Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

Baseball is by nature, a friendly sport. Sure, there are moments of tension, drama and at times, anger. But this image from last spring training stands out by the mood it seems to convey. Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers and Jordany Valdespin, then of the Mets, share a moment. Valdespin was the baserunner on 3rd, Cabrera the fielder. What's the message? Good luck, kid? Calm down, kid? What's a good place for dinner near here? As this year winds down, and a new one about to arrive, let me send you warmest wishes and thanks for making my place on the Internet a kind of virtual clubhouse. See you in 2014!

While this off-season has been dominated by the news surrounding Robinson Cano, Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran -- not to mention Japanese pitching sensation Masahiro Tanaka -- one steady performer has again flown under the radar, Raul Ibanez. He actually made history in 2013 -- when he slammed 29 homers for the Mariners, tying Ted Williams for the most home runs in a season by a player over age 40. After a productive (if streaky) season in Seattle -- following a similar year with the Yankees, where he was the ALDS hero -- Ibanez has signed with the Angels, who after trading Mark Trumbo for pitching, can now slide Ibanez behind Josh Hamlton and Albert Pujols in the middle of their batting order.

This is the rarest baseball-related item that I own. It's the front cover of a booklet of reprinted articles from a 1963 New York World Telegram and Sun series. 50 years ago, the Mets played their final summer at the Polo Grounds, with a past-his-prime Duke Snider, a before-his-prime Ed Kranepool and a more notable-than-prime Tracy Stallard. Sporting baseball's worst roster and most media-friendly skipper, Casey Stengel proved master salesman. He got his 10th place Mets on equal footing with the two-time defending champion Yankees -- capped by a victory over his former club in the Mayor's Trophy exhibition game. On June 20th, 50,000 fans packed Yankee Stadium to watch Casey's protegees stun the Yankees 6 - 2.

Two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum took himself out of the free agent market before it even began, when he signed a two-year $35-million deal to stay with the Giants. How's this for an 11-day span: last July 2nd, Lincecum was the losing pitcher when Cincinnati's Homer Bailey fired a no-hitter against San Francisco. Then on the 13th, Lincecum no-hit the Padres. He became the first pitcher to win and lose a no-hitter during the same season in 50 years. Ironically, the previous hurler to be so bookended was Giants legend Juan Marichal, back in 1963.

Monday night's NFL game between the 49ers and Falcons was the end of an era -- the last regular season sports event at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. The first of the 1960s ballparks to open was ironically, the last to close. Although baseball 's Giants moved onto the far more fan friendly AT&T Park in 2000, football remained until this fall. Now as the 49ers get ready to load their moving vans, here are some of my images from visits to Candlestick in 1988 and '93. Come for a day game, the sun was strong and the park, while representative of the muti-purpose school of architecture, was tolerable. But after dark, or even approaching sunset, the place became raw, windy and damp -- even in August. Notice how almost everyone, in the stands and on the field, are wearing jackets. Believe me, they were needed! Candlestick's glory days for baseball took place during its first decade. Led by Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Juan Marichal, the Giants were in ...

Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia comes alive well before gametime. Their outfield concourse Asburn Alley -- honoring the beloved center fielder and broadcaster -- combines food, enertainment and shopping with local baseball history. Just past the right field corner, Bull's Barbeque is named for and often hosted by Greg "The Bull" Luzinski. Concessionaire Aramark uses a similar theme at Camden Yards whose BBQ is tied to Baltimore slugger Boog Powell.  Both are ideal if you come with an appetite and want to get your meal out of the way before the first pitch.

Jesus Montero has -- to be charitable -- not lived up to expectations since being traded to the Mariners from the Yankees. Not that New York has gotten anything out of the player they received, Michael Pineda. But Montero, expected to be a strong middle-of-the-order hitter, has shown little of the power and prowess he flashed when he made his big league debut with the Yankees in September 2011. Barely a .200 hitter before being demoted the minors in 2013, where he was sidelined by a knee injury -- and then a 50-game PED suspension. Looking toward 2014, the Mariners have to wonder if Montero can become the player they believed he was -- or whether he joins the flash-in-the-pan club, alongside such names as Bob Hazle and Kevin Maas.

