#245: Kevin Hooper

Kevin Hooper

I) Kevin Hooper --> 2006 Tigers

Another direct connect! Back-to-back!

1. Kevin Hooper played for the 2006 Detroit Tigers with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 1

#244: Jeremy Giambi

Jeremy Giambi

I) Jeremy Giambi --> 2000 Athletics

Direct connect!

1. Jeremy Giambi played for the 2000 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 1

#243: Mel Nelson

Mel Nelson

I) Mel Nelson --> '69 Cardinals --> Jerry Reuss, Boots Day, Nelson Briles, Mike Torrez, Chuck Taylor

II) Briles --> '77-'78 Orioles
II) Day --> '74 Expos
II) Reuss --> '90 Pirates
II) Taylor --> '74-'76 Expos
II) Torrez --> '74 Expos
II) Torrez --> '75 Orioles

Wow, I honestly didn't believe I'd have this many choices. All are connected team that'll use the same number of degrees. I'll give the Pirates team some attention.

1. Mel Nelson played for the 1969 St. Louis Cardinals with Jerry Reuss.
2. Jerry Reuss played for the 1990 Pittsburgh Pirates with Zane Smith.
3. Zane Smith played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#242: Pat Sullivan

Pat Sullivan

I've been taking a 19th Century beat-down lately...

I) Pat Sullivan --> 1884 Kansas City Cowboys --> Frank Foreman

II) Foreman --> '02 Orioles

Yep. Frank Foreman. Nowhere to go from here.

Degrees of Matt Stairs: Over 6

#241: Gil Hatfield

Gil Hatfield

Well it was fun while it lasted. I'm back at trying to connect 19th century ballplayers.

I) Gil Hatfield --> 1895 Louisville Colonels --> Fred Clarke

II) Clarke --> '15 Pirates --> Dazzy Vance
      III) Vance --> '35 Brooklyn Dodgers --> Dutch Leonard
              IV) Leonard --> '53 Cubs

This is where it ends. Dutch is a connected player, and I'll need more than my allotted six degrees from this point.

Degrees of Matt Stairs: Over 6

#240: Gary Rajsich

Gary Rajsich

I) Gary Rajsich --> '85 Giants --> Chili Davis

II) Davis --> '99 Yankees --> Scott Brosius, Joe Girardi, D'Angelo Jimenez, Roger Clemens, Mike Stanton, Mike Buddie, Jason Grimsley
      III) Brosius --> '97 Athletics
      III) Buddie --> 2002 Brewers
      III) Clemens --> '95 Red Sox
      III) Girardi --> 2001 Cubs
      III) Grimsley --> 2004 Royals
      III) Jimenez --> 2006 Rangers
      III) Stanton --> '95 Red Sox

Lots of choices here. I'm obviously going with one of the Red Sox here, but picking my childhood-favorite-turned-traitor-turned-PED-punchline...

1. Gary Rajsich played for the 1985 San Francisco Giants with Chili Davis.
2. Chili Davis played for the 1999 New York Yankees with Roger Clemens.
3. Roger Clemens played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#239: Dyar Miller

Dyar Miller

I) Dyar Miller --> '76-'77 Orioles, '79 Blue Jays, '81 Mets

I can match up to one of my Big 3 with either the Orioles or the Blue Jays. I'll take my chances with the Mets team and try to add something new.

I) Dyar Miller --> '81 Mets --> Jesse Orosco

II) Orosco --> 2003 Padres, Yankees, Twins

No one on this Mets team has direct connection to Stairs. It'll be quicker to use one of the other teams.

1. Dyar Miller played for the 1979 Toronto Blue Jays with Rick Cerone.
2. Rick Cerone played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#238: Jon Zuber

Jon Zuber

I) John Zuber --> '98 Phillies --> Desi Relaford, Scott Rolen, Ken Ryan, Billy Brewer

II) Brewer --> '97 Athletics
II) Relaford --> 2004 Royals
II) Rolen --> 2008 Blue Jays
II) Ryan --> '95 Red Sox

Another easy one.

1. John Zuber played for the 1998 Philadelphia Phillies with Ken Ryan.
2. Ken Ryan played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#237: Mark Ryal

Mark Ryal

I) Mark Ryal --> '90 Pirates --> Moises Alou, Zane Smith, Bill Landrum, Stan Belinda

II) Alou --> '92 Expos
II) Belinda --> '95 Red Sox
II) Landrum --> '92 Expos
II) Smith --> '95 Red Sox

Easy.

1. Mark Ryal played for the 1990 Pittsburgh Pirates with Zane Smith.
2. Zane Smith played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#236: William Fischer

William Fischer

I) William Fischer --> '17 Pirates --> Burleigh Grimes

Grimes has showed up in our posts before. However, he always showed up further down in our chains and resulted in dead ends. He shows up much earlier this time, and gives us a reasonable shot for completion. Rather than go through all 3 teams Grimes played with his final year, I'll refer you to this post. I'll just pick up from where I left off, and pick my paths from there.

II) Burleigh Grimes --> '34 Pirates --> Arky Vaughan
      III) Vaughan --> '48 Dodgers --> Gil Hodges
              IV) Hodges --> '63 Mets

The '63 Mets are a connected team. I'm done.

1. William Fischer played for the 1917 Pittsburgh Pirates with Burleigh Grimes.
2. Burleigh Grimes played for the 1934 Pittsburgh Pirates with Arky Vaughan.
3. Arky Vaughan played for the 1948 Brooklyn Dodgers with Gil Hodges.
4. Gil Hodges played for the 1963 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