Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

  ...you share it with Bryce Harper .  The two-time NL MVP and 2012 Rookie of the Year has now played more seasons with the Phillies (8) than the Nationals.  His “in your face” personality rubs many opponents the wrong way — as well as fans in Washington and New York — but has endeared him to the Philadelphia faithful since inking a then-record free agent contract.  So has his "bedlam at the Bank" homer in the 2022 NLCS that helped send the Phillies to the World Series. And we remember Tim McCarver , the witty and astute TV analyst -- and a rare player that saw action in four different decades -- who made the broadcasters wing of the Baseball Hall through his work with the Phillies and Mets, as well as network gigs with ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX.

With Milwaukee off to a strong start in the NLCS, I found a good photo of one of their rising stars. Brice Turang delivered the first big hit of the series, homering Sunday night for the Brewers first run against  Tarik Skubal of the Dodgers.   Now in his fourth season with Milwaukee, the Corona, California native has improved his production steadily.  This year, he smacked 21 homers and for the first time, drove in 100 runs.  He's no slouch with the glove, either... leading all National League 2nd basemen in putouts and double plays. (My image of Turang is from a June 2023 game against the Mets at Citi Field.)  

...you share it with Starling Marte .  The Dominican outfielder closed out a 15-season career with the 2026 Royals, but is best known for his time with the Pirates where he twice won Gold Gloves and played on three teams that made the post-season. He was an NL All Star in 2022, when he joined the Mets, but his numbers gradually declined in subsequent years. Yohandy Morales is one of the talented prospects on which the Nationals are banking their future.  The Miami native and son of former Cuban national team star (and Yankees and Mets farmhand)  Andy Morales  was Washington's 2nd round pick in 2023.  "YoYo" completed his matriculation this season by belting 25 homers at Triple A Rochester and four more after Nats promoted him in September. And we remember Joe Pepitone , best known for his eight years as a Yankee (1962-'69), where he took over for Moose Skowron at 1st base, played on three pennant winners (highlighted by a grand slam in 1964 World Series against...

  ...you share it with Aaron Hicks .  The Twins 2008 1st round draft pick struggled in his three Minnesota seasons, before being traded to the Yankees. After a couple of ordinary years, he blossomed in 2018, taking over for Jacoby Ellsbury as the everyday center fielder.  But he never posted similar numbers after signing a long-term contract extension.  Released in 2023, he spent time with the Orioles and Angels before calling it a career. October 2nd's birthday circle lacks star power.  You'd recognize some of the other names such as Earl Wilson, a starting pitcher for the 1968 World Champion Tigers, Lance McCullers Junior, an effective pitcher for the Astros and Brewers, longtime reliever "Everyday" Eddie Guardado and Andre Robertson, a promising Yankee infielder of the early 1980s whose career was derailed by injuries in a Manhattan car wreck. While no one born on this date has made the Hall of Fame, the best player (by WAR) with this birthday deserves more C...

Do you think Mets baseball operations head David Stearns would want a do-over on letting Pete Alonso leave for the Orioles as a free agent?  While New York had tons of trouble finding a dependable replacement, the former NL Rookie of the Year led the American League in RBIs (113) and homers (43) -- his sixth consecutive season with 30 or more! (Below:) I'd be shocked if Max Venable doesn't win AL Manager of the Year honors.  After leading the White Sox to almost a 20-win improvement in his first season at Rate Field, Chicago not only added 24 wins to their record but claimed the final American League Wild Card!  They’ll battle the Astros in one of the AL series.  Eduardo Valencia gave Justin Verlander a special send-off last Saturday.  The rookie catcher, whom I saw early in the season with the Tigers' AAA club, the Toledo Mudhens, hit a walkoff homer in the bottom of the 9th, lifting Detroit to a come-from-behind win in the future Hall of Famer's final game...

  ...you share it with  Ben Rortvedt , who came close to joining the select circle that have played for both New York teams.  Having already seen action for the 2023 Yankees, the well traveled catcher suited up 48 times this season for the Mets AAA club in Syracuse -- where, despite injuries to Francisco Alvarez, he never got the call to Queens.  Instead, he returned to the Dodgers in a deadline deal for pitching prospect Chayce McDermott.  Vance Worley looked like he was about to become the Phillies next stellar starting pitcher, going 11-3 on the 2011 NL East champs.  But "The Vanimal" could never duplicate those numbers; never again reaching double digit victories and only once posting a winning record over the next half dozen years, as he bounced from Philadelphia to Minnesota, Baltimore and Miami.  In case you're curious, of the nearly 70 major leaguers born on September 25th, the best player (in terms of WAR) and only Hall of Famer, is the Yanke...