Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

My good pal Ken Levine has done many amazing things in his career -- but the most unique may well be naming a baseball team. This past weekend, he was in Albuquerque to be honored by the Isotopes, the Dodgers Triple-A affiliate whose handle comes from a classic SIMPSONS episode he and his partner David Isaacs wrote. Ken sums up his very memorable weekend in his Monday blog post . And knowing the mission of this blog, he was nice enough to share some of his photos. This late afternoon scene with the ballpark framed by mountains, was my first choice.

Derek Jeter has the aura special players posess. Remember the opening day of the 1996, when newly installed as the Yankees regular shortstop, he homered in a big win at Cleveland. And all those memories since -- the five world championships, the signature play (the flip?; the dive into the stands?) -- the leadership by example during the Yankees most recent dynasty. So would you be surprised by what Jeter did Sunday, as he returned from the disabled list and played just his second game of the season? Swinging at the first pitch he saw from 14-game winner Matt Moore, and lining it into the right field seats at Yankee Stadium! Did his mere presence inspire the Yankees -- especially the recently re-acquired  Alfono Soriiano, who also homered and had four hits, including the walk off single in the bottle of the 9th? The injury-ravaged Yankees, saddled with Alex Rodriguez and the looming prospect of a lengthy suspension? Those Yankees, who came into the day a season's worst eight gam...

In the latest chapter of the age-old tale "You Can Go Home Again," Alfonso Soriano was traded back to the Yankees yesterday nine-and-a-half years after being swapped for Alex Rodriguez. Now 37, the expectations will be different than they were when the then young "five-tool player" first took the field at Yankee Stadium. Time and experience have a way of denting that. And it's not the right moment to review the other half of that controversial 2004 trade. Last night was hardly a fair sample, as he went 0 for 5, driving in a run on a force play. But some fans in the Bronx clearly wish Soriano had never left. With the Yankees hobbled by a wave of injuries and re-injuries and struggling to stay in the pennant race, this familiar face can only help, at least in the short run.

For their 50 seasons playing in Queens, just across the bay from LaGuardia Airport, the Mets home ballparks have been known for their flyovers. Airliners taking off right over the ballpark -- and until some flight patterns were changed, making a considerable amount of noise. Perhaps because yesterday's game was played under a thick, misty overcast (with heavier rain farther up the east coast), we saw easily two dozen planes flying over Citi Field -- the most I'd noticed on a given day since the new ballpark opened. The noise was still tempered, thankfully. But the steady path of the planes couldn't be ignored. Do you notice the planes at Citi Field? Do you go to other parks when flyovers are as frequent? Do you consider them a distraction? Share your story or opinion by clicking on "comments" below. Now, buckle up and enjoy the ballgame.

It's no secret that I shoot a lot of pictures at games. Of course, I only post those that tell a story -- like this one. At first glance, a couple of things appear oddly out of place: Why is the hitter facing the catcher with his bat extended? And why is the ball behind the catcher? We're in the bottom of the 9th inning in Monday night's game at Citi Field. Mets catcher John Buck has just been hit by a pitch. So he's twisting away from the ball, trying to avoid getting smacked, which he did anyway. And Braves catcher Evan Gattis was attempting to snatch the ball, which just ricocheted off Buck. Freezing a moment, as I did here, produces the occasional odd result -- even if there's a perfectly logical explanation.

Christian Yelich, so impressive during exhibition play, made his regular season debut with the Marlins last night -- and sparkled. Three hits in his first three at-bats and a pair of RBIs in a 4 - 2 win at Colorado. Recalled with fellow pheenom Jake Marisnick (a key piece in the salary-dump trade that sent Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle to Toronto), they're part of a young team making minimum money the team hopes can become winners in a few years. Building up and then tearing down rosters has been Miami's ugly legacy over its 20-year major league run. Proof the policy doesn't work is the meager attendance and media attention they receive. Just look at the sports home page of this morning's  Miami Herald -- whose Marlins story is buried on the lower right side far below the Dolphins training camp report. Is it fair to say that ownership poisoned the baseball marketplace of South Florida? I would. Or that palatial domed stadium (built mostly with state and county money...

I got my first look at Evan Gattis on Monday night. The Braves power-hitting rookie was a vital part of Atlanta's game-turning rally in the top of the 9th inning -- singling and scoring the first run -- as the Braves snatched a 2-1 win at Citi Field. You might have heard his unusual story. A promising high school talent, he dropped out of college, and wandered the western US seeking spiritual guidance and a direction in life. It took four years for him to get it together, before he returned to school with a renewed interest in baseball. Drafted in the 23rd round by the Braves, he spent two years in Atlanta's farm system before catching everyone's eye this March in spring training. With catcher Brian McCann's slow recovery from surgery, Gattis opened the regular season in the Braves starting lineup -- and once McCann returned, he adapted well to playing in the outfield. The National League's Rookie of the Month in both April and June 2013, Gattis is taking his ...

