Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

Now president of the Texas Rangers , Nolan Ryan had reasons to smile in spring training. A staff of good young pitchers and savvy veteran pickups, such as Vlad Guerrero (below) put the Rangers in position to win the AL West, and after knocking off the favored Yankees in the ALCS, the club's first pennant. Though he's no longer in uniform, it's worth noting that is the first time Ryan has been on a World Series team since 1969. Below, Ron Washington, once on the hot seat after admitting he'd used cocaine, could be in line for Manager of the Year honors as the team gets ready for its first World Series appearance.

Cliff Lee , the best pitcher in baseball's 2009 post-season is going to face the Yankees again. Last night, with a 120-pitch complete game, he pushed the Texas Rangers past the Tampa Bay Rays and into the American League Championship Series. Working on regular rest, Lee won't see the Yankees until the series moves to New York for game three.It's been quite a year for the Arkansas native, who started 2010 in a Seattle uniform after baseball's most controversial off-season trade. Who could have imagined on this March afternoon in Surprise that he'd end the year playing for the team he opposed in this exhibition game?