Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

I'd have to vote for the Indians, who grabbed the American League's 1st Wild Card spot. Making a huge turnaround under manager Terry Francona, with key contributions from Nick Swisher, Carlos Santana and pitching staff led by Justin Masterson (right), the Tribe improved by 24 games, finishing with 92 wins in 2013. Now the Indians await the winner of Monday's play-in game between the Rays and Rangers. They'll host that survivor in a winner-take-all game on Wednesday night. Are the Indians baseball's most surprising story of 2013? Or do you go with the worst-to-first Red Sox? Or perhaps the Pirates with their first trip to the post-season since 1992? Share a thought by clicking below on the word "comment." So much happened these past six months, between the rise of the Indians, Red Sox and Pirates, the collapse of the Giants, Puig's impact on the Dodgers and the fading away of Yankees' Core Four.

Nothing stays the same in sports. Just three years ago on September 27th, 2010, this was a baseball headline: The Phillies clinch their 4th straight NL East championship as their ace Roy Halladay throws a 2-hit shutout, an 8-0 win over the Nationals at Washington. Halladay earned his 21st win with his fourth shutout and ninth complete game -- all highs in the majors this season -- while Jayson Werth drove in four runs. Philadelphia completed the year with 97 wins and the best record in baseball (though they fell short of their third straight pennant, losing to the eventual-champion Giants in the NLCS). Arm problems have derailed Halladay's career the last two seasons. Last week, after lasting just 16 pitches against the Marlins, he told reporters he was also dealing with a digestive condition. Having passed 200 career wins earlier this season -- with 20 career shutouts, two Cy Young Awards and just the second post-season no-hitter in baseball history -- Halladay is at least...

September 26th, 1964: Yankees rookie righthander Mel Stottlemyre does it all in a 7 - 0 win over the Senators in Washington. He tosses a two-hit shutout while getting five hits in five times at-bat (one of them, a double) with two RBIs. Here's the box score on that memorable day from baseball-reference.com .

Cardinals rookie righthander Michael Wacha -- seen earlier this year against the Mets -- came within one out of a no-hitter last night. With two down in the 9th inning at Busch Stadium, Ryan Zimmerman's infielder grounder barely nicked Wacha's glove. Shortstop Pete Kozma's throw pulled first baseman Matt Adams off the bag -- as Zimmerman beat the throw. Wacha retired the first 14 Washington batters before Adam LaRoche reached on a Matt Carpenter erro. The 22-year old Texas A&M product walked only two in posting his 4th win of the year as the Cards, already locked into a post-season spot, pulled closer to clinching the NL Central. In what has to be one of the oddest trends in baseball, Wacha became the third pitcher this season to lose a no-hit bid with two outs in the ninth, joining Yu Darvish and Yusmeiro Petit. As for the title of this post, I wonder if Branson resident and lifelong baseball fan Tony Orlando was at the game. "So near and so far away...

Andy Pettitte leaves the Yankee Stadium mound after making his final start in pinstripes. Receiving a standing ovation from the fans, he returns the love that's been shown him since 1995. Below, has any other ballplayer ever pitched after his number was officially retired by the club? (I think we had a first, here.) Hours after the Yankees officially retired his number-42, Mariano Rivera -- his number chalked onto both sidelines -- got the final five outs for the Yankees.

The Yankees again pulled out all the stops to show they do the best job in honoring history. Sunday was Mariano Rivera Day, as the greatest reliever ever was honored by his former teammates, club officials, and Metallica -- whose "Enter Sandman" has signaled Mariano's entrance from the bullpen.  For the ceremonial first pitch, Mo and longtime catcher Jorge Posada switched place -- Jorge threw the ball while Mariano went into the traditional catcher's crouch, Mariano saluted by his fellow Panamanians -- who arrived well before the ceremony began.  Mariano and Metallica meet at home plate during the ceremony.  And Yankee Stadium souvenir stands were ready with special merchandise Rivera's teammates gave him a rocking chair -- he looked quite comfortable trying it out. Add on a heartfelt speech where this humble son of Panama thanked fans, past and present teammates, guests such as Rachel and Sharon Robinson -- and remembered the late owner Georg...

Pitcher John Lackey helped pitch the Red Sox to their first AL East title since 2007. Friday night, he won his 15th game of the season and 100th of his career, turning in seven strong innings (one run, five hits, eight strikeouts) in Boston's 6 - 3 win over Toronto. It capped a turnaround year for both player and club -- Lackey had been mostly ineffective, then injured (undergoing Tommy John surgery) the past two years. And Boston, after finishing last under Bobby Valentine in 2012, completed a worst-to-first turnaround. Are the Red Sox baseball's biggest surprise for 2013? Or might it be the team managed by their former skipper Terry Francona -- the Indians? Click below to leave a comment on the team that most surprised -- or disappointed you this season.