Since this was the year the baseball Giants marked their centennial, I made sure to pick up their yearbook when they played the Mets at Shea Stadium. Odds are you recognize Frank Robinson in the picture on the right; he managed the 1983 club. On the opposite side is Jim Mutrie, the manager of the very first Giants from 1883. Back before you could find endless volumes of history online, I always found it fun to pick up a yearbook from a unique moment and read it cover-to-cover to soak in the names and games before my time. How many yearbooks or scorecards have you held onto? Do any of them have a strong historic significance, or emotional attachment? If you have a cool story on something you've held onto, share it by clicking on the word "comment."

Brian Roberts had a nice career going with Orioles. I always considered him a pest -- much like Marco Scutaro. but with more speed. So often, he was a thorn in the Yankees' side. But his career came unglued in 2010 with three serious injuries, including a herniated disc and a concussion. Now 36, and having not played even 80 games in each of the last four seasons, the Yankees took a chance that something's left in his tank. For $2-million, he could be a good gamble -- he played his best ball last September, when the pressure was highest and the O's (and Yanks) tried to stay in the pennant race. And he already has a place in Yankees history: on September 21st. 2008, he grounded into the final out at the Original Yankee Stadium.

Mike Napoli was the right man in the right place in 2013. The onetime Angel and Ranger signed with the Red Sox last winter. But a medical exam revealed a hip condition that led to the contact he signed with Boston being shortened and cut in value. But his performance (23 home runs and a career-best 92 RBIs) -- attitude, and leadership -- helped earn him a new deal with the Sox covering two more seasons and $32-million. Here, we see that power stroke in full force against the Yankees last September.

Hector Santiago was very impressive when I saw him against the Mets at Citi Field last May 7th. The New Jersey-born lefty went mano-to-mano that spring night with Mets ace Matt Harvey. Neither allowed a run -- Santiago threw seven shutout innings and struck out eight; Harvey went the first nine with 12k's. And neither was around at the end -- Mike Baxter drove home Ike Davis with a pinch hit single in the bottom of the 10th for a 1-0 New York victory. When I noticed that Santiago was one of the pitchers the Angels picked up in that three-team trade that involved Mark Trumbo and Adam Eaton, I wasn't surprised. He seemed like the kind of pitcher the Angels needed to return to contender stats. Yet, despite dazzling everyone in Queens that night, Santiago compiled a 4-9 record . While striking out nearly a batter an inning (137 in 149); he also walked 72 -- way too high in a hitter-friendly league. I suppose that's proof you need more than one or a handful of dazzling ga...

From June 1992, Yankees visiting the old Cleveland Stadium. That's Don Mattingly at bat for New York. Sandy Alomar Junior is behind the plate. On the outfield wall, the Indians  retired numbers 18 for Mel Harder and 19 for Bob Feller. What else catches your eye? The sparse crowd in the upper deck, especially with the bleachers looking pretty full. A sign for Continental Airlines, now merged into United. This weekend series with the Yankees marked my only visit to the ballpark replaced two years later by Jacobs, now Progressive Field.

It's Russell Martin's walk-off home run for the Yankees in September 2012. The hero heads towards his waiting teammates at home plate -- as the Stadium audio system starts to play Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York." Even for a more routine victory, the background sound sending the Yankees and their fans off into the night comes from Frank. It's December 12th, Frank Sinatra's birthday. To salute this one-of-a-kind entertainer and lifelong baseball fan, let's close today with some outside content: a link from the Sinatra.com website on Frank's long association with the national pastime and another on  Take Me Out to the Ball Game,  the baseball-themed movie in which Frank starred.

Roy Halladay retired on Monday, following two seasons ruined by injuries. Such a contrast to his first two years as a Phillie, especially 2010 when he won 21 -- including a league-high 4 shutouts, a perfect game that May against the Marlins and baseball's second post-season no-hitter that October. While he totaled "just" 203 career victories, he was baseball's best and most-feared starting pitcher for a decade. Look at the numbers he posted between 2002 and 2011 with the Blue Jays and Phils. They spell it out in three letters: ACE. And hopefully, five or so years down the line, one more show of respect, Hall of Famer.

