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Donnie Baseball – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
Donnie Baseball has finally made it to the Fall Classic. After a storied career as a player and manager, the Blue Jays bench coach finally made it. With that, he also gets his own Topps Now card with his story on the back stating: As the Toronto Blue Jays celebrated their World Series berth after…
The Natural – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
Being a baseball writer, you live baseball 24 x 7 and are sometimes simply amazed by some of the players and their athletic abilities they display. One player, and one of the best in MLB, is Shohei Ohtani. Simply one of the best, and as I watch him in the playoffs, I’m just amazed at…
That Good! – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
If you’re watching the NLCS and saying to yourself that the Dodgers are that good, yes, you’re correct—they are that good. With Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitching a complete game, it’s just another reason to know the Dodgers are the team to beat. With that, here’s what Yamamoto’s Topps Now card says: Yoshinobu Yamamoto was firing on…
Leading the M’s – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
The Seattle Mariners are on a roll, as they have gone up to a 2-0 game lead over the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALCS. Led by Cal Raleigh, who during the regular season hit 60 home runs, falling two short of Aaron Judge and his 62 home run record. Raleigh is guiding the Mariners,…
Riding into the ALCS – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
The Seattle Mariners are riding right into the ALCS with the help of Ken Griffey, Jr. They were able to get the best of the Tigers in an ALDS that was a nail-biter at times. Who, what better than Griffey to get the Mariners started with an official Topps Now card? Here’s the story printed…
50-Plus HR Club – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
With the MLB season coming to an end and the postseason starting, it’s time to give the players their due. For Cal Raleigh, Kyle Schwarber, Shohei Ohtani, and Aaron Judge, it's the 50-plus home run club, which this is the third time in MLB history. Hats off to them. Here’s what the back of their…
30/30 Club – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
It’s the 30/30 club for Arizona Diamondbacks Corbin Carroll, with his 30 home runs and stolen bases. Carroll consistently lives up to his All-Star caliber and has his own Topps Now card in addition. The back of his Topps Now card says: Corbin Carroll showed off his power and speed against Philadelphia, blasting his 31st…
Two of the Best – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
400 HR for One… Mike Trout continues to show his power as he smashed his 400th career home run with a 485-foot shot that looked like it went into infinity and beyond. With that, his Topps Now card had said the following: Up in the Rocky Mountains, Angels superstar Mike Trout finished his own personal…
The 50/50 Man – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
Now known for 50 homers and strikeouts in the same year, Shohei Ohtani continues to be dominant in both hitting and pitching. Ohtani does it all and continues to show what a great athlete he is. Here’s the wording from the back of his Topps Now card: Shohei Ohtani's name has become synonymous with career-defining…
Oh, Elly! – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
Elly De La Cruz continues his greatness with the Reds, as he stole 35-plus bases in his first three seasons. Oh, Elly keeps going. Here’s the wording from the back of his Topps Now card: Cincinnati speedster Elly De La Cruz was burning up the basepaths out on the West Coast. The 23-year-old swiped his…
200 K’s Plus – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
Paul Skenes continues to show his pitching and strikeout abilities in his second year with the Pirates, again striking out 200-plus batters. He’s a force to be reckoned with. Here’s the wording from the back of his Topps Now card: Flamethrower Paul Skenes continues to show no signs of a sophomore slump, joining Pittsburgh Pirates…
Historic! – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
Aaron Judge keeps moving the Yankees forward with his historic home runs and his down-to-earth personality. He’s what the Yankees need and acts like his predecessors — Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, etc. Here’s the wording from the back of his Topps Now retirement card: Days after passing New York Yankees legend Yogi Berra on the…
Never Forget! – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
If tears come streaming down your face on this day it’s OK. This is a day of remembrance and to “Never Forget.” This day is known as 9/11. It is the 24th anniversary of September 11, 2001, and a time to remember loved ones and first responders who were lost that day. Then and now,…
Trying to Gain Ground – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
The Yankees just can’t figure out how to beat the AL East-leading Blue Jays, as they have dropped back down to four games out of first place. With a month left in the MLB season, the Yankees still have a chance to make ground against the Blue Jays. They have the Tigers and Red Sox…
The O’s – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
The Baltimore Orioles are the team that can be great with stars like Jackson Holliday and Gunnar Henderson, and the list goes on. This year they have faltered and seen their manager, Brandon Hyde, let go at the beginning of the season. The future is bright for the O’s with so much talent; they just…
The Arms Race – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
The Mets have two new call-up pitchers, and they have been making a name for themselves since the pitching staff has had its own set of setbacks. As they fight to stay in the race for October, Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong pitched the Mets to impressive victories. 5.5 games back of the NL East-leading…
Linsanity – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
Jeremy Lin retires Even though this is a baseball publication, as a young sportswriter I covered all sports, especially basketball. I was most intrigued when Jeremy Lin went on his Linsanity on the hardwood playing for the Knicks. It brought a sense of excitement and hope that the Knicks had a shot at making the…
One Year Down, Four to Go – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
One Year Down, Four to Go I sat in my car with my head resting in my hands, not wanting to believe that I was just diagnosed with cancer. As I sat there trying to control my emotions, the song “Vision Thing” (live version with Lars Nootland) by Simple Minds was playing, which is about…
Playing to Win – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
With Juan Soto doing what he does best, the Mets are clawing their way back in the standings. Though it seems at times they are playing seesaw baseball, they still are in it for October. Don’t count them out, as they always find a way to win. Just look at last season. — Joe Boesch
