Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

...you share it with Trevor Story.   The power hitting shortstop starred for six seasons in Colorado, but has struggled since moving to Boston  as a 2022 free agent -- just two homers and a .255 average in 2024.  (Could he be an example of Coors Field Syndome?)  Even with his recent decline, Story is alltime leader in WAR for players born on this date . Ranking second is the late Gus Bell .  A four-time All Star with the 1950s Reds, where he played alongside Frank Robinson and Ted Kluszewski, the Louisville native was also the patriarch of one of baseball's rare three-generation families: his son Buddy and grandsons Mike and David later played in the majors.   

During a recent extended road trip, I had the chance to check out several ballparks I'd never previously seen.  The most surprising discovery came in Oklahoma City, where I got good look at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.  The home of the Dodgers Triple A farm club has a classic look -- along with numerous details honoring Oklahoma baseball history.  We'll start with the right field gate -- named for Warren Spahn and featuring a statue honoring the winningest lefthanded pitcher of all time.  While born and raised in Buffalo, New York, Spahn was stationed in Oklahoma during World War II, where he married a woman from the Sooner State and bought a ranch in Hartshorne that became their off-season home. Oklahoma native Johnny Bench is the star whose statue welcomes you at the home plate entrance.  The 1968 NL Rookie of the Year, two-time MVP and 14-time All Star was the first catcher ever to lead a league in home runs and ranks with Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella, Mike Piazza and Micke

  ...you share it with Giancarlo Stanton , who in his seven years as a Yankee went from one of baseball's most feared sluggers to symbol of the fans' frustration — but rebounded in October for a brilliant post-season.   Traded (along with a massive contract) by the penny-pinching Marlins after a 59-home run season earned him National League MVP honors, he's never quite met expectations as the bookend slugger for homegrown Aaron Judge.  The story, since 2019, is complicated by a wave of injuries that turned him into an awkward-swinging lead footed DH who at times drew pity from network TV announcers. His bat still has impact: four home runs in this year’s ALCS and two more during the World Series  showed fans how intimidating Stanton can be when healthy and on his “A” game  

Congratulations to Freddie Freeman for leading the Dodgers to their first World Series title in a normal season since 1988.  Homering in the first four games of the Fall Classic -- and then contributing a run-producing single in game five's historic fifth inning rally -- earned him MVP honors and likely locked in a future place for him in Cooperstown.  While I haven't snapped him in a game since moving to LA, here is in action for the Braves, were he spent his first 12 seasons, including 2019. (Below:) The Eras Committee has announced its ballot for 2025 induction into the Hall of Fame.  Covering those who played before 1980, the group includes Dick Allen , Tommy John, Steve Garvey, the recently deceased Luis Tiant and  Negro Leaguers John Donaldson and Vic Harris.  Let's hope this panel of longtime writers and historians gets it right when it comes to Tommy John -- who won 288 thanks to being the first recipient of the surgery that bears his name -- and Dick Allen -- one o

...you share it with Masahiro Tanaka , the hard-throwing Japanese ace of the 2010-decade Yankees.  Posting a winning record along with double digit victories every season from 2014-'19, he went 78-46 during his seven MLB seasons before returning to Rakuten in his native country for 2021. (Below:)  There's also a current Yankee born on the 1st of November: Trent Grisham , the defensively gifted outfielder who came to the Bronx along with Juan Soto, hit just .190, but committed only two errors in 69 games this season.  

...you share with Juan Soto , who after just seven years in the majors is already the alltime leader in WAR for everyday players born on this date. Has anyone ever enjoyed a better walk year?  Traded to the Yankees last winter, well aware that he'd enter free agency, the ex-Nat and Padre took full advantage of hitting ahead of Aaron Judge, crushing 41 homers, driving in 109 and walking 129 times (10 more than he struck out!).  He then capped his heroics last Saturday night by launching a tie-breaking three-run rocket in the 10th inning to lift the Yanks to their first pennant in 15 years. As Mel Brooks said, "It's good to be king.”