#41: Rafael Medina

Rafael Medina

1. Rafael Medina played for the 1998 Florida Marlins with Cliff Floyd.
2. Cliff Floyd played for the 1993 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#40: Ron Darling

Ron Darling

Easy enough.

1. Ron Darling played for the 1988 New York Mets with Gary Carter.
2. Gary Carter played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#39: Leon Cadore

Leon Cadore

I) Leon Cadore --> '24 Giants --> Grover Hartley

Hartley was a connecting player in on of my previous chains, so I know I'll get to Stairs eventually. There are others on this team that played longer, though, so I want to see where they take me first.

I) Leon Cadore --> '24 Giants --> Bill Terry, Freddie Lindstrom, Frankie Frisch, Travis Jackson

II) Terry, Jackson --> '36 Giants
II) Lindstrom --> '36 Dodgers
II) Frisch --> '37 Cardinals

Three branches to choose from here. We'll start with Frisch, who played the longest.

II) Frisch --> '37 Cardinals --> Bob Weiland, Mickey Owen, Johnny Mize
      III) Mize --> '53 Yankees
      III) Owen --> '54 Red Sox

We've already connected Weiland, so I know this is a good route too. I'm going to go back to the '36 Giants and Cardinals teams, and see if I get any further there.

II) Terry, Jackson --> '36 Giants --> Dick Bartell, Harry Gumbert
      III) Gumbert --> '50 Pirates

Bartell was a connecting player too! So far, every branch has yielded a player I've already used. Can I go 4-4?

II) Lindstrom --> '36 Dodgers --> Dutch Leonard
      III) Leonard --> '53 Cubs

I guess not. That's OK, because I'm looking to add new teams to my table. I'm going to stick with this branch and see where it takes me.

      III) Leonard --> '53 Cubs --> Ernie Banks
              IV) Banks --> '71 Cubs --> Ken Holtzman, Earl Stephenson, Hal Breeden, Ken Rudolph
                     V) Breeden --> '75 Expos
                     V) Holtzman --> '76 Orioles
                     V) Rudolph --> '77 Orioles
                     V) Stephenson --> '78 Orioles

Although numerous players on the '71 Cubs team played well into the 1980's, these 4 stick out because they played with one of my "Big 3", which at this point is neccessary to get this at 6 degrees. I don't have the '78 Orioles on my list yet, so Stephenson gets the nod.

1. Leon Cadore played for the 1924 New York Giants with Freddie Lindstrom.
2. Freddie Lindstrom played for the 1936 Brooklyn Dodgers with Dutch Leonard.
3. Dutch Leonard played for the 1953 Chicago Cubs with Ernie Banks.
4. Ernie Banks played for the 1971 Chicago Cubs with Earl Stephenson.
5. Earl Stephenson played for the 1978 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez.
6. Dennis Mrtinez played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6

#38: Spec Harkness

Spec Harkness

I) Spec Harkness --> '11 Naps --> Steve O'Neill

I had never heard of the Naps before, but the roster featured two huge names from our baseball lore - Shoeless Joe Jackson and Cy Young (plus Hall of Famer Nap Lajoie). Pretty cool.

II) O'Neill --> '28 Browns

I had already connected the '29 Browns, however Rick Ferrell isn't on the '28 team, so onward I push...

II) O'Neill --> '28 Browns --> Dick Coffman, Boom-Boom Beck, Red Kress
      III) Coffman --> '45 Phillies
      III) Beck --> '45 Reds
      III) Beck --> '45 Pirates
      III) Kress --> '46 Giants

I've connected the '45 Phillies and the '46 Giants before, so I know I can complete the chain with either Coffman or Kress. However, I cannot pass up the opportunity to include a guy nicknamed Boom-Boom, so I'm going to see where he takes me.

