Friday, April 30, 2010
Table of Connected Teams
I created a basic table listing all the teams I've linked to so far. Hopefully this will be a valuable reference as it grows. You can find the Connected Teams page on the side of the blog. I'll update it after every successful chain.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
#9: Walt Alexander
Walt Alexander
I) Walt Alexander --> '17 Yankees --> Muddy Ruel
Can I just say the 1917 Yankees are cool in my book because they had players named Slim Love and Urban Shocker? Are those great baseball names or what?
II) Ruel --> '34 White Sox --> Luke Appling
III) Appling --> '50 White Sox --> Billy Pierce, Nellie Fox
IV) Pierce --> '64 Giants
IV) Fox --> '65 Astros
Usually when I look for a player who outlasted his teammates, I get a couple of guys who qualify, therefore giving me a few options. This time around, I don't get any branches until Peirce and Fox. I don't know if this hurts me by limiting my options, but the fact Ruel and Appling allowed me to jump 33 years ahead may make the point moot. I'm going to give preferential treatment to the Hall of Famer and see where I go with Fox first:
IV) Fox --> '65 Astros --> Mike Cuellar
I looked at the Astros roster and this name stood out. I know Mike Cuellar. Not personally, but enough I know enough about his career that I know he played for the orioles in the 70's. I think I have my chain:
1.Walt Alexander played for the 1917 New York Yankees with Muddy Ruel.
2. Muddy Ruel played for the 1934 Chicago White Sox with HOF Luke Appling.
3. Luke Appling played for the 1950 Chicago White Sox with HOF Nellie Fox.
4. Nellie Fox played for the 1965 Houston Astros with Mike Cueller.
5. Mike Cueller played for the 1976 Baltimore Orioles with Denny Martinez.
6. Denny Martinez played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!
Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6
Another successful pre-WWII era connection! I'm rather impressed that this chain included 2 Hall of Famers - Appling and Fox. Also, strategically, I think it would benefit me to keep a list of all teams I've successfully linked. It'll be helpful if I do another player who played for, say, the 1965 Houston Astros, as I'll know where to go from there.
So here's my list so far:
1913 New York Giants (6)
1917 New York Yankees (6)
1928 Brooklyn Robins (6)
1934 Chicago White Sox (5)
1934 St. Louis Browns (5)
1947 Cleveland Indians (5)
1950 Chicago White Sox (4)
1953 Philadelphia Phillies (4)
1960 Chicago Cubs (4)
1964 St. Louis Cardinals (3)
1965 Houston Astros (3)
1976 Baltimore Orioles (2)
1976 Philadelphia Phillies (3)
1976 Baltimore Orioles (2)
1977 Montreal Expos (2)
1992 Montreal Expos (1)
1995 Boston Red Sox (1)
2000 Oakland Athletics (1)
2003 Pittsburgh Pirates (1)
2004 St. Louis Cardinals (2)
2005 Florida Marlins (3)
2005 Texas Rangers (2)
2007 Boston Red Sox (2)
2010 Boston Red Sox (2)
I've even put the degrees in parenthesis, so I have an idea of how many degrees I'll need to complete the chain. I think my next project will be to create a table and link it as a stand alone page.
I) Walt Alexander --> '17 Yankees --> Muddy Ruel
Can I just say the 1917 Yankees are cool in my book because they had players named Slim Love and Urban Shocker? Are those great baseball names or what?
II) Ruel --> '34 White Sox --> Luke Appling
III) Appling --> '50 White Sox --> Billy Pierce, Nellie Fox
IV) Pierce --> '64 Giants
IV) Fox --> '65 Astros
Usually when I look for a player who outlasted his teammates, I get a couple of guys who qualify, therefore giving me a few options. This time around, I don't get any branches until Peirce and Fox. I don't know if this hurts me by limiting my options, but the fact Ruel and Appling allowed me to jump 33 years ahead may make the point moot. I'm going to give preferential treatment to the Hall of Famer and see where I go with Fox first:
IV) Fox --> '65 Astros --> Mike Cuellar
I looked at the Astros roster and this name stood out. I know Mike Cuellar. Not personally, but enough I know enough about his career that I know he played for the orioles in the 70's. I think I have my chain:
1.Walt Alexander played for the 1917 New York Yankees with Muddy Ruel.
