Recognizable Guest Star:

Michael Clarke Duncan, known as "John Coffey" from The Green Mile, in which Gary Sinise has a cameo as Coffey's lawyer.

General:

Actor Allusion: Danny's back-story of being an aspiring baseball player before joining the NYPD is similar to Carmine Giovinazzo's own story, so him throwing the baseball to damage the door in the recreation is real
Role Association: It's hard not to think of John Coffey every time Michael Clarke Duncan is on screen.
Shout-Out: The crime for which Duncan's character is on trial is similar to that of which his "Green Mile" character is accused.
The Yankee Stadium scenes were actually shot at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The female victim's last name is Danville which, of course, is re-used in Seasons 7-9 as Jo's last name.
The diner Stella meets Mac in is the Avenue C Diner featured prominently in the next episode.