Ahhh... that sweet swing of Hanley Ramirez (seen here against the Phillies in August). He homered twice Thursday -- a three-blast in the third inning and a solo shot in the 7th that tied the game. Quite a monumental game, as it turned out -- the Dodgers edged the Diamondbacks 7 - 6 to clinch the NL West. Now, time for your stat of the day: In the 11 games that Ramirez, Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig have started together, including Thursday, the Dodgers are 9-2 and have averaged 6.8 runs per game. With all three healthy and ready for the post-season, the Dodgers appear to be the team to beat in the National League.

Vernon Wells -- seen here a couple of weeks ago against the White Sox -- may have just delivered the most crucial hit of the Yankee season. With the team stuck in a four-game losing streak and their offense wilting since recent injuries to Alfonso Soriano and Alex Rodriguez, their playoff hopes were melting away. Instead, Wells' two-RBI double in the 8th inning brought the team from behind for a crucial 4 - 3 victory over the Blue Jays. The road to October still is far from easy -- with the Yanks trailing Texas for the second Wild Card by three in the loss column -- but this win gave them a needed boost with just 10 days left in the regular season. So if Wells and teammates are humming that Bee Gees song and struttin' a bit like Travolta this morning, don't blame them.

Playing in New York for the first time this season, onetime Met Angel Pagan was the Giants difference-maker Tuesday night. His tie-breaking home run in the 7th inning put San Francisco ahead to stay, while his RBI triple in the 9th provided an important insurance run in the Giants 6 - 5 win. Pagan's power and speed were expected to help ignite the Giants offense. But their leadoff batter missed over 80 games this year with a hamstring injury -- and San Francisco fell out of contention by the All Star break. Tonight's 3-for-3 performance was a hint of what the club can look for in 2014. And a former Mets prospect also starred tonight for San Francisco: pitcher Yusmeiro Petit. Traded away eight years ago in the deal that brought Carlos Delgado, he won his 4th straight, working six effective innings. Below, he greets Pagan in the dugout after his homer. And a glimpse of Petit, who has also appeared with Florida and Arizona, on the mound.

From July 31st, Orioles catcher Matt Weiters hits against the Astros. Teammate Chris Davis takes his lead off 1st base. And coach Wayne Kirby keeps a watchful eye on the action. That's Brett Wallace playing 1st for Houston. I like the way this picture came together. A lot of anticipation before the pitch is thrown.

Maybe that's the proper symbol for this overachieving group of Red Sox. A high five just isn't enough for Mike Napoli and David Ortiz -- thus, this variation to celebrate a Boston home run earlier this month at Yankee Stadium.

When I shot this picture on May 16th, 2013, Brendan Ryan was the Mariners' shortstop as they visited the Yankees in the Bronx. Then batting .149, Ryan was struggling to remain in the Seattle lineup. What a difference four months make: the defensively gifted Ryan couldn't hold onto his job. Forgotten by the Mariners, he's sent to the Yanks in a waiver deal to bolster New York's bench after Derek Jeter goes back on the disabled list. Guess who's playing shortstop for the Yankees Thursday night? Yep, the newly pinstriped Mr. Ryan. Following a painful bottom of the 8th when the usually dependable David Robertson gives up Danny Valencia's game-tying home run, Ryan, hitless as a Yankee, has to lead off the top of the 9th. He singles, and later comes around on Jim Johnson's wild pitch for the go-ahead run. While Mariano Rivera is quickly disposing of Baltimore in the bottom of the 9th, I'm trying to remember if Ryan played the night I last saw Seattle play...

A Hall of Famer Roy Campanella famously said, "You have to have a lot of little boy in you to play baseball for a living."  Say hello to Padres rookie Tommy Medica. who played in his first big league game last night. Starting at 1st base night for the Padres against the Phillies, his first major league hit was a line drive home run off Cliff Lee at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Look at the joyful expression for the 25-year old. It's the fulfillment of a lifelong dream -- that dream built around the image Campy coined of the little boy. Here's a high-five as he returns to the dugout after circling the bases and touching home.