2. Muddy Ruel played for the 1934 Chicago White Sox with HOF Luke Appling.
3. Luke Appling played for the 1950 Chicago White Sox with HOF Nellie Fox.
4. Nellie Fox played for the 1965 Houston Astros with Mike Cueller.
5. Mike Cueller played for the 1976 Baltimore Orioles with Denny Martinez.
6. Denny Martinez played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!
Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6
Another successful pre-WWII era connection! I'm rather impressed that this chain included 2 Hall of Famers - Appling and Fox. Also, strategically, I think it would benefit me to keep a list of all teams I've successfully linked. It'll be helpful if I do another player who played for, say, the 1965 Houston Astros, as I'll know where to go from there.
So here's my list so far:
1913 New York Giants (6)
1917 New York Yankees (6)
1928 Brooklyn Robins (6)
1934 Chicago White Sox (5)
1934 St. Louis Browns (5)
1947 Cleveland Indians (5)
1950 Chicago White Sox (4)
1953 Philadelphia Phillies (4)
1960 Chicago Cubs (4)
1964 St. Louis Cardinals (3)
1965 Houston Astros (3)
1976 Baltimore Orioles (2)
1976 Philadelphia Phillies (3)
1976 Baltimore Orioles (2)
1977 Montreal Expos (2)
1992 Montreal Expos (1)
1995 Boston Red Sox (1)
2000 Oakland Athletics (1)
2003 Pittsburgh Pirates (1)
2004 St. Louis Cardinals (2)
2005 Florida Marlins (3)
2005 Texas Rangers (2)
2007 Boston Red Sox (2)
2010 Boston Red Sox (2)
I've even put the degrees in parenthesis, so I have an idea of how many degrees I'll need to complete the chain. I think my next project will be to create a table and link it as a stand alone page.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
#8: Jim McTamany
Jim McTamany
The Random Pages of Baseball Reference can be a cruel mistress. This guy last played in 1891..I have a feeling this will take more than 6 degrees...
I) Jim McTamany --> 1891 Columbus Solons
I) Jim McTamany --> 1891 Philadelphia Athletics
At least I get to branch out in 2 possible directions. We'll start with the Solons:
I) Jim McTamany --> 1891 Solons --> Jack O'Connor
II) O'Connor --> 1910 St. Louis Browns --> Bill Bailey, Bill Killefer
III) Bailey --> '22 Cardinals --> Jesse Haines, Jim Bottomley, Rogers Hornsby
IV) Haines --> '37 Cardinals
IV) Bottomley, Hornsby --> '37 Browns
III) Killefer --> '21 Cubs --> Tony Kaufmann, Bob O'Farrell
IV) Kaufmann, O'Farell --> '35 Cardinals
Four degrees in and I can't get out of the 1930's. At the very least, I'd need to find someone who can get me from the 30's to the 70's for my 5th degree. A 4 decade jump is just too much to handle. This is a dead end. I still have the 1891 Athletics to try, but I'm not liking my chances here.
I) Jim McTamany --> 1891 Athletics --> Lave Cross, Tommy Corcoran
II) Cross --> 1907 Senators --> Walter Johnson
III) Johnson --> '27 Senators --> Hod Lisenbee, Dick Coffman
IV) Lisenbee --> '45 Reds
IV) Coffman --> '45 Phillies
Much better, but still a stretch. At least here I have a fighting chance. Before I continue this chain, let's see if Corcoran can do any better.
