#264: Mel Almada

Mel Amada

I) Mel Almada --> '39 St. Louis Browns
I) Mel Almada --> '39 Brooklyn Dodgers

We'll go with the Browns and see what we can come up with.

I) Mel Almada --> '39 St. Louis Browns --> Bobo Newsom, Johnny Berardino

II) Berardino --> '52 Indians, '52 Pirates
II) Newsom --> '53 Philadelphia Athletics

Bobo Newsom is a Connected player. I was about to completely dismiss him and move on to Berardino, but then I noticed something. The '53 Philadelphia Athletics were not one of my connected teams. The '53 Philadelphia Phillies however, were. Uh-oh. I think I made a boo-boo. Which means I'm going to have to go back and fix a few entries here. That won't be fun.

Until then, I have a chain to complete. I'm taking the least represented team, the Pirates.

II) Berardino --> '52 Pirates --> Ron Kline, Dick Hall
      III) Hall --> '71 Orioles
      III) Kline --> '70 Braves

Well, I know if I take the Orioles I can use Brooks Robinson, so I'll stop here.

1. Mel Almada played for the 1939 St. Louis Browns with Johnny Berardino.
2. Johnny Berardino played for the 1952 Pittsburgh Pirates with Dick Hall.
3. Dick Hall played for the 1971 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

#263: Hank Greenberg

Hank Greenberg

Hooray! A Hall of Famer! This is only my third randomly generated Hall member.

I) Hank Greenberg --> '47 Pittsburgh Pirate --> Cal McLish

McLish sounded familiar to me. Fortunately, through the miracle of search, I found a half-hearted attempt to use him here. From that post, I get:

II) McLish --> '64 Phillies --> Rick Wise
      III) Wise --> '82 Padres --> Tony Gwyn

We'll continue from here.

              IV) Gwynn --> 2001 Padres --> Damian Jackson, D'Angelo Jimenez, Phil Nevin, Rickey Henderson, Dave Magadan, Emil Brown, Kevin Jarvis, Adam Eaton, Jay Witasick, Jimmy Osting, Rudy Seanez
                     V) Brown --> 2005-06 Royals
                     V) Eaton --> 2006 Rangers, 2008 Phillies
                     V) Henderson --> '98 Athletics
                     V) Jackson --> 2004 Royals
                     V) Jarvis --> '99 Athletics
                     V) Jimenez --> 2006 Rangers
                     V) Magadan --> '97-'98 Athletics
                     V) Nevin --> 2006 Rangers
                     V) Osting --> 2002 Brewers
                     V) Seanez --> 2004 Royals, 2008 Phillies
                     V) Witasick --> '96-'98 Athletics

I could have easily stopped at Rickey, but since I saved some time by finding McLish, I went through with it.

1. Hank Greenberg played for the 1947 Pittsburgh Pirates with Cal McLish.
2. Cal McLish played for the 1964 Philadelphia Phillies with Rick Wise.
3. Rick Wise played for the 1982 San Diego Padres with Tony Gwynn.
4. Tony Gwynn played for the 2001 San Diego Padres with Rickey Henderson.
5. Rickey Henderson played for the 1998 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 5

#262: John Koronka

John Koronka

I) John Koronka --> 2006 Rangers

A direct connect!

1. John Koronka played for the 2006 Texas Rangers with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 1

#261: Dale Mitchell

Dale Mitchell

I) Dale Mitchell --> '56 Indians
I) Dale Mitchell --> '56 Brooklyn Dodgers

I already have the '56 Indians, so we'll use the Dodgers here.

I) Dale Mitchell --> '56 Brooklyn Dodgers --> Bob Aspromonte

II) Aspromonte --> '71 Mets --> Ken Singleton, Tim Foli, Wayne Garrett, Duffy Dyer, Mike Jorgensen, John Milner, Nolan Ryan
      III) Dyer --> '79 Expos
      III) Foli --> '74-'77 Expos, '84 Yankees
      III) Garrett --> '76-'78 Expos
      III) Jorgensen --> '74-'77 Expos
      III) Milner --> '81-'82 Expos
      III) Ryan --> '93 Rangers
      III) Singleton --> '74 Expos, '76-'84 Orioles

Tough to not go with Ryan here.

      III) Ryan --> '93 Rangers --> Ivan Rodriguez

I could go through the whole Rangers team and probably find a handful of guys who played with Stairs. I'm feeling lazy today, so I'm taking the first guy listed, who happens to be on my Connected Players list already (although I will update the listing!)