The Brew Crew – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
Who would have thought so late in the MLB season that the Brewers are currently the best team in baseball with a 77-44 record, sitting nicely in first place in the NL Central? While the Mets, Phillies, Yankees, Astros, and Dodgers were the talk of their respective cities, they all have struggled as of late.…
Going Nuts! – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
Maybe the Yankees should sign their furry friend, as they need as much help as they can get. On a downslope for the better part of the summer, the Yankees need to turn it around quick if they have aspirations to play in October. The way they are playing, they don’t look like last year's…
Iconic – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
I must admit that Ichiro was one of my favorite players, and I still PC (personally collect) his cards and memorabilia. Besides him being inducted into the Hall of Fame, it’s great to see that the Mariners retired his number. Here’s the wording from the back of his Topps Now retirement card: The legend of…
Going Backwards – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
At 62-56, the Yankees are not looking like the team they were last season, making the World Series. From injuries to the need for starting pitching, they seem to be in a rut and can’t shake it. Sloppy plays in the field have also been a cause for concern, with Anthony Volpe at the top…
Pretty Cool – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 30, 2025 BASEBALL FANS SET GUINNESS WORLD RECORD WITH WORLD’S MOST AUTOGRAPHED BASEBALL Over 6,700 baseball fans combined to set a new world record Tuesday as their collective signatures on the World’s Most Autographed Baseball have set a new mark for the most signatures on a single piece of sports memorabilia.…
The Captain – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
Honoring David Wright “The Captain,” the Mets, as they always do under the ownership of Steve Cohen, knocked it out of the park literally. No one deserves it more than Wright, who enlightened Mets fans with his dazzling plays at third base and hot bat at the plate during his playing career. To “The Captain,”…
Judge does it Again! – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
Aaron Judge is at it again, this time hitting 350 home runs in fewest games played. Here’s a look at the list, as reported by several media outlets: Aaron Judge: 1,088 Mark McGwire: 1,280 Juan Gonzalez: 1,298 Alex Rodriguez: 1,301 Harmon Killebrew: 1,319 Albert Pujols: 1,320 Until then, see you at the park. — Joe…
The HR Derby Field – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
With the Home Run Derby set for Monday on ESPN, the players participating are set. Here’s a look at the players: Cal Raleigh (Mariners) — 36 HR James Wood (Nationals) — 24 HR Junior Caminero (Rays) — 23 HR Byron Buxton (Twins) — 20 HR Brent Rooker (A’s) — 19 HR Chisholm (Yankees) — 17…
Yankees Fading Fast – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
With a strong start to the season, the Yankees now find themselves struggling to win games as they have lost their last six games, the last two to the crosstown rival Mets. The Yankees have a 48-41 record and are sitting three games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East. The news also…
No Hype – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
One more week to go until the All Star break, which means the season is halfway over. Wow, how time flies, as it just felt like the season started. Many fans find the All Star game not exciting and somewhat boring, which is how I feel about it also. Some team owners probably cringe as…
No Joy for the Mets – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
The Mets losing ways continue, as they have lost 12 out of the last 15 games. Their latest loss came at the cost of the Pirates. The Mets need to turn it around quick if they want to seriously contend in the playoffs. They look just downright bad, and losing to the Pirates makes it…
Baseball – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
Baseball An Appreciation of America’s Game Singing of the anthem, roasting of peanuts. America’s game is known to many. Consisting of bats, balls, and bases. Swinging of the bat, grounding of the ball. Nine innings of play with the most runs prevailed. Known by the names Babe and Catfish, the Judge too. America’s Pastime is…
‘Ode to Brooklyn – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
Sitting in the street corner saloon, two men argued about the best baseball team in New York. “You know the Yankees are the best,” the one man replied. “No way, the Mets are...remember Tom Seaver?” The other man lashed back. “Why don’t you jump on the Red Sox bandwagon while you’re at it?” “I resent…
A Gem! – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
David Peterson threw a gem of a game last night with a complete game shutout, earning his fifth consecutive win. The Nationals were able to scatter six hits off of him, but his pitching was lights out as the Mets continue to steam roll to a 44-24 record and 1st in the NL East. Winning…
Support the Big Train! – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
*Note: This story was first published in The Sports Column. Support the Big Train! The Bethesda Big Train of the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League has been around since 1999 and has seen 23 of their players making it to the Major Leagues. In celebration of their 26th season and looking to grow the…
Dominican Summer League to Begin – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
Official Media Release from MILB: Dominican Summer League Kicks Off 39th Season on Monday Rookie-level developmental league features 52 teams at 30 complexes across country New Playoff Format To Highlight 2025 DSL Postseason Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) today announced the 2025 Dominican Summer League (DSL) season will begin June 2 with Opening Day festivities taking…
Lest We Forget – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
*Note: This story was first published in The Sports Column. MLB assists veterans and their families through its many initiatives. Major League Baseball donates 100% of its licensed royalties from selling Armed Forces Day On-Field Authentic Collection apparel to MLB Charities. One of the recipients is the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), a national…
Holy White Sox! (Literally) – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
Chicago native Robert Francis Prevost, the newly installed pontiff, is a lifelong Sox fan. Last season, the Chicago White Sox broke the record for losing the most games with a 41-121 record, surpassing the 1962 Mets. This season doesn’t look any better, with the Sox having a record of 14-33 (.298) as of May 18,…
The Management Shuffle – Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch
First it was Rockies Manager Bud Black; second was Derek Shelton of the Pirates and then Brandon Hyde of the Orioles. All of them have enough talent in their clubs, but the expectations never came to fruition. Out of them all, Hyde was the most surprising, with a talented team that was hampered by injuries…