II) Corcoran --> 1907 Giants --> Fred Merkle
III) Merkle --> '25 Yankees --> Hank Johnson, Lou Gehrig, Tony Lazzeri
IV) Johnson --> '39 Reds
IV) Gehrig --> '39 Yankees
IV) Lazzeri --> '39 Dodgers, '39 Giants
Despite having three players with four teams on the cusp of the 1940's, I'm calling this one a dead end. I'd have to find someone who played in 1939 and lasted into the 70's to even have a remote chance. Let's see how Cross plays out:
II) Cross --> 1907 Senators --> Walter Johnson
III) Johnson --> '27 Senators --> Hod Lisenbee, Dick Coffman
IV) Lisenbee --> '45 Reds --> Herm Wehmeier, Hank Sauer
V) Wehmeier --> '58 Tigers
V) Sauer --> '59 Giants
IV) Coffman --> '45 Phillies --> Granny Hamner
V) Hamner --> '62 Athletics
I'd be a bit more excited if the Coffman to Hamner link was lower in the chain, but unfortunately I must stop here. There's no way I can connect Wehmeier, Sauer, or Hamner to one of my "Big 3".
I was doing so well to start off, but now I've failed twice in my past three attempts. I hope this isn't the beginning of a trend.
Degrees of Matt Stairs: over 6
The Random Pages of Baseball Reference can be a cruel mistress. This guy last played in 1891..I have a feeling this will take more than 6 degrees...
I) Jim McTamany --> 1891 Columbus Solons
I) Jim McTamany --> 1891 Philadelphia Athletics
At least I get to branch out in 2 possible directions. We'll start with the Solons:
I) Jim McTamany --> 1891 Solons --> Jack O'Connor
II) O'Connor --> 1910 St. Louis Browns --> Bill Bailey, Bill Killefer
III) Bailey --> '22 Cardinals --> Jesse Haines, Jim Bottomley, Rogers Hornsby
IV) Haines --> '37 Cardinals
IV) Bottomley, Hornsby --> '37 Browns
III) Killefer --> '21 Cubs --> Tony Kaufmann, Bob O'Farrell
IV) Kaufmann, O'Farell --> '35 Cardinals
Four degrees in and I can't get out of the 1930's. At the very least, I'd need to find someone who can get me from the 30's to the 70's for my 5th degree. A 4 decade jump is just too much to handle. This is a dead end. I still have the 1891 Athletics to try, but I'm not liking my chances here.
I) Jim McTamany --> 1891 Athletics --> Lave Cross, Tommy Corcoran
II) Cross --> 1907 Senators --> Walter Johnson
III) Johnson --> '27 Senators --> Hod Lisenbee, Dick Coffman
IV) Lisenbee --> '45 Reds
IV) Coffman --> '45 Phillies
Much better, but still a stretch. At least here I have a fighting chance. Before I continue this chain, let's see if Corcoran can do any better.
II) Corcoran --> 1907 Giants --> Fred Merkle
III) Merkle --> '25 Yankees --> Hank Johnson, Lou Gehrig, Tony Lazzeri
IV) Johnson --> '39 Reds
IV) Gehrig --> '39 Yankees
IV) Lazzeri --> '39 Dodgers, '39 Giants
Despite having three players with four teams on the cusp of the 1940's, I'm calling this one a dead end. I'd have to find someone who played in 1939 and lasted into the 70's to even have a remote chance. Let's see how Cross plays out:
II) Cross --> 1907 Senators --> Walter Johnson
III) Johnson --> '27 Senators --> Hod Lisenbee, Dick Coffman
IV) Lisenbee --> '45 Reds --> Herm Wehmeier, Hank Sauer
V) Wehmeier --> '58 Tigers
V) Sauer --> '59 Giants
IV) Coffman --> '45 Phillies --> Granny Hamner
V) Hamner --> '62 Athletics
I'd be a bit more excited if the Coffman to Hamner link was lower in the chain, but unfortunately I must stop here. There's no way I can connect Wehmeier, Sauer, or Hamner to one of my "Big 3".
I was doing so well to start off, but now I've failed twice in my past three attempts. I hope this isn't the beginning of a trend.
Degrees of Matt Stairs: over 6
Thursday, April 22, 2010
#7: Jim Pena
Jim Pena
Another guy with 1 year in "The Show". At least this one played in the same era as Stairs.
1. Jim Pena played on the 1992 San Francisco Giants with Gil Heredia.
2. Gil Heredia played on the 1999 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs!
Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2
Another guy with 1 year in "The Show". At least this one played in the same era as Stairs.
