Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

Steve Pearce leaves the Orioles for the Rays. Not a huge free agent signing, but he's been a useful righthanded power source in Baltimore -- helped by playing in home-run friendly Camden Yards. Now, he'll come off the bench to provide the same kind of punch for Tampa Bay. Look closely at the image just below -- an interesting optical illusion -- Steve is not trying to catch this Masahiro Tanaka pitch. But he was fooled into swinging swung so early (notice the extended left arm just out of camera range), that we see something that almost defies reality.  We'll see how much playing in "The Trop" impacts Pearce's numbers during 2016.

The Yankees used a retro collage for the cover of the club's 1996 media guide. While that season -- in which they won their first World Series title since 1978 and Derek Jeter earned Rookie of the Year honors -- proved so memorable, this cover is a real gem. It neatly represents more than 90 years of personalities and accomplishments that symbolize the Yankee brand, before the most recent dynasty. How many players can you see depicted in some form? There are bobbleheads of Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle. Down near the lower left corner, there's a clothing tag from a Roger Maris uniform. Scorecard/programs, yearbooks, baseball cards, souvenir pennant flags (made of felt), photos of Thurman Munson, Lou Gehrig and Reggie Jackson. Maris is also seen on a pin. Yogi, Joltin' Joe, The Scooter. Who else can you point out? Have fun with this cover -- click to leave a comment if there are items pictured that stand out, capture your attention or unlock a fond chapter of your memory

...you share it with the Braves best pitcher, Julio Teheran . The Colombian righthander has won in double digits each of the last three seasons -- and with more victories than defeats. That's an impressive feat for someone on a struggling club in rebuild mode. With the Braves aiming toward 2017, the year their new suburban stadium opens, Teheran won't be surrounded by much talent. And with Shelby Miller traded to Arizona, he'll likely be matched up with the other club's best pitchers during the upcoming season. Interestingly, Teheran is not just the best current player born on January 27th -- but, should he continue to pitch at his current level, could become the best player ever with his birthday. No Hall of Famers have 1/27 on their drivers license. In fact, the most prolific player from this calendar date in the almost-150-year history of the major leagues is John Lowenstein , the hard-hitting Orioles outfielder of the late '70s and '80s. This image of J

Mark Teixeira's expression in this image caught my attention. Taken during a game last July 3rd against the Rays, the Yankees 1st baseman is all business as he eyes the batter, ready to react to something hit in his direction, or a throw coming from elsewhere in the infield. Despite the good impression made when rookie Greg Bird had to fill in for him after his leg injury, the Yanks will be delighted to have his big bat and strong glove back in the regular lineup once opening day arrives in April.

I was so impressed by AT&T Park when I visited San Francisco in 2014. Today, let's concentrate on its main entrance -- named for the club's greatest player ever, Willie Mays. What stands out to you -- the classic brick facade, the California palm trees, the streetside location in the city's China Basin neighborhood. Not only is the main gate named for Mays, but a statue depicting him is just down the block -- and frames the entrance effectively.

Jerry Seinfeld said it best on Twitter, once word was out that the Mets had re-signed Yoenis Cespedes. Two-and-a-half months of rumors, ranting and nail biting ended late Friday night when the catalyst of the Mets drive to the 2015 NL pennant signed a new contract. Do the details really matter short term? Not right now. Cespedes will be back at Citi Field to dazzle and occasionally frustrate Mets fans in 2016. It will at least muzzle all the complaints about club management being cash-strapped or just plain penurious. And most crucially, they keep him away from the #1 division rival, the Nationals. These images of Cespedes are from the Mets/Marlins game last September 15th at Citi Field.

With a major winter storm targeting the east coast this weekend, I couldn't find a photo of J.T. Snow in my archive. So, I settled on another player with an name inspired by the seasonal conditions -- 3rd baseman David Freese. He's seen here in a 2013 game against the Mets in New York. Bundle up, friends!

I rediscovered this Dodger Stadium photo and was struck by how "clean" the outfield looked 25 years ago -- before the onslaught of advertising boards. The outfield wall is just the limit of the field, the only print being the distances from home plate, and the simple 76 logo atop the scoreboard identifies the sponsor without screaming.

