Aces: The Last Season on the Mound with the Oakland A's Big Three: Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder, and Barry Zito

by Mychael Urban

San Francisco Chronicle Bestseller

From the speedy rise of the Big Three to their stunning breakup, Urban's book says it all." - John Shea, National baseball Writer, San Francisco Chronicle

During the 2004 season, each of Oakland's Big Three aces had something to prove. Tim Hudson was determined to demonstrate his recovery from a recurring injury. Barry Zito had to show the world that after a ho-hum 2003, his 2002 Cy Young Award was not a fluke. Mark Mulder missed the 203 playoffs entirely with a stress fracture, but the way he saw it, he simply needed to be himself-the natural-born pitcher.

Given unprecedented access to the Big Three , Mychael Urban recreates their tumultuous season through their eyes. he explores the nuts and bolts of major league pitching, examining each player's unique approach to this craft while revealing how three very different personalities cope with the demands, rewards, and challenges of sports stardom.

Now with a new afterword on the 2005 season

Urban traces the fortunes of the Big Three after Hudson was sent to Atlanta and Mulder to St. Louis, trades which held the dramatic promise of them being reunited again-as opponents-in the playoffs.

"Written with great color, style, humor, and grace, Aces takes readers on a captivating ride." - Mike Silver, Sports Illustrated

"Mychael Urban's book is a fabulous read... This is hardly just a baseball book. It's about life, and he tremendous burden each pitcher carried while trying to lead the Oakland A's to the playoffs. I absolutely loved it." - Bob Nightengale, Senor Writer/Columnist, USA Today Sports Weekly

"From the southern fried heat of Tim Hudson to Mark Mulder's cool aloofness to Barry Zito's cerebral wanderings, Urban captures the engine of Oakland's Little Engine That Could of a team with grace and aplomb." - Scott Miller, National Baseball Columnist, CBS.SportsLine.com

Genres: Baseball, Sports, Nonfiction

322 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2005

Reviews

[Brandy Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as good this time as the first time!

[Brent Soderstrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really an in-depth look at the 2004 Oakland A's so if you are an A's fan it is a must-read. Granted, it is through the eyes of the Big Three-Hudson, Mulder, and Zito. Those three are interviewed in-depth and their views are shared on all things 2204 A's.

I am a big fan of the San Francisco Giants so for me it was a look into the personalities of two former Giants-Tim Hudson and Barry Zito. The Giants signed Zito to a huge contract and then were disappointed by his performance under that contract. If they would have read this book they could have seen a preview of the struggles he had for them. Zito had a mediocre 2004 season. He is a different personality who is a pretty sensitive guy. He is a form-over substance pitcher who, if anything is off struggles.

Hudson is a bulldog. A very competitive pitcher who gives everything his all. You are given an insider look into the bar fight in Boston that some say lead to Hudson suffering an injury in the 2003 playoffs. Hudson is insistent he wasn't hurt by the episode.

Mulder, the only non-Giant, appears to have been the most talented. However, in looking back at their careers he is also the one who produced the least. Mulder was a natural athlete who struggled when he faced obstacles because he faced them so rarely early in his career. I found his relationship with pitching coach Rick Peterson interesting. While Zito loved Peterson, Mulder despised him.

If you are a big baseball fan, or an Oakland A's fan you will enjoy the book. Others will think it is too in-depth for one season.

[Kyle Beacom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Urban provides a detailed look into the lives and minds of three of the MLB's biggest stars in 2004. The three phenoms each approach their pitching duties in different ways and lead vastly different lives which leads to some interesting comparisons and analysis. Unfortunately for Hudson, Mulder, and Zito the season ends in heartbreak, and then two of the "Big Three" are shipped elsewhere.

This is a nice companion book to "Moneyball" if you are familiar with that book and/or movie. In fact, Billy Beane wrote the foreword to the book.

[Tom Gase · Rating 2 out of 5]

In a way this book kind of dissapointed me. I was thinking, "Oh here is a book by a local author on the A's and their three 'Aces', Mark Mulder, Tim Hudson and Barry Zito during the 2004 season.I'll love it." In 2004 I was still living in SF and I thought it would be nice to relive some of those games and a season that is now 11 years old. But the book just...didn't do it for me. I don't know. I really wanted to like this book but it kind of seemed bland. As a journalist we are told not to ever, empty your notebook, which means use EVERY single quote by EVERY single person. I kind of feel the author, Mychael Urban does that. Some of the quotes I just got sick of seeing over and over and over again. The research by Urban is good, but I just didn't like the writing style. I don't know, maybe I reread this years from now and I'll like it more but this time it was kind of bland. Oakland A's fans will probably still like it, but this book surprised me in that I ended up liking Tim Hudson the most, Barry Zito was okay but Mark Mulder kind of came off as a little too cocky and country-club snobby to me, which the author even says in the book happens a lot unless you REALLY get to know Mulder. It's weird because as a fan I liked Mulder the most and thought I would like thim the most. Giant fans might like this book as well since Hudson is pitching his last season in the majors right now for them and Zito of course has fans constantly buying free drinks for him because of his performance in the 2012 postseason.

[Trevor Bonnefin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mychael Urban writes about three pitchers of the Oakland A's in the final season of the big three, Mark Mulder, Barry Zito, and Tim Hudson. He goes in depth on each player which are very different but share one thing, that is being some of baseballs bests pitchers of that time. Tim, Barry, and Mark are completely different in almost every way, physically, pitching approach, and the way they deal with situations; to name a few. Urban uses his skills to an advantage as a writer for mlb.com, He brings you to the mind of each pitcher. He includes discussions, jokes, and arguments that usually wouldn't leave the clubhouse. He writes a very honest and truthful story about every one of the big three.

[Luigib · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book Mychael/Micheal Urban

[Sfgballfan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally read thus book