1. Jim Pena played on the 1992 San Francisco Giants with Gil Heredia.
2. Gil Heredia played on the 1999 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs!
Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
#6: Wilbur Murdoch
Wilbur Murdoch
I know, it's been awhile since I posted. This one took awhile, and you'll soon see why...
I) Wilbur Murdoch --> '08 Cardinals --> Ed Konetchy, Slim Sallee
You'll notice I started using Roman numerals. By doing this I can keep track of how far down a chain we're at. Both Konetchy and Sallee ended their careers in 1921, and Konetchy actually played for two team that year. We'll start with him.
II) Konetchy --> '21 Dodgers --> Burleigh Grimes, Zack Taylor
II) Konetchy --> '21 Phillies --> Huck Betts
II) Konetchy --> '21 Dodgers --> Burleigh Grimes
III) Grimes --> '34 Cardinals --> Dizzy Dean, Joe Medwick
IV) Dean --> '47 Cardinals --> Ellis Kinder, Les Moss
Both Kinder and Moss ended their careers in the 1950's, and only two degrees left to get to Stairs. That's too big of a gap to bridge, so I'm going to consider this a dead end. Fortunately, I have other paths to take, especially since Grimes played for 3 teams during his final year.
IV) Medwick --> '48 Cardinals --> Stan Musial, Red Schoendienst
Both Musial and Schoendienst retired after playing for the Cardinals in 1963. This is still a pretty big gap to cross, although not as bad as the Kinder and Moss links.
V) Musial/Schoendienst --> '63 Cardinals --> Bob Gibson, Ray Sadecki, Dal Maxvill, Tim McCarver
Four players who played in the 70's. This is very encouraging. If I can connect any of them to my "Big 3", I've got my link:
VI) Gibson --> '75 Cardinals
VI) Sadecki --> '77 Mets
VI) Maxvill --> '75 Athletics
VI) McCarver --> '80 Phillies
So close, but with only one degree left, I can't get to Carter, Cerone, or Martinez. If this was 7 Degrees of Matt Stairs, perhaps. This branch is another dead end, but I've gotten far enough that I think I have a chance.
III) Grimes --> '34 Yankees --> Dixie Walker
IV) Walker --> '49 Yankees --> Yogi Berra
V) Berra --> '65 Mets
Another dead end.
III) Grimes --> '34 Pirates --> Arky Vaughan
IV) Vaughan --> '48 Dodgers --> Duke Snider, Gil Hodges
V) Snider --> '64 Giants
V) Hodges --> '63 Mets
Two more dead ends. That ends Grimes's branch.
II) Konetchy --> '21 Dodgers --> Zack Taylor
III) Taylor --> '35 Dodgers --> Dutch Leonard
IV) Leonard --> '53 Cubs --> Ernie Banks
V) Banks --> '71 Cubs
I'm sensing a pattern here, are you?
II) Konetchy --> '21 Phillies --> Huck Betts
III) Betts --> '35 Braves --> Ray Mueller
IV) Mueller --> '51 Braves --> Lew Burdette
V) Burdette --> '67 Angels
That's it for Konetchy. There were lots of opportunities here, it just so happens that none of them panned out. On to Slim Sallee!
II) Sallee --> '21 Giants --> Frankie Frisch
III) Frisch --> '37 Cardinals --> Mickey Owen, Johnny Mize
IV) Owen --> '54 Red Sox --> Bill Henry
V) Henry --> '69 Astros
IV) Mize --> '53 Yankees --> Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle
V) Ford --> '67 Yankees
V) Mantle --> '68 Yankees
Slim pickings from Slim Sallee. I'm afraid I have suffered my first defeat. Despite numerous branches, I was unable to make my connection to Stairs. This doesn't mean this is an impossible chain, however. It just means that my strategy for crossing multiple generations has failed. There are a wealth of other branches I can explore, and perhaps some day I'll come back and try to rectify this blemish on my record. For now, I can only hang my head and prepare for the next randomly generated name.
Degrees of Matt Stairs: Over 6
I know, it's been awhile since I posted. This one took awhile, and you'll soon see why...
I) Wilbur Murdoch --> '08 Cardinals --> Ed Konetchy, Slim Sallee
You'll notice I started using Roman numerals. By doing this I can keep track of how far down a chain we're at. Both Konetchy and Sallee ended their careers in 1921, and Konetchy actually played for two team that year. We'll start with him.
