Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

From July 2012, it's the famous Presidents Race at Nationals Park (Teddy Roosevelt is in the lead, with Abe Lincoln, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson bringing up the rear). What you can't tell from this picture is how hot it was that day. Let's give a round of applause to the folks who don those hefty and heavy latex heads and then get to run around the warning track toward the dugout.

On a day when the New York temperature again failed to get above freezing, it was delightful to catch some of the first exhibition games on TV -- capped by the Dodgers and D'backs with Vin Scully back behind the microphone. Always well prepared, he had some tidbits on Matt Tuiasosopo's family sports roots when the now-Arizona outfielder came to bat. Until then, I wasn't even aware that was he longer a Tiger. The Seattle-area product -- whose dad played linebacker for the Seahawks -- made the Detroit roster a year ago after a sizzling spring training. Above, he's touching third base and heading toward the plate after homering against the Mets at Port St. Lucie.

February 26th... a day chock full of interesting baseball birthdays. Jose Reyes, for one. The Mets lead-off man and offensive catalyst is the only player in club history to lead the National League in batting. He did that in 2011, before leaving as a free agent for the Marlins, who traded him a year later to the Blue Jays. If you grew up watching the great Yankees teams of the early '60s, you'll remember power-hitting Johnny Blanchard. In 1961, the year of Mantle and Maris chasing the Babe, he smacked 21 homers in just 243 at-bats. He was born February 26th, 1933. Exactly two years later, the Yankees released Babe Ruth. J.T. Snow's also on today's birthday list along with reliever Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez, Mariners infielder Dustin Ackley and William Frawley, a TV legend as Fred Mertz, Grandpa Bub of My Three Sons  -- and very possibly the most avid baseball fan in show biz. How can you not love a guy who had it written into his I Love Lucy co...

I visited the Dodgers' Arizona home in March 2010. Spacious and modern but quite generic -- and offering little indication that the ghosts of Vero Beach migrated west after the Dodgers left their historic spring training headquarters.  A gray morning turned into a bright afternoon. Take a look at the outfield fence -- I wonder if it remains ad-free four years later? If you've seen video footage with the Dodgers recently -- keep in mind their players reported early because of the season-opening trip to Australia -- let me know if the outfield walls remain a clean green.

Are you as surprised as I was with the four-year extension Brett Gardner received? I don't grade him as worthy of what's really a five-year commitment. Sure, he's an above-average fielder. But he's not the offensive force some perceive him to be -- especially when the Yanks just signed a far better version of him in Jacoby Ellsbury. Gardner, who turned 30 last summer, did post a career high in extra-base hits, with 33 doubles and an AL-best 10 triples. But he batted just .273, not .300 -- and his on-base percentage was under .350. Worse, he's become less adept at stealing bases -- his success rate is just 75%. If his speed is diminishing -- as often is the case when a player turns 30 -- what will his value be as the club moves forward? Below, one of my favorite action shots from last season: last June 3rd against Cleveland, Andy Pettitte -- from his knees nails Indians speedster Michael Bourn.

The first game of this Florida trip matched the Phillies and Yankees. Seven months later, they'd meet again in the World Series. Pitcher Kyle Kendrick, who spent part of the season in the minors, didn't appear in the Fall Classic, while Hideki Matsui (55 for the Yanks) would be named MVP when New York dethroned the previous champs in six games.

Welcome to the pre-season home of the Royals and Rangers, a half-hour outside Phoenix.  

Scottsdale Stadium, pre-season home of the San Francisco Giants. The image is accurate -- it was a cloudy and usually cool day for March, only around 60 degrees. 2010 proved to be an historic year for the Giants, who went onto win their first World Series since 1954, when the club still hailed from New York. That's Barry Zito pitching to the Dodgers' James Loney, with Manny Ramirez taking his lead off 1st base.

Before a March 2005 Grapefruit League game between the Mets and Orioles in Fort Lauderdale, there's a little friendly fraternizing. Piazza already some of his catcher's gear on. Mets p.r. director Jay Horwitz is chatting at the right side. Does anything else jump out at you from this scene?

When you visit MCU Park in Brooklyn, there are many symbols honoring the borough's rich and remarkable baseball history. Just check the facade on the upper portion of the grandstand. Moving left to right, there's Dodger legends Carl Erskine, Don Newcombe, Jackie Robinson, followed by The Catbird Seat. That's named for a pet expression of legendary Brooklyn Dodgers broadcaster Red Barber (note the microphone on the plaque) -- who was born February 17th, 1908. Barber pioneered baseball for Brooklyn audiences, called the historic debut of Jackie Robinson -- which coincided with the Dodgers jump from also-rans to perennial contenders. His candor, keen eye and way with words made him an intrinsic part of the Dodgers east coast legacy. Concluding our scan to the right: McDevitt - Pignatano (Danny and Joe; the battery for the Dodgers' final game at Ebbets Field on September 24th, 1957 in which McDevitt tossed a three-hit shutout) and Duke Snider. 

Here's one of those relatively small details that makes Bright House Field, the Phillies' spring training home, so special. The marker in the picnic area beyond left field, shows the distance from Clearwater to where the Phils play and where their farm clubs are based. Remarkably similar distances, as the Phillies are one of the teams who've moved most of their minor league affiliates close to where their big leaguers play. And, with all the snow we've had the last month and a half up north, it's just nice to have an excuse to use a photo with a palm tree or two. Enjoy it as baseball starts to emerge from its off-season and begins to gear up toward opening day. Pitchers and catchers are reporting to camps in Florida and Arizona. The first exhibition games are less than two weeks away. Are you ready? As I look at a backyard buried in snow -- you bet I am!

