Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

... Yangervis Solarte .  The Venezuelan 3rd baseman made a brief splash with the 2014 Yankees.  Taking advantage of Alex Rodriguez's PED suspension, he batted .429 in Grapefruit League play and made the opening day roster.   While he came back to earth by mid-season, the switch hitter  spent 5-1/2 years in the big leagues, with later stops in San Diego, Toronto and San Francisco. Though he hasn't appeared in the majors since 2019, Solarte has continued his career in the Mexican League.  He's currently with Conspiradores de Querétaro, where at last check, he was hitting in the .340s.  

Trailing 8-1 in the bottom of the 8th inning, the Mets score a (then-) team-record-tying 10 runs to come from behind and  beat the Braves 11-8 .  Mike Piazza 's 3-run home run snaps a tie and puts the Mets ahead to stay -- as they plate nine of those runs with two outs. More than 52,000 were on hand at Shea Stadium to witness Mets history. The Mets went on to win the National League pennant in 2000.  Piazza slugged 38 homers and, for the sixth and final time, drove in over 100 runs.  He made the All Star team and finished third for NL MVP. My photos are from July 30th, 2016, when the Mets retired Piazza's number 31.  

​ ...you share it with Derek Jeter . The Captain of the most recent Yankee dynasty and the greatest shortshop ever to call the Bronx his home.  A career full of highlights and headlines: the 1996 AL Rookie of the Year, 14-time All Star and five-time World Series champion.  Earning his nickname  Mister November  for the first home run ever in the 11th month  -- a walk-off shot in game four of the 2001 World Series --  reaching  the 3000 hit milestone by going 5-for-5; and becoming the first player with 200 career post-season hits. What comes to mind instantly is his presence -- the instinctive baseball knowledge, the leadership, the mental focus, the uncanny sense that by the middle of his rookie year with the Yankees, he was the best player on the field. The lifelong Yankee fan with New Jersey grandparents exuded the cool, calm demeanor with a hint of a Di Maggio.  Along with another uncommonly well-grounded legend, Mariano Rivera, Jeter personif...

Baseball memorabilia keeps rising in value... from the infamous Honus Wagner card to game-worn uniforms, prices for items tied to the game's legends command almost unimaginable prices.   With that in mind, look at the uniform top in these photos. A report surfaced Wednesday that knocked my socks off:  the Yankee uniform shirt worn by Aaron Judge when he made his major league debut -- and history -- on August 13th, 2016 , is going to auction (via Sotheby's) July 1st and is expected to go for at least $3 million dollars .  You must remember the second inning of that that game: that was when he and Tyler Austin, became the first pair of teammates to homer back-to-back in their first big league plate appearances.  (Below, my snap of Judge's swing for his first round-tripper.)  A one of a kind moment that launched the career of a player now ranked among the greatest Yankees ever.  And the shirt I captured from the perfect spot in the 1st base line photo we...

Sunday, the Mets did something rare.  They had not one, not two, but three of their players make rehab starts in the same game.  At Syracuse, Francisco Lindor (above and below), was joined by Tyrone Taylor and Ronny Mauricio in the lineup for the AAA Mets as they hosted the Orioles' Norfolk affiliate.  While the shortstop went hitless, he moved well in the field and hit a long fly to left fielder that didn't miss by much from becoming a home run. Not surprisingly, they were top three batters in the Syracuse order.  Lindor, led off followed by center fielder Taylor (here) and then Mauricio.  All three have been sidelined for much of the season, as the Mets have struggled to a losing record, nine games under .500. Working his way back after a fractured thumb, Mauricio had a hit and a walk. Below, I captured him standing side-by-side with Lindor in the Syracuse infield. And since Sunday was clearly the showcase day for rehabbing players, Norfolk had one of th...

... you share it with Jacob deGrom .  The best starting pitcher developed by the Mets since Doc Gooden was NL Rookie of the Year in 2014 and went on to win two Cy Young Awards and two strikeout titles during his nine seasons at Citi Field.  But injuries proved to be a problem in 2021 and '22, despite impressive work.   After opting out of his contract, he signed a five-year deal with the Rangers.  But less than two months into his Texas tenure, he underwent Tommy John surgery and watched his new teammates win a World Series without him. Now the question is, with just 100 career victories, will be post big enough career numbers -- especially in the era where 20-game winners are virtually extinct -- to merit Cooperstown consideration.   Along with a past ace, today's birthday circle includes a possible future, one.  Jonah Tong   rocketed his way through the Mets farm system in just 2-1/2 years and made his major league debut last August 29th.  ...