Joe Torre, is joined by Bobby Cox and Tony LaRussa as the newest members of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Each won more than 2,000 games in careers that spanned more than four decades. Torre became the fifth manager to win at least four World Series titles. Cox led Atlanta to an unprecedented 14 straight division titles, including the 1995 World Series championship. La Russa (below) grabbed championships with Oakland and St. Louis and is credited with creating the modern structure of bullpens.    No problems with those results -- and I was impressed that all three skippers' credentials were strong enough to earn unanimous votes (keep in mind, this was a panel of 16, not several hundred). But those left on the outside -- especially Marvin Miller and George Steinbrenner -- deserved more support. While each had many detractors and critics, no one can dispute their place as movers and shakers, with Miller properly and legally establishing the true market value of a player's serv...

You share it with Phillies coach Juan Samuel. The first player in major-league history to register double figures in doubles, triples, home runs and stolen bases in each of his first four full seasons, Samuel arrived in Philadelphia toward the end of the 1983 season to add some youthful spark to the eventual pennant-winning Wheeze Kids. After coaching for the Tigers and Orioles, Samuel returned to Philadelphia in 2011. And he'll again be the club's 3rd base coach in 2014. Is Samuel the best player ever born on December 9th ? You be the judge. 19th century Hall of Famer Joe Kelly is on the list -- but his numbers don't seem to scream Cooperstown. Tony Batista flashed a lot of power for the Blue Jays and Orioles -- his 221 home runs are the most of anyone born on this date. Who else jumps off the list? Del Unser... pitcher Doc Medich. Click on comment" share your opinion.

Robinson Cano made headlines on Friday, signing the third-biggest contract in baseball history. Baseball's best second baseman -- coming off five straight seasons of at least 25 homers, 85 RBIs and a .300 average -- leaves Yankee Stadium and its homer-friendly right field for the challenge of clearing Safeco Field's more spacious dimensions (seen below in 2009 when I toured the park). You really can't criticize someone who "followed the money." But you have to wonder what the change of address will do for Cano. Different rivalries, new pitchers to become familiar with, teammates that might not offer him the protection in the lineup he enjoyed for most of his Yankee tenure. Will he thrive away from the media spotlight? Will his occasional lack of hustle or "too cool for the show" demeanor endear him to fans in the northwest? The M's parent company Nintendo bet on Cano to become the heir apparent to Ken Griffey Junior. Will he provide the sp...

Following up on Thursday's image, here's one from Dodger Stadium's upper deck. Taken on Opening Day 2008, you see the hills just beyond the ballpark. The Think Blue sign -- evoking the design of the Hollywood letters -- was put up by then-owner Frank McCourt.

Sit in the upper deck of Citizens Bank Park and you're treated to this view of the city's downtown skyline.

Jacoby Ellsbury couldn't have timed it better. Fresh off his second World Series title with the Red Sox -- and the Yankees missing the post-season for the first time since '08 -- he cashed in on free agency with a bang. $153-million worth. Actually, much like the last famous Boston transplant to the Bronx, Johnny Damon, Ellsbury 's game is built around speed, stolen bases and a high on-base percentage. A seven-year commitment to a player just turned 30 is a bit of a risk -- especially with two of his last four seasons being ruined by injury. So for the second time this winter (before it's officially winter), the Yankees roll the dice and write a big check while poaching one the best players from their arch-rival. But there's one thing Ellsbury won't be getting in the Bronx: that uniform number will surely change.

Scott Kazmir -- seen here riding in the 2008 All Star Parade in New York -- leaves the Indians for the A's in a deal reported to be over $20 million. Once again proving that left-handed pitching is among the most coveted commodities in baseball, Kazmir cashed in on a bounce-back year with the Tribe after being out of baseball due to arm and performance issues. Now, he moves to a more pitcher-friendly park in Oakland, which should help improve his 2013 line of 10 wins, 9 losses and a 4.04 ERA.

From August 18th: Phllies lefthander Cole Hamels faces the Dodgers. Eyeing his catcher's signals and concentrating on the pitch he's about to throw. What would you call his expression? Determined? Intense?