      III) Beck --> '45 Reds --> Herm Wehmeier, Hank Sauer
              IV) Wehmeier --> '58 Cardinals
              IV) Wehmeier --> '58 Tigers
              IV) Sauer --> '59 Giants

      III) Beck --> '45 Pirates --> Bob Elliott, Preacher Roe
              IV) Elliott --> '53 Browns
              IV) Elliott --> '53 White Sox
              IV) Roe --> '54 Dodgers

Lots of choices here, but I'm going to ignore the '45 Pirates branch, since the '45 Reds give me an extra 5 years.

              IV) Sauer --> '59 Giants --> Willie MCCovey
                     V) McCovey --> '80 Giants
              IV) Wehmeier --> '58 Cardinals --> Lindy McDaniel
                     V) McDaniel --> '75 Royals
              IV) Wehmeier --> '58 Tigers --> Al Kaline
                     V) Kaline --> '74 Tigers

By now, I should have at least been able to get to one of my "Big 3". A lot of work for naught I'm afraid. Fortunately, I already knew I could complete my chain. I'm going with the '46 Giants over the '45 Phillies, for no reason other than to give Granny Hamner a break.

1. Spec Harkness played for the 1911 Cleveland Naps with Steve O'Neill.
2. Steve O'Neill played for the 1928 St. Louis Browns with Red Kress.
3. Red Kress played for the 1946 New York Giants with Bobby Thompson.
4. Bobby Thompson played for the 1960 Baltimore Orioles with Brooks Robinson.
5. Brooks Robinson 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

#37: Alvaro Espinoza

Alvaro Espinoza

Alvaro played in the same time frame as Stairs, but they have no matching teams. I'll start with the team he played with in 1993, since that was Stairs first year.

I) Espinoza --> '93 Indians --> Paul Sorrento, Sandy Alomar

What luck! We've already linked Sorrento and Alomar, so I know the chain is completed. However, since we're in the same playing era as Stairs, I think I'll hunt around and see if any players pop up that also played with Stairs, giving me my chain in 2 degrees.

I see a few guys that played with Boston for a time (Baerga, Jefferson, Horn, and Young). If one of them played in Boston in 1995, I have my link.

Success!

1. Alvaro Espinoza played for the 1993 Cleveland Indians with Reggie Jefferson.
2. Reggie Jefferson played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#36: Bill Fouser

Bill Fouser

I have yet to successfully link a player from the 1800's. I doubt this will be the first, but here it goes anyway...

I) Fouser --> 1876 Philadelphia Athletics --> Doc Bushong

Interesting fact: the 1876 Athletics only had 3 pitchers (technically 5 if you include the 2 position players who pitched for them). Granted they only played 60 games that year, but still..

II) Bushong --> 1890 Brooklyn Bridegrooms --> Patsy Donovan

The Bridegrooms? Seriously? The Dodgers used to be known as the Bridegrooms? Wow.

I think I'll stop here. Donovan lasted until 1907, and with only 4 degrees left, there's no way I get to Matt Stairs.

Degrees of Matt Stairs: over 6

#35: Orlando Alvarez

Orlando Alvarez

Another 70's player. Looking at the two teams he played for, I see a couple of recognizable names that I believe will help me along, including a trio of pitchers who pitched well into their 40's:

I) Orlando Alvarez --> '75 Dodgers --> Charlie Hough
I) Orlando Alvarez --> '76 Angels --> Frank Tanana, Nolan Ryan

I don't see the benefit of using one over the other yet, so I'll try them all out.

II) Hough --> '94 Florida Marlins --> David Weathers

I've already connected Weathers, he's my only direct link connection so far. I'm not going to do any better than that - sorry Frank and Nolan!

1. Orlando Alvarez played for the 1975 Los Angeles Dodgers with Charlie Hough.
2. Charlie Hough played for the 1994 Florida Marlins with David Weathers.
3. David Weathers played for the 2001 Chicago Cubs with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#34: Pete Redfern

Pete Redfern

There's only a 10 year gap between Redfern and Stairs, so I know I can make my connection. However I still need a plan. Looking at the '82 Twins, there's no shortage of players who played until at least 1992. I know some players here played for the Red Sox at some point in their careers, so I'll see if I can find a connection there.