II) Konetchy --> '21 Dodgers --> Burleigh Grimes, Zack Taylor
II) Konetchy --> '21 Phillies --> Huck Betts
II) Konetchy --> '21 Dodgers --> Burleigh Grimes
III) Grimes --> '34 Cardinals --> Dizzy Dean, Joe Medwick
IV) Dean --> '47 Cardinals --> Ellis Kinder, Les Moss
Both Kinder and Moss ended their careers in the 1950's, and only two degrees left to get to Stairs. That's too big of a gap to bridge, so I'm going to consider this a dead end. Fortunately, I have other paths to take, especially since Grimes played for 3 teams during his final year.
IV) Medwick --> '48 Cardinals --> Stan Musial, Red Schoendienst
Both Musial and Schoendienst retired after playing for the Cardinals in 1963. This is still a pretty big gap to cross, although not as bad as the Kinder and Moss links.
V) Musial/Schoendienst --> '63 Cardinals --> Bob Gibson, Ray Sadecki, Dal Maxvill, Tim McCarver
Four players who played in the 70's. This is very encouraging. If I can connect any of them to my "Big 3", I've got my link:
VI) Gibson --> '75 Cardinals
VI) Sadecki --> '77 Mets
VI) Maxvill --> '75 Athletics
VI) McCarver --> '80 Phillies
So close, but with only one degree left, I can't get to Carter, Cerone, or Martinez. If this was 7 Degrees of Matt Stairs, perhaps. This branch is another dead end, but I've gotten far enough that I think I have a chance.
III) Grimes --> '34 Yankees --> Dixie Walker
IV) Walker --> '49 Yankees --> Yogi Berra
V) Berra --> '65 Mets
Another dead end.
III) Grimes --> '34 Pirates --> Arky Vaughan
IV) Vaughan --> '48 Dodgers --> Duke Snider, Gil Hodges
V) Snider --> '64 Giants
V) Hodges --> '63 Mets
Two more dead ends. That ends Grimes's branch.
II) Konetchy --> '21 Dodgers --> Zack Taylor
III) Taylor --> '35 Dodgers --> Dutch Leonard
IV) Leonard --> '53 Cubs --> Ernie Banks
V) Banks --> '71 Cubs
I'm sensing a pattern here, are you?
II) Konetchy --> '21 Phillies --> Huck Betts
III) Betts --> '35 Braves --> Ray Mueller
IV) Mueller --> '51 Braves --> Lew Burdette
V) Burdette --> '67 Angels
That's it for Konetchy. There were lots of opportunities here, it just so happens that none of them panned out. On to Slim Sallee!
II) Sallee --> '21 Giants --> Frankie Frisch
III) Frisch --> '37 Cardinals --> Mickey Owen, Johnny Mize
IV) Owen --> '54 Red Sox --> Bill Henry
V) Henry --> '69 Astros
IV) Mize --> '53 Yankees --> Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle
V) Ford --> '67 Yankees
V) Mantle --> '68 Yankees
Slim pickings from Slim Sallee. I'm afraid I have suffered my first defeat. Despite numerous branches, I was unable to make my connection to Stairs. This doesn't mean this is an impossible chain, however. It just means that my strategy for crossing multiple generations has failed. There are a wealth of other branches I can explore, and perhaps some day I'll come back and try to rectify this blemish on my record. For now, I can only hang my head and prepare for the next randomly generated name.
Degrees of Matt Stairs: Over 6
Friday, April 9, 2010
#5: John Merritt
John Merritt
Dear Lord, I've stumbled upon Archie Graham! OK, so he's not really Archibald "Moonlight" Graham, but look at this guy's page! This guy got into 1 game with the Giants at the ripe age of 18 on September 27, 1913. No at bats, no fielding chances. That's it. Done. If I can do this, I don't think there's a player I can't do this with!
