Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

The greatest ballplayer born on February 29th called Cleveland home. Al Rosen was the star 3rd baseman of the great Indians teams of the '50s. The 1953 AL MVP drove in 100 or more runs five straight years, was a four-time All-Star, and won two home run and two RBI titles. Injuries cut short a career that appeared to be on a Hall of Fame track. But of the 15 major leaguers born on this rarest of dates, Rosen was the best of the bunch. Not far behind was a beloved Cardinal from its Gas House Gang era. Pepper Martin was the speedster atop the 1930s St. Louis batting order, three times scoring over a hundred runs, and a three-time NL leader in stolen bases. Much like Rosen, a very good player, and still beloved in his team's lore. Yankee and Met fans, you have a name on this list as well -- and he's the same guy. Terrence Long began his major league career with the Mets and ended it with the Yankees. Probably a little hard to remember him sporting an NY on his cap -- h...

Training camp injuries to Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge have given Clint Frazier the chance to impress. And he has the last two days: a laser double on Wednesday and a booming home run Thursday -- with both games televised back to New York -- reminded us of his potential as an offensive force. Tack on the absence of Aaron Hicks until June at the earliest, and the Georgian who hates to be called Red Thunder has his best opportunity yet to make the opening day roster. But the questions yet to be answered will still weigh heavily... Can he played even average outfield defense? And has he shown signs at age 25 of the maturity that's expected in the Yankee locker room. Frazier has bounced back and forth between the Bronx, Scranton and Trenton the past two years. He's sparkled at times, confounded fans and club officials at others. And once his three injured teammates return, will he have an NY future as anything other than as a trade chip?

From my personal collection, a look back what a quarter would buy you at Shea Stadium. How many hundreds of thousands of these were sold in that "season after?" How many made it home -- and like this one wound up in boxes or trunks, available to thumb through half a century later? What did you hold onto? Yearbooks, scorecard/programs, other souvenirs and memorabilia?

The Yankees got their worst case scenario news yesterday: Luis Severino has a partially-torn elbow ligament and will miss all of 2020. That creates a season-long hole in the rotation. Or maybe it should be viewed as an opportunity. Two years ago, Jordan Montgomery had an effective rookie season, winning nine and giving signs he'd be a reliable arm for the long haul. Of course, his 2018 went off the rails with Tommy John surgery costing him most of that and the following season. Healthy again, he hopefully slides in as the top candidate to fill Severino's slot. Over the next four weeks in Florida, Cashman, Boone and the fans will be watching Monty with fingers crossed.

A few years ago, Brian Dozier looked like a budding star. A slugging 2nd baseman with the Twins, he looked like he'd be a Minnesota mainstay. But after a 34-homer season in 2017, his numbers dropped off, and he bounced from the Twins to the Dodgers and last year was a regular with the World Champion Nationals. But they chose not to bring him back. And there wasn't much interest in him elsewhere through the winter. Now, he gets an opportunity to turn things around in San Diego. After trying and failing with another veteran 2nd baseman last year, Ian Kinsler, the Padres have a nice pool of talented kids, such as Fernando Tatis Jr., to go along with their 2019 free agent prize Manny Machado. So, a veteran looking for a bounce-back season, who will only cost $2 million if he makes the team, is a gamble worth taking -- especially for a club that wants to make a run at a Wild Card.

While it was just the second game of the pre-season, Sunday was a very significant game for Miguel Andujar . He started at 3rd base as the Yankees met the Rays, started a double play and smacked an opposite field home run. A very nice beginning to 2020 -- especially after last year was wrecked by a serious shoulder injury. He told Yankee broadcaster Suzyn Waldman that this would be his game of any kind, since last May 12th, when it was clear that he rest and rehab was not going to make his shoulder right. The Yanks know that the soon-to-be 25 year old can hit. His standout rookie season two years ago only cast doubt on what his position will be. If he can stick to the revised throwing motion Aaron Boone discussed on Sunday's radio broadcast, may it will he at "the hot corner." Or he may become the next bigtime "super utility player." Either way, the Yankees need his bat in the lineup, especially with Aaron Hicks gone until at least June and Didi Gregorius no...

From April 2010, as we were saying our final goodbyes to the original Yankee Stadium, which gradually disappeared during the second season of the House that (Jeter/ Steinbrenner/ Rivera) built. Once in a lifetime images, with the grand old park disassembled more than demolished, in order to protect the new Stadium as well as the adjacent apartment buildings and number-four elevated subway.