’s SEC title winning teams in both seasons in which he earned All-SEC honors.
Tatum was drafted in the second round of the 1966 MLB draft by the California Angels. He made his Major League debut on May 28, 1969. The Angels turned Tatum into a reliever over his two seasons in Anaheim leading to him only starting in two games across his six-year career. He finished his outstanding rookie season with a 7-2 record, 22 saves and a 1.36 ERA in 45 appearances. Tatum finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting and received votes for the Most Valuable Player award, both of which were a feat that few relieving pitchers had ever accomplished at the time.
After his two-year stint with the California Angels, Tatum spent the remaining four years of his career with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox. He finished his career with a 2.93 ERA and 52 career saves. Considered to be a Red Sox great, Tatum was invited to the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park in 2012.