The Tigers reel in the latest big fish from the sea of free agents, giving Justin Upton a six-year deal worth $132.5 million. The power-hitting outfielder brings very good, but not exceptional numbers: he's hit .300 just once in his career and batted a career-low .251 last year in San Diego. The Tigers will be the best team he's ever played with -- perhaps being in the same lineup as (and witnessing the work ethic of) Miguel Cabrera, JD Martinez, Ian Kinsler and Victor Martinez will elevate his game. Or maybe the spacious dimensions of Comerica will prove as frustrating to him as Petco Park. Detroit's owner Mike Ilitch, now 86, desperately wants a title while he's still here to enjoy it -- and like many a mogul is willing is spend big for the chance. If you trust the stats, Upton isn't quite the player Yoenis Cespedes was -- and after 2/3 of a season, the Tigers soured on the Cuban expat enough to trade him to the Mets. So Detroit reloads, Upton cashes in -- an

The Phanatic holds court during a Phillies/Yankees spring training game in March 2014.

From the Dodgers-Mets game last July 23rd at Citi Field: Adrian Gonzalez closes his mitt on Justin Turner's throw across the infield.

I was saddened to read this morning that Luis Arroyo passed away on Wednesday. For Yankee fans who grew up during the Mantle-Maris era of the early-'60s, Arroyo was the club's top relief pitcher, the guy (who might have even still been called a fireman) who doused late inning threats, helping Whitey Ford, Ralph Terry or Bill Stafford earn the victory. Years later, he became a fixture at Old Timers Day, including the 2013 event, when I had the chance to snap these photos.     Unlike his later-day heirs Goose Gossage and Mariano Rivera, Luis didn't enjoy a long career in New York or the majors. He first arrived as a 28-year-rookie with the 1955 Cardinals (and was named to the All Star Team). Ineffectiveness -- likely the relatively primitive sports medicine technology of the era -- plagued him as he bounced to Pittsburgh, then Cincinnati. But he put it all together once he arrived in the Bronx in 1960. This crafy lefty's strengths fit well with the original ballpar

Back in 2011, just before a Subway Series game against the Mets at Citi Field, I snapped these of Curtis Granderson signing autographs. Three years later, it became his home ballpark, and he still enjoys maintaining the connection with fans who stop by during batting practice.

On the panel at AT&T park displaying the Giants retired numbers, you'll probably recognize Willie Mays' #24, Willie McCovey's #44 and Juan Marichal's #27. History buffs have read about Polo Grounds heroes Bill Terry #3, Mel Ott #4 and Carl Hubbell #11. Fellow Cooperstown inductees Orlando Cepeda #30 and Gaylord Perry #36 also have their place of honor. Now, let's focus on #20 -- it represents  Monte Irvin . The fourth black player in the majors and the Giants' second (after Hank Thompson), he made his big league debut in 1949. Two years later, having taken another talented black player Willie Mays under his wing, the Polo Grounds guys erased a 13-1/2 game lead and beat the Dodgers in the NL's first-ever playoff for the pennant. One of New Jersey's greatest high school athletes ever, Irvin should have reached the majors a decade before he did. Instead, he spent eight years in the Negro Leagues (split by two years of military service duri

We're at one of the classic minor league ballparks, McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The home of the Red Sox Triple-A farm club for over 40 years, the park opened in 1942. Even with a 1990s renovation, it retains, much like Fenway, the sense of being a souvenir from an earlier time. Over its eight decades, McCoy has hosted a number of notable games -- included the longest one in minor league history. Many of Boston's homegrown players have passed through Pawtucket, including the core of the current Red Sox crew -- Blake Swihart, Dustin Pedroia, Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts, Brock Holt, Travis Shaw and Jackie Bradley, Junior. One of the banners along the park's concourse honors another notable Paw Sox alumnus:

