#137: George Noftsker

George Noftsker

Yeesh! Back-to-back players from the 1800's! The random generator isn't playing fair!

I) George Noftsker --> 1884 Altoona Mountain City --> Germany Smith

Altoona Mountain City - That just happened to be their one year of existence in professional baseball. Bad omens there.

II) Smith --> 1898 St. Louis Browns --> Joe Sugden
      III) Sugden --> '12 Tigers --> Charlie O'Leary
              IV) O'Leary --> '34 St. Louis Browns

It ends here. I have the '34 Browns as a connected team. It'll take me 8 degrees to get to Stairs.

Degrees of Matt Stairs: Over 6

#136: Billy Goeckel

Billy Goeckel

I) Billy Goeckel --> 1899 Philadelphia Phillies --> Nap Lajoie

II) Lajoie --> '16 Philadelphia Athletics --> Charlie Grimm
      III) Grimm --> '36 Cubs --> Phil Cavarretta
              IV) Cavarretta --> '55 White Sox --> Earl Battey, Minnie Minoso

No Minoso Jump this go-around. We're in too deep.

                     V) Battey --> '67 Twins

No luck here. We'll need an extra degree to complete this chain.

Degrees of Matt Stairs: Over 7

#135: Roger Salmon

Roger Salmon

I) Roger Salmon --> '12 Philadelphia Athletics --> Herb Pennock

The Hall of Famer make a repeat appearance!

1. Roger Salmon played for the 1912 Philadelphia Athletics with Herb Pennock.
2. Herb Penock played for the 1934 Boston Red Sox with Bucky Walters.
3. Bucky Walters played for the 1950 Boston Braves with Warren Spahn.
4. Warren Spahn played for the 1965 New York Mets with Ron Hunt.
5. Ron Hunt played for the 1974 Montreal Expos with Gary Carter.
6. Gary Carter played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6

#134: Thanksgiving Edition: Turkey Gross

Turkey Gross

In the same manner as my Halloween post, I did another search on baseball-reference.com and came up with a beauty! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I) Turkey Gross --> '25 Red Sox --> Red Ruffing

II) Ruffing --> '47 White Sox

I've connected this White Sox team already. The rest is easy.

1. Turkey Gross played for the 1925 Boston Red Sox with Red Ruffing.
2. Red Ruffing played for the 1947 Chicago White Sox with Dave Philley.
3. Dave Philley played for the 1961 Baltimore Orioles with Brooks Robinson.
4. Brooks Robinson played for the 1977 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez.
5. Dennis Martinez played for the 1993 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 5

Here's hoping your turkey is not gross!

#133: Pat Ragan

Pat Ragan

I) Pat Ragan --> '23 Phillies --> Jimmie Wilson

II) Wilson --> '40 Reds --> Eddie Joost
      III) Joost --> '55 Red Sox --> Bill Henry

Bill Henry has been connected before. I have my list.

1. Pat Ragan played for the 1923 Philadelphia Phillies with Jimmie Wilson.
2. Jimmie Wilson played for the 1940 Cincinati Reds with Eddie Joost.
3. Eddie Joost played for the 1955 Boston Red Sox with Bill Henry.
4. Bill Henry played for the 1969 Houston Astros with John Mayberry.
5. John Mayberry played for the 1979 Toronto Blue Jays with Rick Cerone.
6. Rick Cerone played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6

#132: Martin Prado

Martin Prado

Another current player, Prado helped me succeed in a few fantasy leagues this year.

I) Martin Prado --> 2010 Braves --> Troy Glaus, Omar Infante, Matt Diaz, Brent Clevlen, Tim Hudson, Kyle Farnsworth

II) Clevlen, Infante --> 2006 Tigers
II) Diaz --> 2005 Royals
II) Farnsworth --> 2001 Cubs
II) Glaus --> 2007 Blue Jays
II) Hudson --> 1999 Athletics

Hmmm who to pick? I'll go with Glaus, just to give the Blue Jays some love.

1. Martin Prado played for the 2010 Atlanta Braves with Troy Glaus.
2. Troy Glaus played for the 2007 Toronto Blue Jays with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#131: Drew Meyer

Drew Meyer

Seems like it has been awhile since I've had one of these...

1. Drew Meyer played for the 2006 Texas Rangers with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 1

#130: Doc Farrell

Doc Farrell

What's up Doc?

I) Doc Farrell --> '35 Red Sox --> Fritz Ostermueller, George Dickey, Rick Ferrell

II) Dickey --> '47 White Sox
II) Ferrell --> '47 Washington Senators
II) Ostermueller --> '48 Pirates

I already have both '47 teams, so we'll try the Pirates and see where that goes.

II) Ostermueller --> '48 Pirates --> Cal McLish
      III) McLish --> '64 Phillies --> Rick Wise
              IV) Wise --> '82 Padres --> Tony Gwynn

Gwynn is the only Padre to make it past 1992, but if I go back and use one of the '47 teams, I'll complete my chain in one less degree.

1. Doc Farrell played for the 1935 Boston Red Sox with Rick Ferrell.
2. Rick Ferrell played for the 1947 Washington Senators with Early Wynn.
3. Early Wynn played for the 1963 Cleveland Indians with Jim Perry.
4. Jim Perry played for the 1975 Cleveland Indians with Rick Cerone.
5. Rick Cerone played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 5

#129: Charlie Newman

Charlie Newman

Another 1800's player - all I can do is try.

I) Charlie Newman --> 1892 Chicago Colts
I) Charlie Newman --> 1892 New York Giants

Two teams to work with here.

