Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

If it's June, it must be time for ( Kyle )  Schwarb ombs !  The Phillies left fielder and reigning NL home run champ has a history of going into high gear during June, and he did it again Sunday afternoon with a pair of homers and six RBI as the Phillies crushed the Nationals in DC.    Below : While we're talking Sunday home runs, a shout out for Eddie Rosario of the Braves.  The 2021 post-season hero turned around yesterday's game against the Diamondbacks with a top of the 9th grand slam that put Atlanta ahead to stay. We learned over the weekend of yet another setback for Stephen Strasburg.   The Nationals' onetime co-ace and 2019 World Series MVP is now dealing with "severe nerve damage" and has been shut down again.  He has appeared in just eight games (winning only one) since landing a seven-year contract extension the following winter.  Ironically, I snapped this photo at 2013 Citi Field game where he was matched up against Matt Harvey, the Mets star-cr

...you share it with  Raul Ibanez . The lefty-hitting outfielder spent 19 seasons in the majors, hitting 305 regular season homers and another six in the playoffs -- most famously, this walk-off blast in 2012 to beat the Orioles in the 12th inning of an ALDS game that he'd tied in the 9th with a pinch hit homer.  Ibanez now works for the Commissioner's office, focusing on rules, equipment and on-field technology, as well as MLB initiatives in scouting and amateur baseball.   Mike Stanton pitched in the Bronx for seven of his 20 big league seasons -- earning rings in 1998, '99 and 2000.  Now an Astros broadcaster, the Houston native has one more link to New York -- he's  one of the 155 players to have appeared for both the Yankees and Mets, We also remember a pair of long-time Yankees : Gene Michael , who deserves a plaque in Monument Park. Hockey uses the term "builder" to describe outstanding front office talent, and in Yankee history, that's the best wa

1938 :  Lou Gehrig , playing in his 2000th consecutive game, delivers an RBI single and a walk as the Yankees outscore the Red Sox 12-9 in the Bronx.    There are so many remarkable stats in Gehrig's career; let's focus on walks this time.  While crushing 493 home runs, he walked 1508 times.  Of course, that's a sign of respect.  And while walks are valued even more these days -- prioritizing on-base percentage and OPS -- did you know that the Greatest New York City Born Player Ever walked 90 or more times in 13 consecutive seasons?? And in 11 of those seasons (including 1938), he got a free pass 100 times or more?  Balance that against him striking out just 790 times -- Lou walked nearly twice as much as he was whiffed.  Who does that today? Our other milestone involves another product of New York City public schools: 2008 :   Manny Ramirez becomes the 24th player to reach 500 career home runs... when he connects in the 7th inning off the Orioles' Chad Bradford.  Th

  Proving that careers can came full circle, Craig Kimbrel earned his 400th career save Friday night by holding off the club where he spent his first five seasons, the Braves.  Working in front of a packed house, with several family members on hand, including his father, the Phillies closer retired Ronald Acuna Junior to close out a 6-4 win over the NL East leading Braves. I caught Kimbrel in his familiar "crane" stance April 4th when the Phillies visited the Yankees. Last Wednesday, I got my first look at Elly de la Cruz .  The Reds uber prospect homered in their victory at Syracuse, while enjoying quality at bats all evening.  As of this morning, this 20-year old is batting .304 with 10 homers, 31 RBIs and nine steals -- ESPN has tabbed the switch hitter baseball's number-one prospect -- and this morning The Athletic  fuels speculation that de la Cruz's promotion to Cincinnati is imminent. Josh Donaldson authored a nice entry in the record books  on this date in 20

...you share it with Phillies backup catcher Garrett Stubbs .  Playing behind ironman JT Realmuto, he never got into a post-season game last fall as the NL's third Wild Card team made it all the way to the World Series.  But he certainly enjoyed the pre-game introductions at home -- here is before game three of the NLCS. I'd forgotten that Sam Haggerty  made his MLB debut with the 2019 Mets.  Wearing #19, he pinch ran (and scored an 8th inning run) in a September 6th walk off win over the Phils at Citi Field.  My only photo of him is from the on-field celebration that night. The Mariners picked him up on waivers the following winter.  He's now in his fourth season as a backup player with Seattle. Below:  Ben Zobrist  was one of baseball's "Swiss Army Knives."  Over a 14-season career, highlighted by time with Rays and Cubs, he capably played every position except pitcher and catcher.  This three time all star was a valuable piece on the Cubs 2016 World Series