There are so many classic songs of the '60s tied to Denard Span 's new home town: from Tony Bennett's "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" to The Animals "San Franciscan Nights" and Scott McKenzie's "San Francisco (Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair)." Not sure how they quite relate to the veteran center fielder's new responsibilities at AT&T Park. A gifted leadoff hitter, Span missed over 100 games last season with the Nationals, and his absence was certainly noted by that under-achieving club. With Span in the lineup, Washington went 36 - 25, a .590 winning percentage that's better than the Mets season-long mark of .556 (90 wins, 72 losses). He fits nicely into a Giants team saw a big 2015 dropoff from table-setter Angel Pagan. He'll likely move to left fielder as Span patrols center. Along with other free agent signees Jeff Samardzija and Johnny Cueto, the Giants look to be right there with the Dodgers and beefed up Diamon

After the holiday break, we're starting to see some free agent movement in baseball. Yesterday, the Brewers announced they'd signed 1st baseman Chris Carter . A powerful righty hitter who strikes out too often -- once leading the AL with 212 in a single season -- he fills a void for Milwaukee, while opening a spot in Houston for the highly-touted but so far disappointing Jon Singleton (the key piece the Astros received years ago from the Phillies for Hunter Pence). All "all or nothing" powerhitter, Carter totaled 90 Houston homers the last three seasons -- while never hitting above .227. His defense is best considered deficient -- which consigned him to DH duty much of the time. That, of course, isn't an option as heads to the NL. Do you think a change in scenery is what he needs to live up to his potential? These images of Carter come from an August 2014 game against the Yankees in New York.

To honor the newest selections for the Baseball Hall of Fame, here's a look at the ballparks where they excelled. For Ken Griffey Junior , that means the Kingdome (above) and Riverfront Stadium, his home parks as a Mariner and Red. Arriving in Seattle in 1989 at age 19, he showed flashes of the greatness that would mark his career. Looking back through the lens of history: we know how special he became, yet he finished 3rd in the voting for AL Rookie of the Year. And it wasn't as if a fellow Cooperstown inductee edged him the honor. It went to the Orioles reliever Gregg Olson. Oh well... "The Kid" went on to total 630 homers, winning 4 home run titles and being named to 13 All Star teams while playing in parts of four decades. What image of Junior pops up in your mind? Maybe it's the one from the 1st inning against the Angels on  September 14th, 1990 ... when, just weeks after the M's signed his dad, Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. -- already having made history as

We'll find out later today who Cooperstown's Class of 2016 will be. While Ken Griffey Junior's induction is a lock, who will join him on the podium this summer? Will it be Trevor Hoffman -- or someone who fell short in previous years such as Curt Schilling, Mike Piazza, Edgar Martinez, or Alan Trammel, in his final year of eligibility? Here's the ballot:   http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof_2016.shtml Not that I have a real vote, but here are my selections: Griffey Bagwell Schilling  Martinez Trammell  Walker Piazza Sheffield  Above, the plaque outside the Baseball Hall of Fame building. Check back later and we'll see who joins Junior in receiving baseball's highest lifetime honor.

From July 2013: Camden Yards all aglow during a mid-summer night game against the Astros. Among all the parks built since 1960, is there a better setting for baseball? Some may be just as good in their own unique way (Dodger Stadium comes to mind; the new Yankee Stadium has a delightful [Disney-esque] way of recreating history. But Camden Yards is the pioneering example of melding the classic with the current.

Snapped from the upper deck at Yankee Stadium last June 24th, Cole Hamels spent nearly a decade as the Phillies lefthanded ace. A month later -- in what turned out to be the last start of his Philadephia career -- he threw a no-hitter against the Cubs. Traded to the Rangers at the deadline, he thrived at being back in a pennant race, going 7 & 1 in 12 Texas starts. With Yu Darvish returning during 2016 from surgery, they'll team to form one of baseball's top 1-2 combinations as the Rangers defend their AL West title.

Dallas Keuchel emerged as one of baseball's best pitchers in 2015. The Astros lefthander went 20 - 8 -- then added a dominating performance in the Wild Card game against the Yankees -- to earn the AL Cy Young Award. He turns 28 today -- less than 50 days before Houston's pitchers and catchers report to camp in Kissimmee, Florida. ( Here he is in action against the Yankees last August 25th .)