I) Charlie Newman --> 1892 Chicago Colts --> Bill Dahlen

II) Dahlen --> 1911 Brooklyn Dodgers --> Zach Wheat
      III) Wheat --> '27 Philadelphia Athletics --> Jimmie Foxx

This chain ends here. Foxx has been used before, so I know I won't do this in 6 degrees.

I) Charlie Newman --> 1892 New York Giants --> Wee Willie Keeler

II) Keeler --> '10 New York Giants --> Hank Gowdy
      III) Gowdy --> '30 Boston Braves --> Johnny Cooney

I connected Cooney too. Unfortunately, I'd be one degree off if I went further.

Degrees of Matt Stairs: Over 6

#128: Mark Ciardi

Mark Ciardi

Ciardi played one year for a team I've already connected. Looking back at that post, I see I had tried to connect to the 1993 Sox team, but because I was looking for Tim Wakefield, I went in another direction and connected through a "Big 3" player. In retrospect, I could have still used that Boston team with the same number of degrees as I ended up with. Time to rectify that oversight.

1. Mark Ciardi played for the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers with Rob Deer.
2. Rob Deer played for the 1993 Boston Red Sox with Mike Greenwell.
3. Mike Greenwell played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#127: Hank Gornicki

Hank Gornicki

I) Hank Gornicki --> '46 Pirates --> Preacher Roe, Billy Cox, Ralph Kiner

II) Roe --> '54 Brooklyn Dodgers
II) Cox --> '55 Orioles
II) Kiner --> '55 Indians

Although I'm tempted to use Kiner and add another Hall of Famer, I know my shortest path will take me through Baltimore.

1. Hank Gornicki played for the 1946 Pittsburgh Pirates with Billy Cox.
2. Billy Cox played for the 1955 Baltimore Orioles with Brooks Robinson.
3. Brooks Robinson played for the 1977 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez.
4. Dennnis Martinez played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 4

#126: Jeff Hamilton

Jeff Hamilton

I thought this one would be tricky, but it turned out to be super easy!

1. Jeff Hamilton played on the 1991 Los Angeles Dodgers with Gary Carter.
2. Gary Carter played on the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#125: George Schmees

George Schmees

I) George Schmees --> '52 St. Louis Browns
I) George Schmees --> '52 Red Sox

One year, two teams - neither of which I've connected yet. I'll try both, with my bias towards the Red Sox going first.

I) George Schmees --> '52 Red Sox --> Jim Piersall

Piersall has been connected. I have a link here, but will test out the Browns team too.

I) George Schmees --> '52 St. Louis Browns --> Roy Sievers, Satchel Paige

II) Sievers --> '65 Washington Senators
II) Paige --> '65 Kansas City Athletics

How can I pass up the opportunity to incorporate the legendary Satchel Paige? (Who, by the way played his last season at the ripe old age of 58!)

II) Paige --> '65 Kansas City Athletics --> Bert Campaneris
      III) Campaneris --> '83 Yankees

Yeah, I'm good.

1. George Schmees played for the 1952 St. Louis Browns with Satchel Paige.
2. Satchel Paige played for the 1965 Kansas City Athletics with Bert Campaneris.
3. Bert Campaneris played for the 1983 New York Yankees with Rick Cerone.
4. Rick Cerone played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 4

#124: Ricky Wright

Ricky Wright

This guy last played in 1986. It should be relatively easy to find someone who played until at least 1992. Hopefully I can fine one who played with Stairs directly.

I) Ricky Wright --> '86 Rangers --> Mike Stanley

Done!

1. Ricky Wright played for the 1986 Texas Rangers with Mike Stanley.
2. Mike Stanley played for the 2000 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#123: Sparky Anderson

Sparky Anderson

Paying tribute to Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson, who passed away yesterday.

I) Sparky Anderson --> '59 Phillies --> Chris Short

II) Short --> '73 Brewers --> Pedro Garcia, Tim Johnson
      III) Garcia --> '77 Blue Jays
      III) Johnson --> '79 Blue Jays

1. Sparky Anderson played for the 1959 Philadelphia Phillies with Chris Short.
2. Chris Short played for the 1973 Milwaukee Brewers with Tim Johnson.
3. Tim Johnson played for the 1979 Toronto Blue Jays with Rick Cerone.
4. Rick Cerone played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 4

Rest in peace, Sparky.

#122: John Doherty

John Doherty

John Doherty --> '96 Red Sox

Another case of missing Stairs by a year. Most of these players played with Stairs the year before, so I can pick and choose as I see fit. Although I can go with someone I've already used (Wakefield), I'm going to honor a favorite player from that team.

1. John Doherty played for the 1996 Boston Red Sox with Mike Greenwell.
2. Mike Greenwell played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#121: Jack Cressend

Jack Cressend

I) Jack Cressend --> 2004 Indians --> Tim Laker, John McDonald, Ryan Ludwick, Ernie Young, Cliff Lee, Chad Durbin

II) Durbin --> 2006 Tigers
II) Laker --> '93 Expos
II) Lee - 2009 Phillies
II) Ludwick --> 2010 Padres
II) McDonald --> 2007 Blue Jays
II) Young --> '97 Athletics

Of this list, there's only 1 team I haven't used yet.

1. Jack Cressend played for the 2004 Cleveland Indians with Ernie Young.
2. Ernie Young played for the 1997 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

Congrats to the Giants!

Congratulations to the 2010 World Series Champions San Francisco Giants! When the playoff started, I thought I'd do a special chain on whoever the World Series MVP ended up being. I must have ESP (or at least ESPN) because I already connected Edgar Rentaria in August.

As for the Texas Rangers, congrats on a fantastic year and thank you for knocking out the Yankees!