Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

 Andy Pettitte's start for the Trenton Thunder on April 25th produced mixed results. Betrayed by sloppy infield play, his numbers were not what might have been expected. There were glimpses of the form that made him a Yankee mainstay -- three strikeouts, including two on called strikes. After the game, he said he expected more: while he'd love to be back in the Bronx right, several reporters noted that he's really only at the equivalent of mid-March had he started spring training on time. So, he'll probably need at least two more minor league starts before joining the big club. But with Michael Pineda gone for the year, Freddy Garcia out of the rotation and Phil Hughes under-achieving, #46 in pinstripes can't get back quickly enough.

I first met Bill Skowron at the 2011 Pinstripe Passion collectors and autograph show. A delightful man, who was so proud of his years playing for the Yankees. The highlight had to be 1961, when as part of the best Yankee team of that decade, he made history combining with Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle for 143 home runs -- the greatest single-season total by three teammates. Sorry to report that Moose passed away today at age 81. While he later played for the Dodgers -- where he was one the batting stars of their 1963 World Series victory over the Yankees -- and several other clubs, he was happiest when people thought of him as a  Yankee, especially an occasion where he could wear the pinstripes... (I promised not to mention a year ago that he was scouting for the White Sox, based in his native Chicago.) Below, he's with '61 relief ace Luis Arroyo at the 2011 Old Timers Day. Bill Skowron, everyone called him Moose, and for nine seasons, he was called a Yankee. A darned...

I was at Waterfront Park in Trenton last night to catch Andy Pettitte's appearance with the Yankees double-A farm club as he works his way into shape after deciding to un-retire in mid-March. The game face is still there; the big lefty's determined expression that's been a familiar one to Yankee fans since the mid-1990s. Now the challenge is finding out how many strikeouts and double-play grounders are left in his tank. Two months from his 40th birthday, will he find the fountain of youth (or, considering New York, the soda fountain with egg creams) to help his club stay in contention? Warming up on a cool spring evening, in a stadium smaller and more modest than a Grapefruit League park, he's about to challenge himself.

Time to spotlight three Yankees with headline-grabbing performances this past week: (above) On April 19th, Curtis Granderson became the first player in franchise history to have a three-homer, five-hit game. Just two days later, Nick Swisher (above) had a grand slam and 6 total RBI, while Mark Teixeira (below) cracked a pair of home runs and also drove in 6 as the Yanks, downed 9 - 0 after five innings, caught fire and stormed past the Red Sox 15 - 9 at Fenway Park.

Turning 29 today, hard-hitting Joe Mauer is regaining the form that once made him the best-hitting catcher in the American League -- and ranked him among the best players in the game, period. Healthy again, he's enjoyed a productive series this week as the Twins visited the Yankees. These images are from Tuesday night's game, which the Yankees won 8 - 3.

My first 2012 visit to Yankee Stadium -- how about that neon blue glow as seen from the adjacent Metro North train station.

Having shot this picture last summer during an interleague game at Yankee Stadium, I finally found a logical place to fit it in. Ty Wigginton wasn't wearing 21 today -- every major leaguer donned #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson's breaking baseball's color barrier. And he isn't in purple anymore -- Ty now plays for the Phillies. Today he delivered the game-tying sacrifice fly in the 7th inning and the game-clinching , bases-loaded double in their 8 -2 victory over the Mets.

"Officer" Joe Bolton, the beloved local host of THE THREE STOOGES on WPIX New York, was one of those marvelously versatile staff announcers. Besides hosting kids shows, he read the news, did station breaks and countless local commercials. And before finding his lasting niche as the Stooges' hometown pal -- whose fame led to a cameo in their movie THE OUTLAWS IS COMING, THE OUTLAWS IS COMING -- he even suited up in some promotional films for the New York Giants, whose home games from the Polo Grounds were a channel 11 staple during the 1950s. On this weekend when THE THREE STOOGES movie opens, it's a good time to remember the man who for countless New York-area kids was virtually a fourth Stooge!

Rarely has a ballpark altered a club's image the way Citizens Bank Park has for the Phillies. Opened eight years ago today, the airy, natural grass retro venue was the sensory opposite of its industrial-looking astroturf-clad predecessor, Veterans Stadium. Of course, an infusion of better talent certainly helped. Contending teams amidst a baseball-friendly atmosphere have resulted in five-consecutive division titles and over 200 consecutive sell-outs. And you rarely read about the surly, mean-spirited Philadelphia baseball fans (phans) anymore.

A perfect Easter Sunday for baseball at Citi Field. Jon Niese, whom the Mets just signed to a five-year contract extension, looked like a bargain tossing six no-hit innings against the Braves.   Two-thirds of the way to what would have been the first no-hitter in Mets history, he ran into trouble in the top of the 7th. First, catcher Brian McCann worked a walk after a 10-pitch at-bat. Freddie Freeman broke up the no-no on the very first pitch with a clean single. So while I didn't witness history, the Mets did wrap up a season-opening series sweep over Atlanta. And how odd is this: the last time the Mets started a season 3  - 0 and the Yankees began 0 - 3 was 1973.

Guest contributor Peter King interviewed Hall of Fame broadcaster Milo Hamilton, whose seven decades of baseball play-by-play includes historic call of Henry Aaron's 715th home run. (Below) Milo's vantagepoint at the Astros spring training park in Kissimmee, Florida.

Phil Niekro and Willie Montanez were among the former stars on hand at January's BAT Dinner in New York. They have something else in common -- both celebrate their birthdays on April Fool's Day!