Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

Congratulations to R.A. Dickey. This afternoon in the season's final home game at Citi Field, he went the first 7-2/3 innings and struck out 13 (to tie his career-high) as he earned his 20th win in the Mets 6 - 5 win over the Pirates. The knuckleballer became the team's first pitcher to win 20 since Frank Viola in 1990 -- and the first knuckleballer with a 20-win-season since Joe Niekro in 1980! A big assist goes to teammate David Wright, whose three-run home capped the Mets scoring.

A big factor in the A's 2012 turnaround has been the arrival of power-hitting outfielders Yoenis Cespedes (above) and Josh Reddick. Cespedes, the Cuban expat, has lived up to the hype of that impressive YouTube video that his agents posted before he signed with Oakland. Reddick, the key player who came in the trade with Boston for reliever Andrew Bailey, may have exceeded expectations with 29 home runs in his first full season in the majors. Along with a group of impressive young pitchers, the Athletics are among the leaders for an American League wild card. They're not the Bash Brothers... yet. But they certainly can give Oakland fans plenty of hope for the next couple of seasons.

This has not been the best of seasons for CC Sabathia. The Yankees ace has, despite posting 13 victories, been on the disabled list twice and has had trouble holding leads. But today, the Minnesota Twins proved to be the right medicine for the big lefthander. He pitched eight shutout innings and struck out 10, as the Yanks won 8 - 0 and Sabathia ran his personal winning streak against Minnesota to 10. That's just what Joe Girardi needed to see, with the Yankees eyeing a likely post-season spot.

Yankee catcher Russell Martin belting the game-winning homer in the bottom of the 10th inning last night as the Yanks edged the Athletics 2 - 1. Watch it land in the Stadium's left field seats -- and note the dejection of Oakland left fielder Seth Smith.  Martin's teammates await at home plate for the now-requisite victory hug!

Jerry Coleman is more than just a baseball treasure. He embodies what's right in the American spirit. Seven decades in baseball as a player, manager and broadcaster and distinguished tours of duty as a Marine Corps pilot in both World War Two and Korea. A fine second baseman with the Yankees, he began his career working with legends Mel Allen, Red Barber and Phil Rizzuto before he returned to his native California. This weekend, the San Diego Padres unveiled a statue of Coleman at Petco Park to salute his 40 years with the club, which still includes a part-time broadcast role. The North County Times has more details on Jerry's latest honor.

The legendary owner and manager of the Philadelphia Athletics -- whose sesquicentennial will occur this December 22nd -- is honored with a statue outside Citizens Bank Park. Hats off to Frank Fitzpatrick of the Philadelphia Inquirer for this terrific story in today's paper on the Mack family's Massachusetts roots. An interesting sidebar: while Mr. Mack managed for 50 years in Philadelphia, he played his major league ball in Washington, Buffalo and Pittsburgh, but never for a team in the city of Brotherly Love!

After seven years in the Yankee farm system, Melky Mesa (seen here earlier this season vs. New Britain) was recalled by the Yankees a few days ago. With the club locked into a tight three-way race in the AL East, it's not guaranteed he'll see any action . But a 23 home run, 22 stolen base season (while cutting down on the strikeouts that plagued him) certainly raised the Dominican native's status in the organization.

Jimmy Rollins (seen here against the Mets in July) has helped key the Phillies late-season resurgence. After being pulled from a game for a lack of hustle, the veteran shortshop has regained the groove that once made him one of the most dangerous players in the National League. Last night, his leadoff homer kicked off a four-run 1st inning as the Phils beat the Astros 12 - 6 and climbed within three games of the second wild card spot. Rollins has now homered in three of his last four games.

It's September 10th, the birthdate in 1934 of a Yankee who was more appreciated after leaving the Bronx. Roger Maris -- the single-season home run champ of the pre-steroids era. 61 in '61 -- perfect symmetry for a player whose swing was ideally suited to Yankee Stadium -- but whose introverted personality ran against the grain of New York's media environment. Lacking the easy smile or natural charm of Mickey Mantle, Roger didn't feel the love he deserved when after the M&M boys made chasing the Babe baseball's top story in the summer of 1961. Maris also had more than his share of bad luck -- including a series of injuries that robbed him of his power after 1962. Though he felt scorned and unloved in his final seasons as a Yankee, one of the classiest moves George Steinbrenner made was convincing Roger return for Old Timers Day in the 1980s, and the dedication of this plaque in Monument Park. Was Roger a Hall of Famer? Probably not. But there's no doubt h...

When the Angels visited Yankee Stadium earlier this year, I paid special attention to Albert Pujols. After a slow start in the first year after signing a mammoth free agent contract, he's back hitting with the power and consistency that for a decade made him the most-feared hitter in the NL. The sweet swing, ending with just one hand; Pujols lofts a fly ball to left field -- but easily catchable. Raul Ibanez lines it up as the ball falls toward his glove. 

On this date in 1993, Cleveland Indians rookie Manny Ramirez smacked the first two home runs of his career, connecting off Melido Perez and Paul Gibson of the Yankees. The Dominican-born New York product went onto clear the fences 555 times in his career. But having violated MLB's substance policy, his record is tainted and his chances of making the Hall of Fame are cloudy at best.

After spending most of the season in the minors, Eduardo Nunez returned to the big club just in time. He delivered a key hit to load the bases -- and later scored the go-ahead run -- in New York's three-run 7th inning rally. Trailing 3-1 entering the bottom of the 7th, the Yanks scored three times -- the final run on a JJ Hardy error -- to slip past the Orioles 4 - 3 and boost their division lead back to three games.