Baseball's visual delights through the lens of a lifelong fan.
It's Always Smiles...
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...when we think of Yogi Berra, who was born on this date in 1925. From the 2011 Yankees Old Timers Day, warm moments reuniting with former teammates Al Downing and Don Larsen.
It's a return visit to the Mets' Florida home in Port St. Lucie, this time for a 2016 showdown with the Yankees. (Below), Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman chat during batting practice. Aaron Judge and Rob Refsnyder have their game faces on in the dugout... though neither would be in the starting lineup. (Above) A couple of Brooklyn natives that made their mark in New York baseball -- Lee Mazzilli and John Franco. (Below) Mets pitcher Josh Smoker makes friends by signing a few autographs. (Above) Mets reliever Jeurys Familia; (Below) 2nd baseman Neil Walker (Above) Curtis Granderson, one of the select few players to star for both the Yankees and Mets, getting ready for his third summer at Citi Field. (Below) Aaron Hicks came to the Yankees in a trade the previous November. 3rd baseman Chase Headley enjoying the Grapefruit League vibe, even against Mets ace Jacob deGrom. (Above) Mets slugger Yoenis Cespedes watches where he hit one... so does Joe Girardi from the visitor's dugou...
...you share it with AJ Burnett . The well traveled righthander, who after seven years with the Marlins. spent time with the Yankees, Pirates, Blue Jays and Phillies, won 164 big league games and struck out more than 2500, but inconsistent control kept him from becoming an ace: he twice led the American League in wild pitches and once in hit batters. The Arkansas native earned a pair of World Series rings -- with the 2003 Marlins (while recovering from Tommy John surgery) and 2009 Yankees (where he set a record for hitting five batters in a post-season series). Also in the January 3rd birthday circle: longtime big league reliever Gary Lavelle , the late Phllies catcher Darren Daulton and utilityman Luis Sojo , who between his time with the Mariners and Yankees, made the post-season six times in 13 seasons. But among the 68 players born on this date who've played in MLB, Burnett was -- if you go by WAR -- the most productive of them.
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, ...
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