Yesterday, the Mets gave away Dwight Gooden bobblehead dolls at Citi Field. Let me instead, offer you a glance of the real thing. It's 1992 at Wrigley Field.

The Yankees 2009 first-round draft pick, Slade Heathcott hasn't climbed as quickly through the minors as expected, but still shows considerable promise. Still just 22, he's said to have "all the tools" to be a top player -- but injuries kept him from playing more than 76 games in any previous season. Finally healthy, he's a regular at Double-A Trenton. A rangy centerfielder, his defense is ahead of his offense at this point. But with age and impending free agency likely to create several openings in the Yankee outfield over the next couple of seasons, he could be worth keeping an eye on.

If you're birthday is July 18th, you're in good company. You share it with Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Dion and Martha Reeves and a guy who should one day be in the Baseball Hall of Fame -- Joe Torre. A fine catcher who enjoyed a career renaissance after moving to 3rd base with the Cardinals, his first three managerial jobs were for the teams where he once played -- the Mets, Cards and Braves (whom he led to the 1982 NL West title). But who could have predicted that for the New York native, the best was yet to come? Hired by the Yankees after George Steinbrenner fired Buck Showalter (whose 1995 club lost to Seattle in the playoffs), the local tabloids were skeptical -- especially since Torre hadn't led a team to the playoffs in a dozen years. Well, Joe was more than clued in. His 1996 Yankees brought a Worlds Championship to the Bronx for the first time in 18 years. And the teams kept winning, racking up titles in 1998, 1999 and 2000. In fact, the Yankees made the p...

This post belongs to the two greatest pitchers in Yankees history -- Whitey Ford and Mariano Rivera. Planning this entry, I found that July 17th is the anniversary of the first of Ford's 236 career victories. According to baseball-reference.com , it wasn't the most spectacular performance - the rookie lefthander went 7-2/3 innings, gave up three runs and struck out just three. But it was enough to help the Yankees get by the White Sox 4-3 in the Bronx. Greater days -- and many of then -- would still be in his future. As for Rivera, last night was special -- a warm welcome from fans at Citi Field as the game's greatest reliever took the mound (accompanied by his theme, Metallica's "Enter Sandman") in the 8th inning for his final All Star Game appearance. It was a typical 1-2-3 inning, two infield grounders and fly ball. While it didn't earn him a save, his lifetime numbers in All Star competition (where he never gave up an earned run) resulted in his b...

For the second time in their history, the Mets will host Major League Baseball's All Star Game tonight. Many of the game's greatest stars will be on hand for this prime time TV showcase. And no one yet knows how it will play out. One can only hope it's as suspenseful as the 1964 mid-summer classic at Shea Stadium. That was the afternoon when Phillies rightfielder Johnny Callison's three-run walk-off home run -- decades before that term was coined -- capped a four-run National League rally in the bottom of the 9th inning. The NL came away 7 -4 winners , while Callison was named MVP. Did you see that game? Or hear it on the radio? In my case, neither. I was attending day camp and bringing radios along in those days was taboo. I didn't learn the result until I got home after the game ended. A lot of kids our age missed the game because they weren't home in front of a TV. You, too? Instead we were simply taking advantage of it being summer.

Friday night, I was on hand as the Twins' New Britain farm club hosted the Yankees double-A affiliate the Trenton Thunder. Thanks to Minnesota's always-strong scouting and player development, there were several young players of note. Recently promoted to the Rock Cats, this is 20 year old Miguel Sano. He  put up big numbers in the Florida State League and earned an invitation to the 2013 Futures Game at Citi Field that's part of the All Star Game celebration. He's got a sweet swing and already plays a quality 3rd base. Much like outfielder Oswaldo Arcia, who starred at New Britain a year ago and is now a Twins regular, Sano appears to be on a fast track to the majors. (Below) It was great to see Jeremy Bleich pitch in relief for Trenton. A highly rated Yankee draft choice out of Stanford back in '08, his career was sidetracked by arm injuries. But this year, he seems to have a found his niche as a lefthanded reliever. He turned in a terrific first inning of work...

In the midst of his best season yet, Braves 1st baseman Freddie Freeman outpolled sizzling Dodgers rookie Yasil Puig to become "The Last Man" on the National League All Star Team. Just hours after the announcement, Freeman enjoyed another big game with three hits and four RBI as NL East leading Atlanta defeated Cincinnati. With a .313 batting average, .392 on-base percentage and 60 RBI, Freeman earned this honor. Of course, with several days left before the mid-summer classic in New York, we'll likely see a few players withdraw from the game due to injury, giving Puig a final opportunity to be selected.

Yesterday, I found a picture I didn't realize I even had in my collection. Back in 1990, Dennis and I made the first of a couple of trips to Kansas City. And I must have dropped this in the boxes of family photos from that era (mostly of my kids as infants).  Needless to say, I was quite pleased to find this print -- and then had a devil of a time determining what park it was. After a lot of searching through Google Images, where I uncertainly decided it was Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium, I put it up on Facebook asking for help. Former WYNY colleague Ken Martin sent me the link to the photo that sealed the deal on it not being Cincinnati -- but Kauffman Stadium, the always charming home of the Royals. Thanks, Ken!

