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 Topps Now card says: The 2025 MLB campaign will go down as one of the best home run-hitting years ever once the final out is made. Baseball fans have seen Cal Raleigh, Kyle Schwarber, Shohei Ohtani, and Aaron Judge all leave ballparks at least 50 times each for their respective clubs. It's only the third such time in MLB history four different players accomplished the feat (1998 & 2001). Until then, see you at the park. — 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 homer and swiping his 30th bag in a 9-2 win. The first player in Arizona Diamondbacks history to record a 30/30 season, Carroll joins Jimmy Rollins (2007) and Willie Mays (1957) as the only players in AL/NL history with 30 home runs, 30 stolen bases, and 15 triples in a season. Until then, see you at the park! — 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 climb in the Club's 3-0 victory over Colorado. The 34-year-old connected on his 400* career home run in the top of the eighth inning, reaching a milestone that has eluded him for some time. Trout is the second active player to reach the milestone and just the 20th player all-time to hit 400 with a single team. Retirement for Another… On the other side of town in Los Angeles, Clayton Kershaw has decided to call it a career, retiring at the end of the season with the Dodgers. Here's the wording from the back of his Topps Now card: Announcing 24 hours earlier that he would be retiring following the 2025 season, Clayton Kershaw's final regular season start at Dodger Stadium became ...

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 feats, and his latest showing against Philadelphia proved it in every role he played. The two-way superstar fired five no-hit frames before launching a home run in the eighth frame for his 50th of the year. Ohtani became the first player in MLB history with 50 homers and 50 strikeouts as a pitcher in a season. Until then, see you at the park. — 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 35th base of the season in the third inning of his team's contest with the Athletics. With the theft, De La Cruz became only the fourth player in MLB since 1900 to steal at least 35 bases in each of his first three big-league seasons. Until then, see you at the park. — 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 royalty against Baltimore. The second-year hurler's strikeout of Orioles first baseman Coby Mayo marked his 200th of the season. Skenes reached the impressive plateau for the first time in his MLB career and is only the eighth different player in Club history to do so. Until then see you at the park. — 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 team's all-time home run list, Aaron Judge joined another in Joe DiMaggio. Homering twice in a 9-3 win over Detroit, the Club captain's 361st longball moved him into a fourth-place tie with Joltin' Joe. Judge's 45th career multi-homer game puts him one behind Mickey Mantle for second on the Yankees all-time list. Until then, see you at the park. — 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, sports have played a significant role in the remembrance and healing process. For many, sports have played a big part in the healing process, from supporting first responders to displaying the American flag during opening ceremonies at stadiums and arenas. Throughout the years, 9/11 and the sport's healing process have been well documented by stories, exhibits, and performances at many sports venues nationwide. The New York Mets and Yankees each wore first responder hats from the PAPD, NYPD, and FDNY to show their support. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum  even had an exhibit called  Comeback Season: Sports After 9/11 , which, according to its webpage, "explores how sports helped the countr...

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 up next, and then hopefully they can make up some ground as they play the Twins, Orioles, and White Sox. As Yogi Berra said, "It ain't over till it's over," and for the Yankees it's just that. Until then, see you at the park. — 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 have to figure it out and get back to the team they were destined to be. Until then, see you at the park. — 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 Phillies, the Mets can use every healthy arm they can get and may have just found it in McLean and Tong. Until then, see you at the park. — 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 playoffs. Lin brought that much excitement and just this past week announced his retirement from basketball after 15 years playing in the NBA and over in Taiwan. I enjoy a good hoops game and watched every game this year of the NBA Summer League.  So to Lin, thank you for the excitement you brought to New York. I enjoyed it. Hoops Dujour to you.  Until then, see you at the court. — 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