Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

  ...you share it with Anthony Recker , a "well traveled backup catcher," whose seven big league seasons included stops with the A's, Cubs, Braves and Mets -- where one of his highlights was a 13th inning homer that beat the Angels in Anaheim.  He's since built a successful second career as an analyst with MLB Network and SNY (the Mets regional network). Roy Oswalt , who won 163 games spanning the Astros, Phillies, Rangers and Rockies.  His best days came in Houston, including back-to-back 20-win seasons -- the second, 2005, marked the Astros' first trip to the World Series.

Less than 10 games into his big league career, Samuel Basallo convinced the Orioles that he had to be part of their core.  The rookie catcher, who dazzled when I saw him for AA Bowie a year ago, just signed a eight year extension worth at least $67 million.   The big question in Baltimore is how Basallo and former top prospect Adley Rutschman -- whose numbers have dropped dramatically since the middle of 2024 -- can co-exist moving forward. Luke Ritter  went above and beyond last Thursday for the Syracuse Mets.  Not only did the veteran minor leaguer homer for his team's only run, he left the outfield and took the mound in the 8th inning.  Mixing knucklers and Steve Hamilton-style floaters, Ritter baffled the Indianapolis batters for two scoreless frames -- the most effective Syracuse pitching of the evening.  While the AAA Mets still fell 16-1, Ritter could at least feel as if he channeled his inner Ohtani!  Below: Nick Solak is enjoying his se...

...you share it with  Carl Yastrzemski , the Red Sox beloved "Yaz."  His 23 Boston seasons were highlighted by 1967, when he won the AL Triple Crown while leading the "Impossible Dream" Red Sox to the franchise's first pennant since 1946.  His Hall of Fame stat line: 452 homers, 1844 RBI and a lifetime .285 average. Yaz succeeded Ted Williams patrolling left field at Fenway Park -- combined, their tenure spanned 42 years. While you know many of the accomplishments of his career, there was one that surprised even me: in 1989, he became the first former Little League ballplayer to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame . Yaz is among the Red Sox legends honored with giant numbers and plaques outside their spring training home, Jet Blue Park in Fort Myers, Florida.

Nolan McLean   opened plenty of eyes around the baseball world last Saturday.  The Mets 3rd round draft pick (out of Oklahoma State) made his MLB debut with 5-1/3 innings of shutout ball against the Mariners.  He struck out eight, and held Seattle's big mashers to just two hits in a 3-1 Mets victory.  I've been on hand for several McLean minor league starts the last couple of years -- above, he's getting ready last month for AAA Syracuse, and below, from a 2024 outing for AA Binghamton. In a season full of injuries and underachievement from their pitchers, the Mets can feel a lot better about the rest of the season if McLean can step up a few more times. From a pair of images of a rising pitcher, let's switch gears to a pair of hitters who produced two home run games this past week.  Above, Jose Ramirez , who set a Cleveland franchise record for the most multi-home run games (with 27) in last Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Marlins.  Just another huge game for b...

  ...you share it with the former A's and Yankees 3rd baseman  Scott Brosius . The Oregon native quickly became a Bronx favorite in 1998, batting batted .300 while playing stellar defense.  Scott then capped the year by earning World Series MVP honors.   And who can forget his dramatic game-tying homer in game five of the 2001 Series?  These days, he's the athletic director at his alma mater, Linfield University in Oregon.  ( My image was taken at the Yankees 2015 Old Timers Day. ) Oliver Perez  spent 20 seasons in the majors -- proof that lefthanded pitchers always seem to have a job!  The native of Mexico bookended his career with the Padres and Diamondbacks; all told he appeared in 703 games -- the most famous, April 15th, 2009, when he was the starting and winning pitcher in the Mets first Citi Field victory  (7-2 over San Diego).  I never photographed Perez in a New York uniform; this image taken with the 2013 Mariners will hav...

More than 30 years after it first opened, Camden Yards remains a baseball must-see.  The Baltimore Orioles home park kicked off the trend of retro-design that influenced almost every stadium built since it opened in 1992.  The close in seating and other architectural cues not only pay homage to beloved past venues such as Ebbets Field, and the venerable Fenway Park and Wrigley Field, but simply create a nicer fan experience.  The notion of a ballpark fitting into a cityscape, instead of dominating or replacing it led to incorporating the B&O Warehouse building into the design of Camden Yards, making it the home of restaurants, offices and souvenir shops -- while creating an appealing backdrop and target for aspiring sluggers. And the ballpark hasn't remained stagnant: enhanced lighting, video and signage keep it up to date, with fireworks now brightening the sky after an O's victory! In light of the Orioles' disappointing season, there are discount food stands with $4...

...you share it with Anthony Rizzo .  He starred at 1st base for the Cubs and Yankees, appearing in the World Series with both clubs -- winning with the curse-snapping 2016 guys from Wrigley, and coming up short last fall in the Bronx.  Unsigned this past winter, his career ended with 303 home runs, four Gold Gloves and being hit by a pitch 222 times -- the eighth most all-time! He shares it with  Omar de los Santos .  The Mets outfield prospect opened the season at Binghamton (where I snapped this image on April 24th).  The Santo Domingo native had an impressive 2022 season at St. Lucie, but struggled through injuries and disappointing performance the next two years.  Recently promoted to AAA Syracuse, he's been hitting well. including a walk-off two-run homer on July 27th against Omaha.    

August 5th, 2015 :  Zooming in on Luis Severino 's major league debut against the Yankees arch-rivals, the Red Sox.  I was on hand as the rookie gave up just two runs over five innings -- one of which came on David Ortiz homer, as Boston held on for a 2-1 victory .  Severino went on to win five games in that half-season; over parts of eight years -- highlighted by his 19 wins in 2018 -- Sevy went 54-37 as a Yankee.    

...you share it with Madison Bumgarner , a terrific pitcher during the Giants' even-year dynasty of the 2010s -- who won three rings and claimed a place among the game's greatest post-season performers. Seen here during his 2016 Wild Card game shutout of the Mets in New York, the North Carolina native went 8-3 in playoff and World Series action -- including a spotless 4-0 mark in baseball's Fall Classic. "Mad Bum" should be an interesting candidate when he becomes eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2029.  Post-season brilliance, but only five great regular seasons and a mundane 134-124 career record.  What counts more: success in the biggest games on the biggest stage or a more sustained form of brilliance?