John Merritt --> '13 Giants --> Grover Hartley
--> Hartley --> '34 Browns --> Bobo Newsom
----> Newsom --> '53 Athletics --> Bobby Shantz
------> Shantz --> '64 Cardinals
------> Shantz --> '64 Cubs
------> Shantz --> '64 Phillies
I may have caught a break here. Three teams in one year gives me a lot of options.
------> Shantz --> '64 Phillies --> Tony Taylor
Tony Taylor helped me get the Ty Tyson completed. I know for certain I can connect the chain to Stairs:
Merritt --> '13 Giants --> Hartley
Hartley --> '34 Browns --> Newsom
Newsom --> '53 Athletics --> Shantz
Shantz --> '64 Phillies --> Taylor
Taylor --> '76 Phillies --> Cash
Cash --> '77 Expos --> Carter
Carter --> '92 Expos --> Stairs
OK, so worst case scenario, I can link Merritt to Stairs in 7 degrees. However, since the goal is to get 6 or less, I'll go back to Shantz and the three teams he played with.
------> Shantz --> '64 Phillies --> Rick Wise
--------> Wise --> '82 Padres
------> Shantz --> '64 Cubs --> Fred Norman, Don Kessinger
--------> Kessinger --> '79 White Sox
--------> Norman --> '80 Expos
------> Shantz --> '64 Cardinals --> Lou Brock, Tim McCarver, Mike Cueller
--------> Brock --> '79 Cardinals
--------> Cuellar --> '77 Angels
--------> McCarver --> '80 Phillies
I have two potential links to my "Big 3" - Fred Norman most definitely played with Carter on that Expos team, and Mike Cuellar was an Oriole with Denny Martinez. Since I used Carter last time, let's go with Martinez today.
1. John Merritt played for the 1913 New York Giants with Grover Hartley
2. Grover Hartley played for the 1934 St. Louis Browns with Bobo Newsom
3. Bobo Newsom played for the 1953 Philadelphia Athletics with Bobby Shantz
4. Bobby Shantz played for the 1964 St. Louis Cardinals with Mike Cuellar
5. Mike Cuellar played for the 1976 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez
6. Dennis Martinez played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!
Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6
Seriously, can this get any more difficult? Abner Doubleday doesn't have a page, does he? (I checked, he only has a bio.)
Dear Lord, I've stumbled upon Archie Graham! OK, so he's not really Archibald "Moonlight" Graham, but look at this guy's page! This guy got into 1 game with the Giants at the ripe age of 18 on September 27, 1913. No at bats, no fielding chances. That's it. Done. If I can do this, I don't think there's a player I can't do this with!
John Merritt --> '13 Giants --> Grover Hartley
--> Hartley --> '34 Browns --> Bobo Newsom
----> Newsom --> '53 Athletics --> Bobby Shantz
------> Shantz --> '64 Cardinals
------> Shantz --> '64 Cubs
------> Shantz --> '64 Phillies
I may have caught a break here. Three teams in one year gives me a lot of options.
------> Shantz --> '64 Phillies --> Tony Taylor
Tony Taylor helped me get the Ty Tyson completed. I know for certain I can connect the chain to Stairs:
Merritt --> '13 Giants --> Hartley
Hartley --> '34 Browns --> Newsom
Newsom --> '53 Athletics --> Shantz
Shantz --> '64 Phillies --> Taylor
Taylor --> '76 Phillies --> Cash
Cash --> '77 Expos --> Carter
Carter --> '92 Expos --> Stairs
OK, so worst case scenario, I can link Merritt to Stairs in 7 degrees. However, since the goal is to get 6 or less, I'll go back to Shantz and the three teams he played with.
------> Shantz --> '64 Phillies --> Rick Wise
--------> Wise --> '82 Padres
------> Shantz --> '64 Cubs --> Fred Norman, Don Kessinger
--------> Kessinger --> '79 White Sox
--------> Norman --> '80 Expos
------> Shantz --> '64 Cardinals --> Lou Brock, Tim McCarver, Mike Cueller
--------> Brock --> '79 Cardinals
--------> Cuellar --> '77 Angels
--------> McCarver --> '80 Phillies
I have two potential links to my "Big 3" - Fred Norman most definitely played with Carter on that Expos team, and Mike Cuellar was an Oriole with Denny Martinez. Since I used Carter last time, let's go with Martinez today.