Wednesday's other hot baseball headline came out of Philadelphia: the Phillies signing A.J. Burnett to a one-year $16-million contract. Ridiculous number, right? Well, remember that old economics lesson in college -- the law of supply and demand? The Phillies just became baseball's embodiment of it. With word that their ace Cole Hamels had "shoulder tendonitis" and would miss the beginning of the regular season (and who knows how much more)... a team that felt it needed to win now to reverse a slide and attendance and TV ratings felt it needed to fill Hamels spot NOW. In steps Burnett, taking full advantage of the limited supply of available quality starters and Philadelphia's obvious need. With Cliff Lee still in red pinstripes and Hamels hopefully returning before schools let out, the Phils might have one of the best starting rotations in the National League. And GM Ruben Amaro Junior certainly showed fans that in a crisis, he wasn't going to sit on hi...

Approaching his 40th birthday and 19th year as the Yankees everyday shortstop, Derek Jeter announced today that 2014 will his final season. Revealing his plan via Facebook , Jeter offered a Thank You note to fans. The Yankee captain has lived his boyhood dream -- playing shortstop in the Bronx, as the heart-and-soul of five World Series winners -- and now prepares for the next chapter of his already charmed life. His place in Yankee history is already assured: no one will ever wear #2 after him. And in 2020 -- notice how that year is dominated by two's -- he'll be voted into Cooperstown. Being a fan since the slugging '61 Yankees, the Bronx Bombers were always built around the sluggers -- Mantle and Maris when I was a kid, later Reggie and Nettles. There were always great starting pitchers, especially the lefties -- Whitey Ford, then Ron Guidry -- and clutch relievers, Luis Arroyo, Sparky Lyle, Goose Gossage and, of course, in the current run, the incomparable Mariano R...

These days, most teams have a spring training complex: a series of practice fields, meeting rooms and other facilities designed to get a team ready for the season ahead. We're in Clearwater, Florida checking on the fields around Bright House Field.

How's this for an image to help thaw you out from the grip of winter? The Cubs and Padres in Peoria, AZ with skies that certainly fit the definition of "deep blue." How many times have you gone to Spring Training? Does your team train in Florida or Arizona? What's your favorite reason for making this a part of your baseball routine -- as opposed to say, getting swept up in college basketball's March Madness? Click on the word "comment" and share your thoughts.

Pitchers and catchers will start reporting to camps in Florida and Arizona. And by the 26th, the spring training games will start. Living here in the frozen north, nothing hints that spring will eventually arrive than reading about the first workouts, soon followed by which young players who have impressed the coaches and media. These images are from Peoria, Arizona in March 2011, with the Mariners hosting the Royals.

After a year of accusations and denials and a contentious arbitration process that ended with a 162-game suspension, it appears calm is about to break out. Late this afternoon, word surfaced that Alex Rodriguez was dropping his law suits against Major League Baseball and its Players Association. He will sit out the 2014 season, as the damage from the Biogenesis scandal begins to abate. Of course, with A-rod's fate for this year sealed, speculation will turn to 2015. Will he attempt to return with three years (and $61-million) left on his mega-contract the summer he turns 40? How will a full year away from the game affect him? And would the Yankees -- who now turn to a possible platoon of Kelly Johnson and Eduardo Nunez want Alex back? A 93-win year and a trip to the post-season might make Life After Rodriguez a lot more comfortable in the Bronx. What do you think? Click on the word "comment" and  share your opinion.

Last summer, during my second trip to Baltimore, I toured the Babe Ruth house and museum. I've been waiting to share these until February 6th -- the Bambino's birthday. Just a few blocks from Camden Yards is the now-restored row house owned by young George's bar owner father. While the living room looks much like it did a century ago, most of the rest of the house has been converted to a museum displaying uniforms and other mementos of the Babe. Below, one of the rare items -- a baseball uniform from Saint Mary's the "industrial school" where Babe's father placed his rather incorrigible son at age 7. There, his interest in the national pastime was stoked by Brother Matthias, the one person who connected with young George. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Babe Ruth's major league debut. The date was July 11th, 1914, the place, Fenway Park. That afternoon, the 19-year old lefty pitched seven innings and earned the win as the Rex Sox ...

With another day of snow, sleet and freezing rain gripping the northeast, I am counting the days until pitchers and catchers report. Three weeks from today, the first Grapefruit League games will be played. It's 2011 at the Phillies spring home Bright House Field in Clearwater -- home of that left field Tiki Bar. Deep blue skies, fans on the berm, a palm tree -- total vacation mode.

I didn't intend for this to be shot with a fish-eye effect, but I like the way it turned out. Of course, it's hard to take a bad photo at Camden Yards, as close to perfect a ballpark as has been built since World War II.

...you share it with Lucas Duda of the Mets. He's seen here last April 5th against the Marlins. The Riverside, California product has shown home run and the ability to work a walk in parts of four big league seasons. But a low batting average -- and meager RBI totals -- haven't made him a strong prospect. He and Ike Davis will likely go into spring training battling for a starting spot. But neither had inspired much confidence.