Dream come true: Barry Zito and Tim Hudson will start against each other

Hop in your DeLorean and make sure your flux capacitor is working, because the Oakland Athletics are taking us back to the early 2000s. A's manager Bob Melvin announced Tuesday that Barry Zito would start Saturday's game against the San Francisco Giants. The opposing pitcher in that start will be none other than former A's standout Tim Hudson.

	Oakland Athletics @Athletics
It’s Happening: Bob Melvin announced that Barry Zito will start Saturday vs. Tim Hudson. atmlb.com/1QwRjWi pic.twitter.com/qryuawCzX0 3:55 PM - 22 Sep 2015

For many A's fans, this is a dream come true. When Zito was initially called up, there was some speculation this start could happen, though the team initially said Zito would pitch out of the bullpen.

The start should be quite the sendoff for both players. Hudson, 40, has already said this will be his final season in the majors. While the 37-year-old Zito hasn't said anything about his plans, it's assumed he's at the end of the road. Zito spent all of this season in the minors, and wasn't called up until rosters expanded, so this seems like one final opportunity for him to shine in the majors before he rides off into the sunset.

Neither player has performed particularly well this season, but we're guessing that won't take away from the hype surrounding the start. Hudson has posted a 4.20 ERA over 120 innings, while Zito has only tossed one inning in the majors. No one is going to focus on those numbers coming into the game, though.

Zito and Hudson made up the core of the Athletics pitching staff in the early 2000s. The two spent five seasons together with the team, reaching the postseason four times.

With the Athletics, Zito compiled a 3.55 ERA over 1430 1/3 innings. He won the Cy Young award in 2002, and made the All-Star team three times.

Hudson was just as good. In his time in Oakland, Hudson posted a 3.30 ERA over 1240 2/3 innings. He was the runner up in the Cy Young voting in 2000, and made two All-Star teams.

Those two, combined with Mark Mulder, were called the "Big Three" in Oakland.

Speaking of Mulder, this event just wouldn't be the same without him. The following day, the Athletics will honor all three men during a pregame ceremony.

 

	Andrew Baggarly @extrabaggs
A's will honor Hudson-Mulder-Zito in a pregame ceremony Sunday. Details: pic.twitter.com/PBVhB6jggo 3:56 PM - 22 Sep 2015

 

Zito, Hudson and Mulder will each throw out the first pitch prior to Sunday's game. Given the importance of Saturday's start, we're going to guess Mulder may be in attendance to watch his former teammates go at it.

Though Mulder won't be pitching, it seems appropriate to look at his numbers with the Athletics as well. In five seasons with the club, Mulder posted a 3.92 ERA over 1003 innings. He finished second in the Cy Young voting in 2001, and made two All-Star teams.

All three men had such a huge impact on the Athletics during the early 2000s, and it's great to see them being honored for their accomplishments. Hudson and Zito may no longer be in their primes, but that's not going to take away our excitement for this start.

The whole thing seems like a fitting ending for both Zito and Hudson. The fact that Mulder will also be there just tugs at our nostalgic heartstrings. There's honestly no better way for the Athletics to celebrate that era.