40 years ago tonight, I went to the Mets/Astros game -- which turned out to be a gem. Jon Matlack tossed a one-hit shutout. Tommy Helms' 6th inning single was all that stood between the lefthander and a no-hitter. ( Baseball-reference.com has the boxscore.) It was a rare night in those days of film and prints that I brought along my camera. Decades later, I am so glad that I did. The only scoring took place in the bottom of the 2nd inning when backup catcher Duffy Dyer singled in Rusty Staub. Then Matlack made that skinny lead hold up the rest of the way. Shea looked a lot different in the early 1970s than it did in the 1990s or 2000s -- no bleachers or picnic area, far less advertising (and, I suspect, weaker lighting). The post-game congratulations were a bit more subdued. No organized lines of teammates and coaches. Just a warm handshake or hug from the rest of the infield at the end of a terrific performance.

With Monday night's Yankee game in a rain delay, I flipped over to ESPN which had the Phillies and Nationals. John Lannan, who joined Philadelphia after six seasons in Washington, was dominating his old team, shutting them out on four hits over eight innings. Walking off the mound after tossing his last pitch of the night, he took a glance towards the DC dugout -- maybe his way of hinting, "So you think I'm not good enough for you?" He was more than good on this night. My toughest challenge was finding a picture of Lannan in my files. Despite spending his entire career in the division where the Phils and Mets play, I'd only captured him on one occasion. He were are from August 2010 at Nationals Park against the Diamondbacks.

Say hello again to Ray Burris. Best known as a starting pitcher for the mid-1970s Cubs, the righthander played for seven major league clubs over his 15-season career. These days, he's mentoring such Phillies prospects as Tyler Cloyd and Mauricio Robles as pitching coach for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

How far is Allentown from Philadelphia? 62 miles if you drive. In baseball, it's the difference between playing for the Phillies top minor league team, the Allentown-based Lehigh Valley IronPigs and the parent club. A year ago, Darin Ruf traveled those 62 miles smoothly, capping a season of climbing through the Phillies system with a September cameo at Citizens Bank Park that included 3 home runs in 12 games. One of the reasons I was eager to catch the Lehigh Valley / Syracuse doubleheader on July 4th was to get a look at Ruf, whose path to the majors was seemingly blocked by Ryan Howard at 1st in Philadelphia. Now with Howard back on the disabled list with a sore knee, Ruf who appeared awkward playing left field, will be back at his natural position.  And the Phillies might finally determine whether this nearly 27 year old is a prospect or suspect.

Say hello to NBT Bank Stadium in Syracuse, New York, the modern-day replacement for Macarthur Stadium which I visited back in 1968. What could be better than a traditional (single-admission) doubleheader for the 4th of July? Especially when it's capped by a holiday fireworks display.

If July 5th is your birthday, you share it Rich "Goose" Gossage. Elected the Hall of Fame in 2008, the ace reliever for the White Sox, Yankees and Padres had 310 lifetime saves.A nine-time All Star, he's the only pitcher to save a game in 20 different seasons. In contrast to the closer seen since the 1990s, Gossage was not just a one inning worker -- 52 of his saves were for seven outs or more.

We've got plenty of reasons to remember Lou Gehrig on this date. The only Yankee ever to wear number-four, baseball's Iron Horse was honored at Yankee Stadium on July 4th, 1939. It was, in effect, baseball's first Old Timers Day, as many of Lou's former Yankee teammates returned to honor their captain, who'd been stricken with a terminal neurological disorder that would come to bear his name. Gehrig owns so many baseball famous firsts: His number-four was the first uniform number to be retired in baseball. Lou was the first athlete to appear on a box of Wheaties cereal. The first American Leaguer to hit four home runs in a game. In 1927, he became the first player to hit 40 doubles and 40 home runs in the same season (he then did it twice more -- 1930 and 1934). The first Yankee to win the American League Triple Crown (leading in batting average, home runs and runs batted in). The first to play in more than 2000 consecutive games. His was the first Yankee...

I liked what I saw Monday night from Diamondbacks center fielder A.J. Pollock. The Connecticut native made this impressive catch in the 3rd inning to snag a liner hit by the Mets Marlon Byrd. It was so impressive teammate Cody Ross couldn't help but watch.

Last night at Citi Field, Marlon Byrd scores on a Josh Satin RBI single in the bottom of the 9th inning to tie the Mets game with the Diamondbacks. As you can see, Arizona catcher Miguel Montero couldn't hold onto the ball. New York finally won in 13 innings, by 4 - 3 score.

...you share it with Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz. It's fair to say that he's the best offensive player of the 20th or 21st century born on the 1st of July. (Hall of Fame Roger Connor , who played from 1880-1897 was also born on this date -- but his was such a different game!) Despite being a late bloomer, the Dominican native has belted 150 career home runs, including 20 or more in each of the last five seasons. If you're curious who else in baseball has a July 1st birthday, just click on this link .