In the longest Mets/Dodgers game ever, Rusty Staub doubles home Cleon Jones in the top of the 19th inning, to put the Mets ahead to stay.   Run-scoring hits from Ken Boswell and Ed Kranepool extend the lead, as the New Yorkers go on to a 7-3 victory .  Jim McAndrew retires L.A. in the bottom of the inning, in a marathon ending at 4:42am New York time. Rusty finished with five hits on the night in nine at-bats. All 19 of the Dodgers hits were singles -- Willie Davis had six of them. Tom Seaver and Tommy John were the game's starting pitchers.  Between them, they totaled 599 career victories.  But on this night, neither finished the 7th inning,

He's back... with an N-Y on his cap.  Gary Sanchez made his Mets debut over the weekend.  No home runs yet, but none of the fielding miscues that led to his exile from the Bronx.  With Buck Showalter's catching corps thinned by injury, the former Yankee will split time with the promising, but still inexperienced Francisco Alvarez for the time being. Below:  Showalter seems to have trouble finding a spot for Mark Vientos .  After crushing Triple A pitching (13 homers and 11 doubles) for the first six weeks, he's only made it into three games since being recalled.  It probably doesn't help that two other graduates of the Mets farm system, Brett Baty and Pete Alonso (the MLB leader in homers) are blocking him at the infield corners.  Daniel Vogelbach still ranks ahead of him as a DH.  And Gary Sanchez might get some DH time as well, especially if he starts to show the power from his Yankee years.  This might turn Vientos into trade bait as we move towards deadline time ju

...you share it with Pirates 1st baseman Ji-Man Choi .  Now with his fifth MLB club, does anyone recall his brief five game trial with the 2017 Yankees -- that began when he crushed a 457 foot home run in his very first game? The Korea native is has battled injuries in recent years -- and has appeared in just nine games this season after being traded from the Rays, where I saw him last in 2021.  He's expected back from a strained achilles in about a month. A couple of other Yankee connections on today's list:  Deivi Garcia , the once-top pitching prospect whose only 2023 appearance was a three-inning relief outing that earned his first major league save. And the late Gil McDougald , the versatile and talented infielder who played his entire 10-season career with the Yanks, winning the 1951 Rookie of the Year Award -- and earning five World Series runs -- before a successful second career as Fordham's baseball coach. Then, on Saturday : Jayson Werth , the onetime Dodger pros

John Kruk was the hitting star, with five hits in his last five at bats, in the Phillies 10-3 win over the Marlins at Joe Robbie Stadium. Following a groundout to end the 1st inning, the Phils' 1st baseman delivered an RBI single in the 3rd, a single leading off the 5th, an RBI ground rule double in the 6th, plus singles in the 8th and 9th to help power the Philadelphia attack. The victory raised the NL East leaders' record to 26-10, 5-1/2 games ahead of the second place Expos.  The Phillies went onto win the division and defeat the Braves in a six-game NL Championship Series, before falling to Joe Carter and the Blue Jays in the World Series.  John Kruk made the All Star team for the third year in a row, batted .316 with 111 walks and 85 RBIs. These days, Kruk remains a Philadelphia favorite, calling Phillies games on TV.  My image is from July 26th, 2017, when John and partners Tom McCarthy and Ben Davis broadcast from the outfield seats.

  I haven't seen Mookie Betts in person since his Red Sox days.  No surprise, he's been a perfect fit for the Dodgers as well.  Sunday, he homered as L.A. finished off a series sweep over the highly touted but so far underwhelming Padres. (Below) That capped another frustrating weekend for Manny Machado , who went 0 for 3 with a walk, as San Diego lost its 11th consecutive series to the Dodgers.  11!  Not quite the results AJ Preller and Peter Seidler were expecting after spending big to beef up the roster. I got my first look at Binghamton's  Jose Peroza last Tuesday and I liked what I saw -- especially his home run off Rockies' prospect Case Williams. One more from the minor league file: Anthony Volpe , a year ago with Double-A Somerset.  The Yankees rookie shortstop flashed some impressive power this last week -- with three home runs and a triple.  Plus, after stealing 50 to lead the minors last year, he's swiped 13, good for second place in the American League