OK, what's the deal with all these bearded Red Sox? Are they trying to create baseball's counterpart to the unshaven hockey players, who sprout facial hair as the playoffs approach? At Saturday's Red Sox/Yankees game I couldn't help notice the fuzzy faces of Dustin Pedroia, Mike Napoli and John Lackey (above) and Jonny Gomes and David Ross (below). Are they channeling baseball's Brian Wilson and his famed furry look? Or is just a coincidence -- especially when they face the Yankees, who strictly maintain that clean-shaven policy. Having not seen the Red Sox in person since Spring Training, when did their razors go out of service?? If you've got the answer, be sure to click on the comment icon.

Just after 4:00 Saturday afternoon as the Yankees tried to battle back against the Red Sox. The shadows have overtaken the batters box, as Mark Reynolds swings away. The light and shade creating that ribbon effect you only seem to notice this time of year -- as it reminds us of how the World Series looked like when it was played in the afternoon, back before TV called the shots.

A highlight from my visit last December to Baseball's Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown was this extensive exhibit honoring such Roberto Clemente and Dennis Martinez.

I last saw Mike Napoli in person during spring training, back when he sported more stubble than beard. By last night, his beard had grown to resemble that of the Smith Brothers (of cough drop fame), while the Yankees were left wheezing and aching. Napoli's 7th inning grand slam brought the Red Sox even and erased a New York lead that had once been 8 - 3. New York's bullpen collapsed for the second night in a row -- with Napoli's slam the signature moment.

September 6th, 1963: Tommy John pitches in the first of 760 career games over what will become a 26-year career. The rookie lefthander makes a relief appearance in the 7th inning for the Indians against the Senators in Washington, giving up a run and two hits. The game proves to be memorable; the 7-2 Senators victory is the 100,000th in Major League history. Seen at the 2012 Yankees Old Timers Day, Tommy later pitched for the White Sox, Dodgers, Yankees, A's and Angels. He's best known as the first recipient of ligament transplant surgery which not only extended his career by 15 years, but likely made him the most famous pitcher not inducted into the Hall of Fame.

David Ortiz DH homered twice -- and also doubled for his 2000th career hit -- as the Red Sox tied a club record with eight home runs in a 20 - 4 destruction of the Tigers Wednesday night. The other Boston players that homered (dopy the names down, there might be a quiz one day): Will Middlebrooks, Daniel Nava, Jacoby Ellsbury, Stephen Drew, Mike Napoli and Ryan Lavarnway. Back to Ortiz, it's another headline-grabbing game in his 11th Red Sox season. This was the 41st multi-home run game in Ortiz’s career, his 39th with Boston, a team record, and his 426th and 427th career home runs, which tied Mike Piazza for 46th all-time. Is he baseball's greatest designated hitter ever?

Derek Jeter did everything worthy of Fred Astaire, but still couldn't avoid being hit on the leg by a Chris Sale pitch in the 1st inning of Tuesday night's game against the White Sox. Fortunately, the pain was temporary. Jeter remained in the game -- getting two hits, including the one that ignited the Yankees' 5-run 8th inning rally as they came from behind to beat Chicago 6 - 4.

Catcher JR Murphy made a rapid climb through the Yankee farm system. I saw him with Trenton in late May. Not long after, he was promoted to Triple-A Scranton. And today, as a September call-up, he made Yankee history. In a season racked by a wave of injuries, and what at times looked to be open auditions to fill out the roster, Murphy became the 52nd player to appear in a game for the Bronx Bombers. That's the most ever. Not even during the inept "Horace Clark Years," did 52 different players don the pinstripes. But Murphy, who pinch hit for Robinson Cano in the 8th inning, became the 52nd member of the 2013 Yankees. His infield single also tied him with many -- as a player who hit safely in his first at-bat.

Friday night in New Britain, as the Rock Cats hosted the Reading Fightin' Phils, two of the top slugging prospects in baseball were on display. Maikel Franco of the Phillies (center) has tallied 31 home runs (and hit a combined .315) between Single-A and Double-A ball. While Miguel Sano is on track for Minnesota with 35 home runs between both levels. I caught this image with Franco on 3rd base, chatting with Phils skipper Dusty Wathan with Sano looking on. Don't be surprised if you see these young stars (Franco is 21, Sano just 20) reach the majors sometime in 2014.

The Phillies brought in Michael Young hoping he'd be an effective one-season solution at 3rd base while prospects Cody Asche and Mikael Franco developed. But his value proved harder to judge as the team never really jelled, and quickly fell back from .500 as injuries piled up after the All Star Break. Focusing on 2014, GM Ruben Amaro Junior traded off a couple of his veterans on Saturday -- Young went to the Dodgers and John McDonald to Boston -- in waiver-dealine deals often seen at the end of August. The contenders beef up their bench, while also- rans clubs shed payroll, give more time the final month to young players and add prospects who might contribute down the line.