Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

Congratulations to Freddie Freeman for leading the Dodgers to their first World Series title in a normal season since 1988.  Homering in the first four games of the Fall Classic -- and then contributing a run-producing single in game five's historic fifth inning rally -- earned him MVP honors and likely locked in a future place for him in Cooperstown.  While I haven't snapped him in a game since moving to LA, here is in action for the Braves, were he spent his first 12 seasons, including 2019. (Below:) The Eras Committee has announced its ballot for 2025 induction into the Hall of Fame.  Covering those who played before 1980, the group includes Dick Allen , Tommy John, Steve Garvey, the recently deceased Luis Tiant and  Negro Leaguers John Donaldson and Vic Harris.  Let's hope this panel of longtime writers and historians gets it right when it comes to Tommy John -- who won 288 thanks to being the first recipient of the surgery that bears his name -- and Dick Allen -- one o

...you share it with Masahiro Tanaka , the hard-throwing Japanese ace of the 2010-decade Yankees.  Posting a winning record along with double digit victories every season from 2014-'19, he went 78-46 during his seven MLB seasons before returning to Rakuten in his native country for 2021. (Below:)  There's also a current Yankee born on the 1st of November: Trent Grisham , the defensively gifted outfielder who came to the Bronx along with Juan Soto, hit just .190, but committed only two errors in 69 games this season.