Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

...you share it with Hall of Famer Bob Gibson . Now pinch yourself, this still-intimidating figure turns 80 today. Remember how Perry Mason "owned" the courtoom? Gibson had the same commanding presence working on a mound. The greatest pitcher in Cardinals history joined Juan Marichal, Don Drysdale, Fergie Jenkins and Tom Seaver as the National League's dominating pitchers of the 1960s. For those lucky enough to have seen in his prime, do you have a favorite Gibson moment? Was it helping the Cardinals storm from behind to capture the 1964 NL pennant? Or besting Mel Stottlemyre and the Yankees in that fall's World Series? 1967 -- when he returned after missing half the season with a broken leg to lead St. Louis to its second championship of the decade? Or 1968, when he was the most dominant hurler in the Year of the Pitcher? Maybe August 1971, when he notched his 200th career victory and in the next start threw the only no-hitter of his career. I had the honor ...

Prince Fielder missed most of 2014, and Matt Harvey all of it, with medical issues. Healthy and productive again this season, they were named the Comeback Players of the American and National Leagues on Thursday. Fielder (seen with his son before  a May game at Yankee Stadium), recovered from neck surgery -- in which two discs were fused -- to hit .305 with 98 RBIs, helping the Ranngers win the AL West, while Harvey won 13 games in his first season after Tommy John Surgery as the Mets grabbed the NL East and rolled into the World Series. Give both these guys credit for not only returning but excelling again -- and make their teams two of the biggest surprises of the year.

From May 2008: A couple of images of Shea Stadium co-existing with its eventual successor Citi Field. (Above) Looking from the 126th Street station on the 7 line, Shea with its blue-painted exterior and scoreboard almost appears to be in a staring match with its brick-faced replacement. (Below) from the right field loge seats, Citi hovers just beyond the outfield fence. Note the difference in scoreboard design, with the 2008 version of the original "Stadiorama" still displaying lineups and out-of-town scores much the same way as when the World's Fair was going on, on the other side of the train tracks.

It might not have been the smoothest hiring process -- especially with reports the Nationals tried to go cheap with their first choice Bud Black -- as Dusty Baker becomes the new manager in Washington for 2016. With a resume listing 19 years as a player and 20 as a big league skipper (including three Manager of the Year awards), highlighted by winning the 2002 pennant with the Giants, this baseball lifer was an on-field leader who became a well respected skipper. His job won't be easy -- several key Nationals such as Ian Desmond, Denard Span, Doug Fister and Jordan Zimmerman are free agents this winter. Baker's greatest challenge is infusing a fresh attitude in a club that looked like it expected to win, instead of working to achieve something. And their prime competition will be the pitching rich defending NL champion Mets. Then, if there weren't a need to shake things up, the hapless Matt Williams would still have the job.

...you share it with one of baseball's least publicized stars. Say hello -- and happy birthday -- to Kyle Seager . Playing for a club that hasn't sniffed the playoffs, the Mariners shortstop has put up some impressive offensive numbers, including belting 20 or more homers in each of the last four season. And he's more than good in the field: he won a Gold Glove in 2014. But -- like those classic American Express Card commercials, do you recognize him? I Playing alongside Felix Hernandez and Robinson Cano, joined in 2015 by slugger Nelson Cruz, much more was expected from this Seattle crew. But the players never jelled, and after finishing 10 games under .500, manager Lloyd McClendon and GM Jack Zduriencik walked the plank. Now Seager -- whose younger brother Corey plays for the defending NL West champion Dodgers -- awaits winter, with GM Jerry DiPoto in the hot seat to find the right manager and juggle the roster enough to break a 14-year post-season drought. A Mariners...

The Royals splashed in their own share of history Sunday as they closed out the World Series in five games with a 7 - 2, 12-inning victory over the Mets. Series MVP Salvador Perez . Underscoring a "never say die" attitude, KC erased a two-run Mets lead in the top of the 9th, and then posted an unprecedented five-run rally -- the biggest final inning ever in baseball's Fall Classic -- to put the game away in 12th. (They also hung a record three blown saves on Mets closer Jeurys Familia.) Along with his stellar defense, the Royals catcher (seen above against the Yankees last May), contributed timely hitting -- batting .364 for the five games. Sunday, his ground ball to David Wright gave Eric Hosmer the chance to race home for the tieing run -- part of that KC philosophy of minimizing striekouts. Three innings later, his single leading off the 12th keyed the Royals winning rally. Perez is the first catcher to be named Series MVP since Pat Borders of the 1992 Blue Jays.

While looking for a birthday-salute photo for Mickey Rivers, who turns 67 today, I found this from June's Old Timers Day at Yankee Stadium. If not quite a "one picture, one thousand words" image, there's so much here. "Mick the Quick" (who stole 267 bases during his career) is joined by Roy White, his teammate on the 1977 and 78 World Series champions. Between them is Roy's grandson. What do you read from is moment I captured? The youngster is clearly delighted that Grandpa brought him along to experience the wonder of this day. Through his eyes, it's the big ballpark and a lot of guys dressed just him, in their pinstriped outfits. As for Mickey and Roy? Friendship. Shared memories. Some crazy days and nights. Common achievements. Being a part of an amazing history -- that tens of thousands of fans turn out to celebrate.