Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

The lobby at Ed Smith Stadium offers a visually impressive tribute to Orioles history. Banners commemorating division and pennant winners as well as Baltimore's World Series championships hang from a circular crown of bats.

From March 11th, 2018: the Orioles host the Phillies in a rare night game at Sarasota. Ironically, this was the night I first saw Mike Yastrzemski play. Later in the game, I walked around Ed Smith Stadium, and, while shooting from just beyond the outfield fence, I heard that famous last name introduced by the PA announcer. Starting his sixth minor league season, with no idea he'd blossom a year later into one of the National League's more impressive rookies, I thought more in terms of the pressure he felt growing up with a famous name and a legendary grandfather -- and trying make a name for himself in the game where Carl achieved its ultimate honor.

This Baltimore bird celebrated its 40th anniversary as the Orioles' mascot this past season.

Off-season, schmoff-season, every day on the calendar has a baseball connection. Want proof? Check out this date in  1972 : The Yankees (still owned by CBS) send outfielders Charlie Spikes and Rusty Torres and infielder Jerry Kenny to the Indians for backup catcher Jerry Moses and 3rd baseman Graig Nettles  (far right) -- whose often-stellar glovework and lefty power prove essential to four Yankee pennant winners and a pair of World Championships over the next decade. And... there's more: 1974 : Yankee owner George Steinbrenner gets a two-year suspension from commissioner Bowie Kuhn for making illegal campaign contributions to Richard Nixon and others. 1967 : Six weeks after the Mets announced they'd hired Gil Hodges away from the Senators to be their new manager, pitcher Bill Denehy  is sent to Washington as compensation.  1956 : A week after winning the National League MVP award, Brooklyn Dodgers ace Don Newcombe receives the first eve...

...you share it with a ballplayer whose last name should have belonged to a fireballer. Josh Smoker was a lefty reliever with the 2016 and '17 Mets. But, to be kind he was no Aroldis Chapman (nor the anatomically surnamed Rollie Fingers or Bill Hands). He moved onto the Pirates in 2018 and made one appearance for the '19 Tigers before finishing the year with York (PA) of the independent Atlantic League. With the steady demand for bullpen lefties, don't be surprised if the Georgia native pops up with a franchise near you somewhere down the road. Also on our November 26th cake and card list: Matt Tracy , a lefthander with the shortest possible big league career. In the midst of an eight-year minor league career, he worked two innings in relief for the Yankees in their April 11th, 2015 game against the Red Sox -- the one and only time he ever pitched in the majors. Sam Militello also had a brief run in the big leagues. The Yankees had high hopes for the Florida-born...

This winter's free agent big free agent names -- Stephen Strasburg, Garrett Cole, Madison Bumganrner and Anthony Rendon -- aren't expected to sign anytime soon. We've gotten used to that snail's pace in recent winters. The Braves, whose roster status and financial structure likely leave them away from the top tier players, have emerged as the early buys in this off-season. Sunday's deal with catcher Travis d'Arnaud was the third free agent signing with Atlanta after relievers Will Smith and Chris Martin. Now 30, the onetime Phillies 1st round draft pick who was considered the key piece to the deal that netted the Mets Noah Syndergaard, never rose beyond ordinary status in Flushing. After missing most of 2018 after needing Tommy John surgery on his throwing arm, the Mets replaced him with Wilson Ramos and wound up sending him to the Dodgers, for whom he played just one game. Picked up from the scrap pile by the Rays, he turned in his best big league season,...

From section 429, high atop Yankee Stadium on June 20th.