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Twerpy leviathan who loves geology and Lyndon B. Johnson.

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San Francisco Giants outfielder Drew Gilbert.

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Friendly cub and Sacramento River Cats infielder Buddy Kennedy tags out Albuquerque Isotopes outfielder Cole Carrigg.

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University of Alabama catcher John Lemm and Vanderbilt shortstop Ryker Waite.

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University of Arkansas outfielder Maika Niu.

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San Francisco Giants outfielder Drew Gilbert.

(Photo: AIyssa McDanieI)

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Hartford YardGoats pitcher Connor Staine. One of my favorites.

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San Francisco Giants minor league pitcher Carson Seymour, being adorably coy.

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Jacksonville State University infielder Matthew Cash.

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Rockies catcher Braxton Fulford, being his usual sunny self.

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And this is what used to be called a “salad bar.”

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ANN CURRY: “Good morning. Breaking news: NASA engineers discover a crack in the foam of the shuttle’s external fuel tank. Will this force them to scrap tomorrow’s liftoff[…]today, Monday, July 3, 2006.”

Twenty years ago this morning, problems with insulating foam mantling the external tank of STS-121 led the news on Today. A chunk of similar foam doomed the space shuttle orbiter Columbia in 2003. Ultimately, NASA determined the cracked foam did not pose a threat to the orbiter Discovery and the stack successfully launched the following day, July 4.

At 7:30 a.m., anchors Ann Curry and Lester Holt were menaced by a large dragonfly that alit on a klieg light. Very enjoyable. Elsewhere in the show, Holt got a guided tour of low-calorie drinks and Nick Lachey performed for the crowd in Rockefeller Plaza.

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Jacksonville State University outfielder Luke Williams.

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Jacksonville State University pitcher Beau Bryans (left) and outfielder Luke Williams.

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University of Alabama men’s tennis player Yoshka Sborowsky.

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Jacksonville State University infielder Jaxon Pate (left) and Cooper Blauser.

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University of Alabama men’s tennis player Brendan Loh.

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Troy University catcher Jimmy Janicki.