Thought I'd throw a Times Square picture on here, as it's just so photogenic.  Very very busy on a Saturday night.  My cousin, John William and I found long lines just about everywhere.

Down in the bowels of Yankee stadium.  I think I'll go left.  The security guard saw me taking a photo of the sign and said "take it."  I think he was kidding.  I think that might have gotten me in trouble, but I'm sure plenty of fans would like it as a memento. 
 

Paul Splittorff pitched in this ballpark many times.  Split makes his way back toward the Royals dugout after one last visit to the monuments.
 

Of course the retired numbers and monuments will all be moved next door to the new $1.3 billion ballpark, but I thought I'd capture them in their original location before they're uprooted.  A lot of numbers.  The only single digits that are not retired will be retired some day: 2 (Jeter) and 6 (Torre).
 

Hard to find four better players in the history of any franchise. Perhaps you've heard of Gehrig, Ruth, Dimaggio and Mantle?
 

Two former Kansas City Athletics have their numbers retired by the Yankees:  Billy Martin and Reggie Jackson.  Of course several of the others played minor league ball in KC prior to 1955.
 

A television photographer getting shots of the monuments...These used to be in play!  The playing dimensions were HUGE before the renovations.

 George Herman Ruth.  Nuff said.

Lou Gehrig and longtime Yankee Manager Miller Huggins.  Of the three men honored with the three most prominent plaques, Gehrig died at 37 Huggins at 50 and Ruth at 53.  But what greatness they achieved.

Two great Yankee voices, Mel Allen, who broadcast their games for many years, and later was the narrator of "This Week in Baseball."  And 97 year-old Bob Sheppard, "The Voice of Yankee Stadium" since 1951.  Sadly, Bob has been unable to attend games this year. 

They honor 9/11 victims, playing "God Bless America," during the 7th inning stretch of every game, not just on Sunday.  Those victims are memorialized in Monument Park too.

Here's something the media won't miss.  The two elevators from the basement are separated by a five-foot thick brick wall.  In order to watch both elevators at once, you have to stand across the hall.  I have a feeling there won't be a similar wall at the new place.  (Can I get a "Mr. Gorbachev, TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!"?)
 

This is one of the PR offices right behind the press area, with a view of the field.  It looks like it could be George Costanza's office.  No sleeping under the desk, people!  I smell calzones!  (Seinfeld references)
 

The 3-tiered, somewhat crampt, visiting radio booth.  Don Free is on Tier 2.  
 

One final postcard image of Yankee Stadium.  Royals had some great memories there, some not-so-great memories there.  You may hate the Yankees.  But one thing with which you can't argue:  much of the history of this game happened on that field.  As Mel Allen would have said "How about that!"
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

After Frank White was finished teaching the kids the finer points of playing defense, Luke Hochevar came out on the field and talked about, what else? Pitching.  He said, among other things, that he didn't start throwing breaking balls until he was 16, which drew a round of applause form the coaches, intent on protecting young arms.  Luke also showed the grips he uses on the pitches he throws.  The 108-foot crown vision board made it easy for the kids to see how a Major Leaguer holds the baseball.

Mark Teahen was fresh off a recent inside-the-park home run.  He talked to the kids about baserunning, how big a lead to take, how to round the bases and much more.  I didn't make him run full-speed around the bases, figured I'd take it easy on him, since he had a game to play later in the day.

You can there were a lot of youngsters there eager to hear from the big league guys.  It was a gorgeous day, and they got to see a game after the instructional portion of the day was over.

John Buck was good enough to talk about hitting, his approach, his swing, etc. 

John put on a demonstration for the kids.  Coach Rusty Kuntz threw batting practice to John and he took the kids through everything the big league guys do in BP each day, round-by-round.  My thanks to Frank, Luke, Mark and John for showing these youngsters the right way to play.

Outside my 8th floor hotel room window, the window washer was doing his job.  Hanging from a suspension cable, and with a suction cup handle stuck to the window, he did his job.  How much would they have to pay you to do that job?  I'm not sure I could come up with a dollar figure that would get me out there.  First floor, fine.  Second floor, maybe.  Then I'm done.

This is Baltimore's signature Inner Harbor. It's a beautiful area, always lots going on.  I'd rent one of those little boats WAY before I'd repel down a building to wash windows.

Here are former Royal (and O's TV analyst) Buck Martinez and Royals pitching coach Bob McClure.  They were teammates in both KC and Milwaukee.  Apparently they were reminiscing about some "nailbiters" they played in, back in the day.

These are my stepsons, Enrique and Emilio.  Enrique will be 14 September 28th.  Emilio turns 12 July 16th.  Wonderful boys, and I'm very proud of them.  Great to see them in Baltimore!

On Eutaw (pronounced "Utah") Street at the entrance to Oriole Park at Camden Yards, stands a large statue of a young Babe Ruth. Baltimoreans are very proud that the Babe was born and raised in Baltimore.  But they're a bit conflicted, since he starred for the HATED Yankees.  This Statue has a flaw...behind his back, Babe is holding a righthanded glove (for his left hand).  He was, of course, lefthanded.

The Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum is just blocks away from the ballpark.  It's worth the visit if you're in the area.  The Babe actually lived in the apartment over his father's saloon, which was located in what is now right field at Camden Yards.

Although a hotel has been built behind left field, it's still one of the most beautiful views in all of baseball.  Oriole Park at Camden Yards opened in 1992, but still looks brand new.  It was "the original" retropark, which changed all of sports, not just baseball.  New ballparks (Major League and minor league), football stadiums and basketball and hockey arenas have sprouted in almost every town, large and small, in America.  It all started here.

This is one of Baltimore's major landmarks:  the Bromo Seltzer Tower.  Built in 1911, you used to see it from Oriole Park, but not anymore, thanks to the new hotel.

If I were to put only one picture on this particular post, this would be it.  Pretty much says it all.  Bob Davis advised me to write "but it's a dry heat!"  under the photo...haha.
Here is the legendary Joe Garagiola, Sr., with FSN's Joel Goldberg.  I took this picture to commemorate the fact that Joel's mother was a contestant on the early-1970's game show "Sale of the Century," for which Garagiola was the host.  Joel believes his mom, Nancy, was pregnant with him while she was a contestant on the show, so, in effect, he was on the show as well.  Upon his birth, Joel was lavished with many "lovely parting gifts."

Here's a picture with Joe and me.  I don't need a reason...it's my blog.  I will say he's one of the most enjoyable people I've ever interviewed.  He's the most amazing story teller I've ever met (or heard).  Joe's son, Joe Jr.is the former general manager of the D-Backs.  He currently works for Major League baseball.

Chase Field (formerly the BOB), is in its 11th year as the home of the Dbacks.  On this day, the roof was closed during the late afternoon, during batting practice, while the air conditioners did their thing.
 

Then as the game is a few minutes from beginning, they open the roof.  So the fans can enjoy an "open-air" ballgame in the evening (they don't do this for day games), the cooling system keeps it pleasant for the game.  
 

Of course they leave it open as long as possible each day so the grass can get plenty of sunlight.  
 
 

Now the ballpark is ready for baseball.  It's 106 degrees outside, but the cooling system is cranked up, and the roof is open and it's time to "Play Ball!"  
 

The swimming pool in right centerfield rents for $6,500 per game.  A great view of the field....
 
 

As I was taking this picture, one of the kids in the pool noticed my camera/phone and said,"cool, that's an IPhone!"  Of course I'm thinking "cool, your parents just spent $6,500 dollars so you could go swimming during a baseball game!"
 

And last, but not least, this is FSN pregame producer Bobby Reed, asleep as the plane lands in St. Louis after winning the series in Arizona.  You can write your own caption. 

That's "The House that 1.3 billion dollars built."  The New Yankee Stadium right next door.  It will open next season. If you want to sit in the front row behind home plate, you may need to sell your car.  A cool $2,500 a seat (and, no, you don't get to take the seat home with you...)  The current version cost "just" 2.5 million.  It opened in 1923.
 

A deli across the street from our hotel in Midtown Manhattan.  Notice that if you order the Chicken Salad Club, it comes with bacon, lettuce and "TOMATOE."  Notice the "e" at the end of "tomatoe."  Dan Quayle would be proud...
 

Two friends invading from "Cubs Country,"  (and apparently Rockies Country too) Gary Cantwell (the program director from my college radio station at SMU) and his son David.  Gary is the man responsible for making me the broadcaster that I am today.  Other than that, he's had a very successful life and career...
 

The wall of the press box at Yankee Stadium indicating the 26 World Series Championships.  They were in all the papers...
 

Shot from the back of the visiting radio booth...at least we were in the shade, with temps soaring near 100 degrees...
 

The more traditional view.  A lot of sports/entertainment seen here over the years.  Joe Louis defeated German Max Schmeling in 1938.  Several Popes celebrated Mass here.  38 World Series have been played here.  And George Brett got a little mad at an umpire here in 1983.

The famous "short porch" in right field.  Lefthanded hitters love it.  Only 310 down the line.
 

My view in the 3rd base camera/grounds crew well.  Joakim Soria closing out a 2-1 Royals victory over the Yanks. This is my spot, as I get ready to "pounce" onto the field for a postgame interview.
 
 

This monstrosity is a pickup truck  apparently belonging to White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle.  It is, to say the least, large.  Two separate 60-gallon gas tanks, one on either side, means it's about 500 bucks to fill up.  Yikes!

A security guard stands alongside the truck for perspective. He stands 5 feet 10 inches.
 
 

Shot from our radio booth, as Denny and Bob are hoping to see a Royals victory.  Wednesday night was close, but no cigar.  15 innings, but another road loss.  As you can see, our view from the booth is a good one.
 
Not as good for the writers.  Bob Dutton, from the KC Star (left) and Dave Holtzman (below him) watch from the press box (writers, etc. who aren't actually broadcasting the game).  When the Sox redid their press box in 2007, the "regular press" got moved down the right field line.  
 

While it's impossible to make out based on this photo,  I thought it was worth putting on here.  That flashing light is a police/secret service escort for a plane that had just brought Barack Obama home to Chicago.  His plane had just landed as we were getting on our chartered flight headed for New York.