Ryan Wagner & Mike O'Hara at home in the Fan Cave

To tie in the with the start of the 107th World Series ESPN America asked the MLB Fan Cave Guys – Ryan Wagner and Mike O’Hara – for their Top Five highlights from their season in the Cave in Manhattan.

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RYAN WAGNER’s
Top Five Moments from the MLB Fan Cave

Asking me to pick my five favorite moments of life inside the Fan Cave is like asking a mother to pick her favorite child. I have loved every second, and the memories are so abundant that trying to think about each and every one is difficult.

But if you’re going to make me choose just five, here are the ones I’ll go with, in no particular order.

Boyz II Men
I have been a fan of these guys since I was just a kid, and even went to one of their concerts at the age of 11. Meeting them, and getting the chance to chat with them, was something I won’t soon forget. Also, getting Wanya to call my brother and leave a voicemail made me my big brother’s hero, if only for a day.

Adam Jones and Jeremy Guthrie
As most of you know, I love my Orioles. So getting to meet two of the best players on the team was an amazing experience, and more so, getting to hang out with Guthrie a few times was a lot of fun. He even made a childhood dream of mine come true a few weeks ago when he came to the Cave, made me put on catcher’s gear, and threw some pitches to me. Unbelievably awesome guy.

Playing pool against the Black Widow
I grew up playing a lot of pool in Baltimore, and my Dad was a champ at one point. Getting to play against one of the best players in the world, and even dropping five balls, was thrilling. Even better, she signed a picture to my Dad, who I’m sure will frame it and hang it in the house somewhere.

Catching fly balls at the All Star Game
It may not have taken place in the Cave, but getting the chance to take batting practice and then shag fly balls at a big league stadium was a blast. It took me a few minutes to remember how to track them, but it was smooth sailing after that. Bucket list item: checked off.

Watching DJ3K
As I wrote in a blog earlier this year, watching DJ3K was less about Derek Jeter’s feat and more about experiencing the unique opportunity to witness true fandom and elation, simultaneously. Watching my buddy Mike go bonkers when Jeter’s home run cleared the left field fence is a memory I will carry with me wherever I go. It will always be a reminder of what being a true fan is all about.

DEREK JETER 300: A memory shared by Ryan and Mike, who were there to witness history.

MIKE O’HARA’s
Top Five Moments from the MLB Fan Cave

I will truly never forget the 2011 Major League Baseball season. It’s not only because of the amazing moments on the field, but because I experienced it in the most unique way possible. This year I hosted the MLB Fan Cave show and web series … oh and watched every game of the season to boot.

The Fan Cave is a place like no other. A baseball die-hard or just the casual fan would agree that my office on 4th and Broadway in New York City is one outstanding place to go to work each day.

During my time here, I have met, interviewed and performed sketches with some of the biggest stars in Major League Baseball, movies, television and music, and it’s surreal to say the least. I can’t thank everyone enough for all the help and support. You’ve all really been amazing.

I’m often asked what are the moments I’ll remember most … this list would probably change 100 times over if I sat and thought about it, but here’s what I’m thinking today.

Reggie Jackson interview
Getting to interview “Mr. October” Reggie Jackson, at the Home Run Derby in Arizona tops the list. Reggie was a boyhood hero of mine and to get to talk to him while Robbie Cano crushed pitch after pitch over our heads was amazing. I asked Mr. Jackson how he’d do if he were in this year’s field in the Derby and in classic Reggie form he took a quick look at me and said, “I’d win it, Mikey.” Awesome!

The Hitman
I’ve always loved writing and performing sketch comedy, and the Fan Cave gave me the chance to have some fun with it this season. I will always recall the day that Jose Bautista became mob enforcer “Joey Bats” in a sketch we came up with called The Hitman. With the help of Sopranos star, Steve Schirripa, I got to see the Toronto slugger become a seasoned actor … he was a believable wise guy to everyone in the room that day. It was a blast.

DJ3K and Mo 602

As a life-long Yankees fan, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera are two of my all-time favorites. I got to watch them both reach milestones in their Hall of Fame careers and it was something I won’t forget not only as a fan of the Bronx Bombers but as a fan of the game. These are two guys who play baseball the right way, and it has been great to be a fan of theirs. Their days will go down in Yankees’ History and that ain’t too damn shabby when you think of the company they’ll keep.

Ken Casey comes to the Cave
Interviewing Ken Casey of the Dropkick Murphys was a highlight. He is a guy I admire for the way he has driven his band and career. He’s an Irish/American Punk rocker, family man and business owner … if it wasn’t for his devotion to the Red Sox, Casey and I would have a lot in common. In all seriousness, Ken is a great guy and the Dropkick Murphys are an amazing band. They set the bar high, so I’ll put my Yankee cap on and take a page from the Book of Casey. Hopefully the band I play in will get a chance to play a bill with Kenny and the boys soon.

Advice from the Goose
Goose Gossage named my dog. Just reading that makes me laugh. Goose was my first interview at the Fan Cave opening day. When I was a kid he was superhuman. He was a mythical Baseball Hero who would emerge from the Yankee bullpen the way Batman does from the Bat Cave. Whenever my dad took me to The Stadium as a kid he would ask, “I wonder if we’ll see The Goose today, pal. What do you think?” My answer was always, “I hope so.”

I told Mr. Gossage that I was planning to get a dog (an English Bulldog to be exact) and I was going to name him after one of the great Yankees. The choices were Whitey, Gator, Thurman, Yogi, Reggie or Goose. I asked the Hall of Famer why I should chose Goose. He took a second and said, “You shouldn’t. You should name that dog Thurman. Thurman was our captain and one of my dearest friends. If you are naming a friend, that’s a pretty strong name to go with, Mike. Name him Thurman.”

I now have a bulldog puppy named Thurman Mattingly O’Hara. To have one of your heroes name your dog … nothing like it. Thanks, Goose.

Again, thanks for all the support and kind words the MLB Fan Cave received this season. We appreciated it more than you know. Cheers.

ESPN America’s Aaron Murphy met the Fan Cave Guys
at the All Star Game in Phoenix.

For more details of the World Series on ESPN America, go to our MLB TV Schedule