...you share it with Yogi Berra .  Born on this date in 1925, one of the game's greatest catchers and larger-than-life personalities is the subject of the just-released documentary It Ain't Over.   Opening today in theaters in New York and Los Angeles, its mission is to remind fans that this likeable and witty guy -- who promoted everything from Yoo Hoo chocolate drink to AFLAC insurance -- was among the very best players ever to take the field. A three-time AL MVP, who finished in the Top 4 of voting for seven consecutive seasons, 18-time all star and member of 10 World Series champions, it's fair to call him the heart of the Yankees post-World War II dynasty.  A baseball life that spanned Babe Ruth -- whom he met and was photographed with early in his career -- to Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, whom he coached every spring training.  And please remember his heroics away from the diamond, including serving on a rocket launching boat just off the coast during the invasion

Last night, Carlos Carrasco took his first big step toward returning to the Mets -- working three innings and giving up a run, two hits and a walk.  He was efficient, using just 33 pitches and getting the majority of his outs on ground balls.  With Max Scherzer now a question mark with neck spasms, Cookie can't back to Citi Field quick enough. (Below)  10 years ago today, May 10th, 2013, Cardinals rookie righthander  Shelby Miller   gave up a single to Colorado's Eric Young Junior to open the game -- and then retired the next 27 consecutive batters for a complete game shutout.  Miller has bounced around a lot in the decade since; in 2022, he was working out of the Scranton-Wilkes Barre bullpen when I caught him in action.  This season, he's back in the majors with the Dodgers.     

Some good news on the injury front for the Phillies.  Starting pitcher Ranger Suarez  took a big step toward returning to the rotation with two dominating innings in last Tuesday night's rehab start for Triple A Lehigh Valley -- and then followed things Sunday with a longer (and just as effective) outing. (Below)   Si món Muzziotti' s path to Philadelphia is blocked by Brandon Marsh's breakout season.  So, barring injury, the Venezuelan outfielder is more likely to be included in a mid-summer trade package come July.  He's certainly opening eyes so far in 2023 -- hitting a nifty .381 with 17 RBI out of the leadoff spot for Lehigh Valley. He had three hits last Tuesday night when I saw the Iron Pigs visiting Syracuse. With the Mets also struggling in the early going, don't be surprised to see Ronny Mauricio promoted soon.  The Dominican-born shortstop has moved to 2nd base (thanks to Francisco Lindor's mega-contract) and has really upped his game compared to 202

...you share it with one of the American League's rising young pitchers, the Mariners righthander Logan Gilbert .  A 13-game winner a year ago as Seattle ended what had been MLB's longest post-season, drought, the Florida native is one of several Stetson Universal products in the majors today -- along with the Rangers' Jacob deGrom and the Red Sox' Corey Kluber.  Saturday (May 6th)'s birthday star can lay claim to being the Greatest Living Major Leaguer. B eloved by fans in both San Francisco and New York,  Willie Mays  crushed 660 lifetime home runs, batted a lifetime .302 and earned 12 Gold Gloves.   Let's not forgot one of the most memorable World Series catches ever, that over-the-shoulder grab of Vic Wertz' soaring fly ball in the deepest reaches of center field at the Polo Grounds in the opening game of the 1954 fall classic. You still marvel at it every time you see the replay.  Or  his 50 home run seasons 10 years apart, in 1955 and '65 -- the on

Joe DiMaggio makes his Yankee debut.  After sitting out the first month of the season with a foot injury, the highly touted rookie contributes three hits and scores three runs in a 14-5 rout of the St. Louis Browns in the Bronx.  The future Hall of Famer had a hot start, with at least one hit in each of his first four games in pinstripes! My biggest surprise in researching the game:  Joe D played left field, not center.  Ben Chapman manned that position. In fact, Joe DiMaggio didn't appear in center until his 99th game with the Yankees , that July 31st!   My top image of Joe DiMaggio is from the Yankees 1996 Old Timers Day celebration. As became tradition, Joe D was always the last player introduced to the crowd.

It won't be long before Justin Verlander makes his Mets regular season debut.  He flashed mid-season form for most Friday's rehab start at AA Binghamton.  While Akron tagged him for a couple of long fly outs in the 1st inning, the Rubber Ducks made worse contact as the game rolled on -- capped by the future Hall of Famer striking out the final two batters of his 70-pitch, 4-2/3 inning appearance.  While neither Justin nor the Mets have said whether he'll need another tuneup before taking the mound in Queens, he looked ready enough to the crowd at Mirabito Stadium.  While Buck Showalter can't pencil in Verlander for today's makeup doubleheader, he will depend on Denyi Reyes for some quality innings against the Braves.  After five scoreless relief appearances, he was sent back to AAA Syracuse -- but his only start on April 23rd wasn't as impressive.  The 6'4 righty threw just 20 of his 36 pitches for strikes, while giving up two runs in an inning and two-thir