1. John Merritt played for the 1913 New York Giants with Grover Hartley
2. Grover Hartley played for the 1934 St. Louis Browns with Bobo Newsom
3. Bobo Newsom played for the 1953 Philadelphia Athletics with Bobby Shantz
4. Bobby Shantz played for the 1964 St. Louis Cardinals with Mike Cuellar
5. Mike Cuellar played for the 1976 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez
6. Dennis Martinez played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!
Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6
Seriously, can this get any more difficult? Abner Doubleday doesn't have a page, does he? (I checked, he only has a bio.)
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
#4: Sandy Alomar Jr.
Sandy Alomar Jr.
1. Sandy Alomar Jr. played on the 2005 Texas Rangers with Ron Mahay.
2. Ron Mahay played on the 2000 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs
Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2
After Ty Tyson, I was glad to have a relative easy one!
1. Sandy Alomar Jr. played on the 2005 Texas Rangers with Ron Mahay.
2. Ron Mahay played on the 2000 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs
Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2
After Ty Tyson, I was glad to have a relative easy one!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
#3: Ty Tyson
Ty Tyson
Oooh, my first challenge! A guy who played only 3 years in the late 20's.
My strategy: I have two main hurdles to jump here: There's a gap of 70 years between Tyson's last year and Stair's first, and I have very little knowledge of players from this far back. My strategy is to take Tyson's last year and find the teammate who lasted the longest, then take his last year and do likewise. I'm hoping I can find some players who have had 15-20 year careers, which will allow me to span multiple decades.
1. Ty Tyson played on the 1928 Brooklyn Robins with Al Lopez.
* Already my strategy is paying off! Lopez allowed me to jump 19 years closer! However, from here, it gets tricky. Lopez last played in 1947, and that team has 2 potential links - HoF Larry Doby, who played until 1959, and Jim Heagan, who lasted until 1960. I guess I'll try both. I may have to use some funky notation to explain my logic, so bear with me.
Heagan's '60 Cubs featured 3 players who lasted until 1976. Tony Taylor, Billy Williams, and Jim Brewer. I'll notate this like so:
Heagan --> '60 Cubs --> Tony Taylor, Billy Williams, Jim Brewer
--> Taylor --> '76 Phillies
--> Williams --> '76 A's
--> Brewer --> '76 Angels
Doby's last season was actually split between 2 clubs, the Tigers and the White Sox. The Tigers featured HoF Al Kaline, who played until 1974.
Doby --> '59 Tigers --> Al Kaline
--> Kaline --> '74 Tigers
Meanwhile, the White Sox give me 3 more potential links:
Doby --> '59 White Sox --> Luis Aparicio, Norm Cash, Johnny Callison
--> Aparicio --> '73 Red Sox
--> Cash --> '74 Tigers
--> Callison --> '73 Yankees
Since Kaline and Cash get me to the same point ('74 Tigers), I'll ignore the Kaline link for now. I now have 6 different players on 6 different teams to work with.
At this point, I think it may be in my best interest to work backwards, and find teammates of Matt Stairs who may be at the tail end of a nice, long career. Obviously, the best place to start would be 1992 and 1993 Expos. Fortunately, I didn't have to go very far here. During Matt's rookie year, he played with 3 veterans who started their careers in the 70's - "El Presidente" Dennis Martinez, Rick Cerone, and HoF Gary Carter. Jackpot! I have a feeling these 3 will save my bacon numerous times. So now all I have to do is find a way to connect one of the 6 players I established a link to one of my "Big 3".
We'll start with the '76 Phillies. Right off the bat, I've got my link, Norm Cash, who the very next year went to Montreal and played with Carter. I have my link, let's see if I did it in under 6 degrees:
1. Ty Tyson played on the 1928 Brooklyn Robins with Al Lopez.
2. Al Lopez played for the 1947 Cleveland Indians with Jim Heagan.
3. Jim Heagan played on the 1960 Chicago Cubs with Tony Taylor.
4. Tony Taylor played on the 1976 Philadelphia Phillies with Dave Cash.
5. Dave Cash played on the 1977 Montreal Expos with HoF Gary Carter.
6. Gary Carter played on the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!
Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6
Success! That was a close one, I didn't think I was going to be able to do it.
