#170: Charlie Bowles

Charlie Bowles

I) Charlie Bowles --> '45 Philadelphia Athletics --> Joe Astroth, George Kell

II) Astroth --> '56 Kansas City Athletics
II) Kell --> '57 Orioles

The Orioles team is connected, I can get this chain in 4 degrees. I'm going to try the Athletics team and see if I can match it.

II) Astroth --> '56 Kansas City Athletics --> George Brunet, Clete Boyer
      III) Boyer --> '71 Braves
      III) Brunet --> '71 Cardinals

No chance here. I should have stuck with the Hall of Famer.

1. Charles Bowles played for the 1945 Philadelphia Athletics with George Kell.
2. George Kell played for the 1957 Baltimore Orioles with Brooks Robinson.
3. Brooks Robinson played for the 1977 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez.
4. Dennis Martinez played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 4

#169: Freddie Benavides

Freddie Benavides

Ah, missed Stairs by a year on this one! Fortunately, I have the opportunity to use a favored player again.

1. Freddie Benavides played for the 1994 Montreal Expos with Pedro Martinez.
2. Pedro Martinez played for the 2009 Philadelphia Phillies with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#168: Al Raffo

Al Raffo

I) Al Raffo --> '69 Phillies --> Woodie Fryman, Rick Wise, Jerry Johnson, Grant Jackson, Don Money, Larry Histle

II) Fryman --> '80 Expos
II) Histle --> '82 Brewers
II) Jackson --> '76 Orioles
II) Jackson --> '81 Expos
II) Johnson --> '77 Blue Jays
II) Money --> '83 Brewers
II) Wise --> '82 Padres

Looks like another Big 3 connect...

1. Al Raffo played for the 1969 Philadelphia Phillies with Woodie Fryman.
2. Woodie Fryman played for the 1980 Montreal Expos with Gary Carter.
3. Gary Carter played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#167: Chris Haughey

Chris Haughey

Haughey started one game for the Dodgers in 1943. I have the 1944 team on my list, so this may be an easy one.

I) Chris Haughey --> '43 Brooklyn Dodgers --> Gil Hodges

II) Hodges --> '63 Mets --> Ed Kranepool, Ron Hunt
      III) Hunt --> '74 Expos
      III) Kranepool --> '79 Mets

Kranepool played longer, but Hunt will get us there quicker.

1. Chris Haughey played for the 1943 Brooklyn Dodgers with Gil Hodges.
2. Gil Hodges played for the 1963 New York Mets with Ron Hunt.
3. Ron Hunt played for the 1974 Montreal Expos with Gary Carter.
4. Gary Carter played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 4

#166: Tim Crews

Tim Crews

I still recall reading about the tragic accident that occurred in the Spring of 1993. Continue to rest in peace, Tim Crews.

I) Tim Crews --> '92 Dodgers --> Lenny Harris, Eric Young, Rafael Bournigal, Tom Candiotti, Pedro Martinez

II) Bournigal --> '98 Athletics
II) Candiotti --> '98 Athletics
II) Harris --> 2002 Brewers
II) Martinez --> 2009 Phillies
II) Young --> 2001 Cubs
II) Young --> 2006 Rangers

There's no way I'm going to pass up the opportunity to add one of my all time favorite players!

1. Tim Crews played for the 1992 Los Angeles Dodgers with Pedro Martinez.
2. Pedro Martinez played for the 2009 Philadelphia Phillies with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#165: John Leary

John Leary

I) John Leary --> '15 St. Louis Browns --> Muddy Ruel

Ruel is a connected player. All I have to do is retrace the path.

1. John Leary played for the 1915 St. Louis Browns with Muddy Ruel.
2. Muddy Ruel played for the 1934 Chicago White Sox with Luke Appling.
3. Luke Appling played for the 1950 Chicago White Sox with 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

#164: Lonnie Goldstein

Lonnie Goldstein

I) Lonnie Goldstein --> '46 Reds --> Bobby Adams, Grady Hatton

II) Adams --> '59 Cubs
II) Hatton --> '60 Cubs

I've connected the '60 Cubs already, and the 1959 team features the same player I used.

1. Lonnie Goldstein played for the 1946 Cincinati Reds with Bobby Adams.
2. Bobby Adams played for the 1959 Chicago Cubs with Tony Taylor.
3. Tony Taylor played on the 1976 Philadelphia Phillies with Dave Cash.
4. Dave Cash played on the 1977 Montreal Expos with Gary Carter.
5. Gary Carter played on the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 5

#163: Eude Brito

Eude Brito

This guy played for the Phillies just before Stairs did. This will be an easy 2 degree jump.

1. Eude Brito played for the 2006 Philadelphia Phillies with Jaime Moyer.
2. Jaime Moyer played for the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#162: Bob Loane

Bob Loane

Cool! Another Bee!

I) Bob Loane --> '40 Boston Bees --> Hank Majeski, Sibby Sisti

II) Majeski --> '55 Indians
II) Majeski --> '55 Orioles
II) Sisti --> '54 Milwaukee Braves

I really wanted to try Buffalo native Sisti and add a Milwaukee Braves team to my list, but that Orioles team will get me there in the shortest number of steps.

