Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

From 2012 BAT Dinner: David Cone and Keith Hernandez played together on the Mets of the late-'80s. Now, they're TV analysts (with respectively, the Yankees and Mets).

One of the remarkable group of pitchers that dominated the National League during the 1960s, Juan Marichal's 191 victories were the most during that decade. He averaged 19 wins a season -- and from 1963-'69 never posted an ERA higher than 2.76. No pitch counts in his era! His stats are something you don't see today! Along with the decade's other great arms -- Koufax, Drysdale, Gibson, Spahn, Seaver and Jenkins -- the Dominican native has been enshrined in Cooperstown.

If you know me, you know much I enjoy history. So when I had the opportunity to cover the BAT event, I jumped on it. Being around so many baseball celebrities and icons was a real kick. We all know how devoted Tom Seaver was to the art of pitching. Now, he's just as passionate when it comes to winemaking .

Last night BAT, the Baseball Assistance Team, the charity that helps needy former players, held its annual fundraising banquet in New York. Dozens of baseball celebrities were on hand, including many Mets -- whose 50th anniversary was the evening's theme. The emotional high point occurred early in the evening when this remarkable collection of 13 Hall of Famers assembled on stage for a group photo: (Top Row - left to right) Tom Seaver, Sandy Koufax, Gaylord Perry, Phil Niekro, Goose Gossage, Orlando Cepeda, Luis Aparicio. (Middle Row) Mike Schmidt, Jim Palmer, Joe Morgan, Juan Marichal. (Front Row) Tony Perez, Willie Mays. Short of the annual inductions in Cooperstown, where will you ever see such a collection of all-time talent?

It's a day that inevitably arrives for all great players -- today, Jorge Posada will officially announce his retirement from the Yankees. One of the game's best hitting catchers, he's been a part of 5 Yankee World Series champions -- and the starting catcher on three of them. The aging process is especially difficult on catchers, and by 2011, he was primarily a DH, who occasionally spent time at 1st base. We'll remember his fiery temperament and his impressive offensive numbers, career totals that five years from now could make him a Cooperstown candidate. Today, let's salute Posada, who's earned his place on the Mount Rushmore of Yankee catchers -- alongside Dickey, Berra, Howard and Munson. And he also goes out as a career Yankees -- much like Mantle, Ford, DiMaggio and Gehrig, he'll have spent his entire playing career only in Yankee pinstripes. What's your favorite Jorge Posasda memory? Was it his game-tieing double in game seven of the American...

No matter which group purchases the Dodgers from Frank McCourt, the mission is restoring the luster to one of baseball's most fabled franchises. The 1989 Dodgers media guide was the last one to display the World Championship Trophy. That was 23 years ago. Those still-loyal Southern California fans deserve more.

I need some help from Cubs fans and readers closer to Chicago. This Chicago Tribune story details plans for a "Green Monster"-type wall and special seating section being planned for the right field corner at Wrigley Field. My initial reaction was negative, but I'd love to hear from people closer to the situation. Comment here and share your insights.

In the kind of trade you rarely see in baseball these days, the Yankees and Mariners have swapped a pair of top young players. Jesus Montero, the highly touted hitter (whose catching skills have been questioned) goes to Seattle for Michael Pineda, the tall and impressive right-handed pitcher, who debuted to 9-10 record in 2011. This deal should keep the phones at Seattle and New York's sports-talk radio stations buzzing -- on what normally would be a football weekend.

Congratulations to Barry Larkin, announced today as a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame's Class of 2012. Along with Cal Ripken and Lou Gehrig, he's among the few to have played his entire career in his hometown: in Larkin's case, Cincinnati. For 17 of his 19 seasons, his address was Riverfront Stadium. And the 12-time All Star's numbers speak for themselves.

Say hello to Pirates catching prospect Tony Sanchez. The Miami native and onetime 1st-round draft pick spent 2011 playing for Double-A Altoona. Though his numbers slipped (it was his first full season in which he didn't bat .300), he certainly has the look down complete with the chaw (gum nowadays, not tobacco) planted firmly in the right cheek, the determined expression and total confidence balancing his mask and helmet atop his head.

A Shea Stadium flashback from 2008: taken from the very top of the left field grandstand.