Oooh, my first challenge! A guy who played only 3 years in the late 20's.
My strategy: I have two main hurdles to jump here: There's a gap of 70 years between Tyson's last year and Stair's first, and I have very little knowledge of players from this far back. My strategy is to take Tyson's last year and find the teammate who lasted the longest, then take his last year and do likewise. I'm hoping I can find some players who have had 15-20 year careers, which will allow me to span multiple decades.
1. Ty Tyson played on the 1928 Brooklyn Robins with Al Lopez.
* Already my strategy is paying off! Lopez allowed me to jump 19 years closer! However, from here, it gets tricky. Lopez last played in 1947, and that team has 2 potential links - HoF Larry Doby, who played until 1959, and Jim Heagan, who lasted until 1960. I guess I'll try both. I may have to use some funky notation to explain my logic, so bear with me.
Heagan's '60 Cubs featured 3 players who lasted until 1976. Tony Taylor, Billy Williams, and Jim Brewer. I'll notate this like so:
Heagan --> '60 Cubs --> Tony Taylor, Billy Williams, Jim Brewer
--> Taylor --> '76 Phillies
--> Williams --> '76 A's
--> Brewer --> '76 Angels
Doby's last season was actually split between 2 clubs, the Tigers and the White Sox. The Tigers featured HoF Al Kaline, who played until 1974.
Doby --> '59 Tigers --> Al Kaline
--> Kaline --> '74 Tigers
Meanwhile, the White Sox give me 3 more potential links:
Doby --> '59 White Sox --> Luis Aparicio, Norm Cash, Johnny Callison
--> Aparicio --> '73 Red Sox
--> Cash --> '74 Tigers
--> Callison --> '73 Yankees
Since Kaline and Cash get me to the same point ('74 Tigers), I'll ignore the Kaline link for now. I now have 6 different players on 6 different teams to work with.
At this point, I think it may be in my best interest to work backwards, and find teammates of Matt Stairs who may be at the tail end of a nice, long career. Obviously, the best place to start would be 1992 and 1993 Expos. Fortunately, I didn't have to go very far here. During Matt's rookie year, he played with 3 veterans who started their careers in the 70's - "El Presidente" Dennis Martinez, Rick Cerone, and HoF Gary Carter. Jackpot! I have a feeling these 3 will save my bacon numerous times. So now all I have to do is find a way to connect one of the 6 players I established a link to one of my "Big 3".
We'll start with the '76 Phillies. Right off the bat, I've got my link, Norm Cash, who the very next year went to Montreal and played with Carter. I have my link, let's see if I did it in under 6 degrees:
1. Ty Tyson played on the 1928 Brooklyn Robins with Al Lopez.
2. Al Lopez played for the 1947 Cleveland Indians with Jim Heagan.
3. Jim Heagan played on the 1960 Chicago Cubs with Tony Taylor.
4. Tony Taylor played on the 1976 Philadelphia Phillies with Dave Cash.
5. Dave Cash played on the 1977 Montreal Expos with HoF Gary Carter.
6. Gary Carter played on the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!
Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6
Success! That was a close one, I didn't think I was going to be able to do it.
It's Official
Congratulations to Matt Stairs! He appeared in a game for the Padres, and now officially has played for 12 Major League Teams - a record for position players!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
#2: Mike Lincoln
Mike Lincoln
OK, so here's my first randomly generated player. Fortunately, this is a current player, so he's well within the "Matt Stairs time line". This should be an easy one.
1. Mike Lincoln played on the 2004 St. Louis Cardinals with Reggie Sanders.
2. Reggie Sanders played on the 2003 Pittsburgh Pirates with Matt Stairs!
Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2
OK, so here's my first randomly generated player. Fortunately, this is a current player, so he's well within the "Matt Stairs time line". This should be an easy one.
1. Mike Lincoln played on the 2004 St. Louis Cardinals with Reggie Sanders.
2. Reggie Sanders played on the 2003 Pittsburgh Pirates with Matt Stairs!
Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
