NEW YORK -- Perhaps there have never been more fitting recipients of the Baseball Writers' Association of America's Willie, Mickey and the Duke Award, given to people linked together in baseball history, than this year's honorees Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder and Barry Zito. The trio will be forever tied together from their days in Oakland, with the mention of one name usually followed by the other two.
One of baseball's greatest homegrown starting pitching troikas was presented with the award on Saturday night at a private ceremony for the honorees and their families at the New York Midtown Hilton, after a major snowstorm forced the cancellation of the BBWAA's annual dinner to the public.