I) Pete Redfern --> '82 Twins --> Tom Brunansky, Frank Viola, Gary Gaetti

II) Brunansky, Viola --> '94 Red Sox

One more year later and they would have played with Tim Wakefield. However...

II) Gaetti --> 2000 Red Sox

Gaetti ended a very good career playing a handful of games for the Bosox in 2000. We have our link:

1. Pete Redfern played for the 1982 Minnesota Twins with Gary Gaetti.
2. Gary Gaetti played for the 2000 Boston Red Sox with Tim Wakefield.
3. Tim Wakefield played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

Another successful link using Tim Wakefield. This is my Red Sox bias showing through. I'm familiar enough with the Red Sox teams of the 90's and onward that I know if I can find anyone who played for Boston from 1995 until now is as good a linked.

#33: Terry Puhl

Terry Puhl

Puhl last played in 1991. This should be easy.

1. Terry Puhl played for the 1991 Kansas City Royals with Mike Macfarlane.
2. Mike McFarlane played for the 1999 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

I had to go back and check, but for a moment I though I duplicated Keith Miller. Instead, I had confused Mike Sweeney with Mike Macfarlane. I wonder if anyone on those Royals teams got the two mixed up?

#32: Orlando Mercado

Orlando Mercado

1. Orlando Mercado played for the 1990 Montreal Expos with Larry Walker.
2. Larry Walker played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#31: Sam Jackson

Sam Jackson

I initially wondered if I should even try this one. There is a 120-year gap between Jackson's last season and Stairs's first. My only prayer here is a jump through the Minnie Minoso time warp.

I) Sam Jackson --> 1872 Brooklyn Atlantics --> Jack Burdock

II) Burdock --> 1891 Brooklyn Grooms --> Bones Ely, Tom Daly
      III) Ely --> '02 Senators
      III) Daly --> '03 Reds
      III) Daly --> '03 White Sox

I'm throwing in the towel here. There's no way I jump from '03 to '49 this next step. I may have to come up with some special rules for players from the 1800's.

Degrees of Matt Stairs: over 6

#30: Keith Miller

Keith Miller

1. Keith Miller played for the 1995 Kansas City Royals with Mike Sweeney.
2. Mike Sweeney played for the 2004 Kansas City Royals with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#29: Paul Sorrento

Paul Sorrento

1. Paul Sorrento played for the 1997 Seattle Mariners with Dennis Martinez.
2. Dennis Martinez played for the 1993 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#28: David Weathers

David Weathers

1. David Weathers played for the 2001 Chicago Cubs with Matt Stairs!

A direct link! My first randomly generated player who actually played with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 1

#27: Ken Griffey Jr.

Ken Griffey Jr.

It was announced last night that baseball great Ken Griffey Jr. has retired. In honor of him, I have hand selected him for a post. (I know, small accolades compared to what he'll receive in 5 years, but we all celebrate in our own way.) I've elected to use Griffey's rookie season as my jumping point.

1. Ken Griffey Jr. played for the 1989 Seattle Mariners with Erik Hanson.
2. Erik Hanson played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#26: Jack Killilay

Jack Killilay

I) Jack Killilay --> '11 Red Sox --> Tris Speaker

II) Speaker --> '28 Athletics --> Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons
      III) Fox --> '45 Phillies
      III) Simmons --> '44 Athletics

The Hall of Fame is doing it's part here. Looking at my table, I see the '46 Phillies on my list. If Granny Hamner playes in '45 too, I have my link.

      III) Fox --> '45 Phillies --> Granny Hamner

Granny for the win!

1. Jack Killilay played for the 1911 Boston Red Sox with Tris Speaker.
2. Tris Speaker played for the 1928 Philadelphia Athletics with Jimmie Foxx.
3. Jimmie Foxx played for the 1945 Philadelphia Phillies with Granny Hamner.
4. Granny Hamner played for the 1962 Kansas City Athletics with Fred Norman.
5. Fred Norman played for the 1980 Montreal Expos with Gary Carter.
6. Gary Carter played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6

Killilay also becomes the earliest player I've connected, with the 1911 Red Sox as the earliest team.