1. Bob Loane played for the 1940 Boston Bees with Hank Majeski.
2. Hank Majeski played for the 1955 Baltimore Orioles with Brooks Robinson.
3. Brooks Robinson played for the 1977 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez.
4. Dennis Martinez played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 4

#161: Glen Barker

Glen Barker

I) Barker --> 2001 Astros --> Mike Williams, Jim Mann, Jose Lima, Kent Bottenfield, Mendy Lopez, Keith Ginter, Moises Alou

II) Alou --> '93 Expos
II) Bottenfield --> '92 Expos
II) Ginter --> 2002 Brewers
II) Lima --> 2005 Royals
II) Lopez --> 2004 Royals
II) Mann --> 2003 Pirates
II) Williams --> 2003 Pirates

It's Lima Time!

1. Glen Barker played for the 2001 Houston Astros with Jose Lima.
2. Jose Lima played for the 2005 Kansas City Royals with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#160: Rankin Johnson

Rankin Johnson

I) Rankin Johnson --> '18 Cardinals --> Charlie Grimm, Rogers Hornby

II) Grimm --> '36 Cubs
II) Hornsby --> '37 St. Louis Browns

Going with the Hall of Famer here.

II) Hornsby --> '37 St. Louis Browns --> Bob Muncrief
      III) Muncrief --> '51 Yankees --> Mickey Mantle

I am by no means a Yankee fan, but Mantle has a special place in my childhood because I got to meet him once.

              IV) Mantle --> '68 Yankees --> Stan Bahnsen, Tony Solaita, Bill Robinson
                     V) Bahnsen --> '81 Expos
                     V) Robinson --> '83 Phillies
                     V) Solaita --> '79 Expo
                     V) Solaita --> '79 Blue Jay

Looking at my connected teams list, I'm surprised I haven't used the '81 Expos yet.

1. Rankin Johnson played for the 1918 St. Louis Cardinals with Rogers Hornsby.
2. Rogers Hornsby played for the 1937 St. Louis Browns with Bob Muncrief.
3. Bob Muncrief played for the 1951 New York Yankees with Mickey Mantle.
4. Mickey Mantle played for the 1968 New York Yankees with Stan Bahnsen.
5. Stan Bahnsen played for the 1981 Montreal Expos with Gary Carter.
6. Gary Carter played for 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6

#159: Ernie Beam

Ernie Beam

Another 1800's player...

I) Ernie Beam --> 1895 Phillies --> Al Orth

II) Orth --> '09 New York Highlanders --> Jack Quinn
      III) Quinn --> '33 Reds --> Si Johnson, Rollie Hemsley, Ernie Lombardi
              IV) Hemsley --> '47 Phillies
              IV) Johnson --> '47 Boston Braves
              IV) Lombardi --> '47 New York Giants

I can eliminate the Giants and Braves teams. I've used them before and know I won't get in under 6 degrees. Only one real chance here.

              IV) Hemsley --> '47 Phillies --> Curt Simmons
                     V) Simmons --> '67 Cubs
                     V) Simmons --> '67 Angels

Once again, I fall short.

Degrees of Matt Stairs: Over 7

#158: Jorge Orta

Jorge Orta

I) Jorge Orta --> '87 Royals --> Mike Macfarlane

Easy one today.

1. Jorge Orta played for the 1987 Kansas City Royals with Mike Macfarlane.
2. Mike Macfarlane played for the 1999 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

Congrats Hall of Fame Class of 2011

Congratulations to newly elected Hall members Bert Blyleven and Roberto Alomar. Your places in the 6 Degrees of Matt Stairs blog are set.

#157: Fred Blanding

Fred Blanding

Alright! A Cleveland Nap!

I) Fred Blanding --> '14 Cleveland Naps --> Steve O'Neill, Sad Sam Jones

I've used O'Neill before, so I know I have a link. Sad Sam lasted a bit longer though, and is worth exploring.

II) Jones --> '35 White Sox --> Luke Appling

Another connected player - I have my link.

1. Fred Blanding played for the 1914 Cleveland Naps with Sad Sam Jones.
2. Sad Sam Jones played for the 1935 Chicago White Sox with Luke Appling.
3. Luke Appling played for the 1950 Chicago White Sox with 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

#156: Tom Spencer

Tom Spencer

Tom Spencer played one year in the Majors - 1978. Once again, a boatload of players who played with my "Big 3" on this team. However I'm intrigued by 3 players who careers ended in 1990...

I) Tom Spencer --> Thad Bosley, Chet Lemon, Claudell Washington

II) Bosley --> '90 Rangers
II) Lemon --> '90 Tigers
II) Washington --> '90 Angels
II) Washington --> '90 Yankees

Tough choice here...I'm going to try Chet first, because he was a 3 time All-Star and to be honest, I liked the little story the page's sponsor posted.

II) Lemon --> '90 Tigers --> Tony Phillips, Scott Aldred
      III) Aldred --> '93 Expos
      III) Phillips --> '99 Athletics

1. Tom Spencer played for the 1978 Chicago White Sox with Chet Lemon.
2. Chet Lemon played for the 1990 Detroit Tigers with Tony Phillips.
3. Tony Phillips played for the 1999 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#155: Ken Rudolph

Ken Rudolph

Happy New Year!

I ended up using Rudolph as a connected player a few weeks ago in the Bob Feller post. That makes this a simple copy and paste.

1. Ken Rudolph played for the 1977 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez.
2. Dennis Martinez played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2