1. Dale Mitchell played for the 1956 Brooklyn Dodgers with Bob Aspromonte.
2. Bob Aspromonte played for the 1971 New York Mets with Nolan Ryan.
3. Nolan Ryan played for the 1993 Texas Rangers with Ivan Rodriguez.
4. Ivan Rodriguez plays for the 2011 Washington Nationals with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 4

#260: David Segui

David Segui

I) David Segui --> 2004 Orioles --> Miguel Tejada< Jerry Hairston Jr., Luis Lopez, Robert Machado, Jose Bautista, John Parrish, Mike DeJesus, B.J. Ryan, Rick Bauer, Jason Grimsley, Denny Bautista, Rodrigo Lopez, Buddy Groom

II) Bauer --> 2006 Rangers
II) D. Bautsita --> 2004-06 Royals
II) J. Bautista --> 2004 Royals and 2008 Blue Jays
II) DeJesus --> 2002 Brewers
II) Grimsley --> 2004 Royals
II) Groom --> 1996-99 Athletics
II) Hairston --> 2006 Rangers, 2010 Padres, and 2011 Nationals
II) L. Lopez --> 2002 Brewers
II) R. Lopez --> 2009 Phillies
II) Machado --> 2001 Cubs and 2002 Brewers
II) Parrish --> 2008 Blue Jays
II) Ryan --> 2007-08 Blue Jays
II) Tejada --> '97-2000 Athletics

Geez Louise! That's a lot of players. I've only used the Nats twice so far, making this an easy choice.

1. David Segui played for the 2004 Baltimore Orioles with Jerry Hairston Jr.
2. Jerry Hairston Jr. plays for the 2011 Washington Nationals with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#259: John Davis

John Davis

I) John Davis --> '90 Padres --> Benito Santiago, Bip Roberts, Derek Lilliquist

II) Lilliquist --> '95 Red Sox
II) Roberts --> '98 Athletics
II) Santiago --> 2004 Royals

Eventually, every member of the 1995 Red Sox will be connected...

1. John Davis played for the 1990 San Diego Padres with Derek Lilliquist.
2. Derek Lilliquist played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

Happy Trails, Matt Stairs!

Matt Stairs Plans to Retire

So long to Matt Stairs. You had a great long career doing something most of us wish we could do. Thanks for everything!

#258: Farmer Burns

Farmer Burns

I) Farmer Burns --> '01 Cardinals --> Bobby Wallace

II) Wallace --> '18 Cardinals

The 1918 St. Louis Cardinals have been connected already. Oh well.

Degrees of Matt Stairs: Over 6

#257: Len Swormstedt

Len Swormstedt

I) Len Swormstedt --> '06 Boston Americans --> Chet Chadbourne, Heinie Wagner

II) Chadbourne --> '18 Boston Braves
II) Wagner --> '18 Red Sox

All roads lead to Boston. Red Sox first...

II) Wagner --> '18 Red Sox --> Babe Ruth, Sad Sam Jones

Sad Sam is connected. He's out. It seems fitting that the 1918 Red Sox would be represented by the Babe.

      III) Ruth --> '35 Boston Braves

There's another connected team. Next up is the '18 Braves...

II) Chadbourne --> '18 Boston Braves --> Rabbit Maranville

like Ruth, Maranville ended his Hall of Fame career with the '35 Boston Braves. I'm done.

Degrees of Matt Stairs: Over 6

Is This The End?

It was such a minor transaction it barely registered on the major sports sites. The Washington Nationals acquired Johnny Gomes from the Cincinati Reds. A roster move had to be made.

On Wednesday, the Nationals designated Matt Stairs for assignment.

Our muse may have played his last game in Major League Baseball. While it's definitely possibly some other team may have need of his pinch hitting skills, his age and lack of production do not tip the scales in his favor. I hope he keeps playing.

So what's to become of this blog? Obviously, I'll finish out the season. I may continue through the off-season and into Spring Training, hopeful he gets one more chance. I may continue well beyond. I may get bored and decide to pursue other interests. In the meantime, if this is it, thank you Mr. Stairs. You'll always have at least one fan.

#256: Bill Hoffman

Bill Hoffman

I) Bill Hoffman --> '39 Phillies --> Kirby Higbe

II) Higbe --> '50 New York Giants --> Jim Hearn, George Spencer, Jack Harshman, Al Dark, Whitey Lockman, Don Mueller, Bobby Thomson
      III) Dark --> '60 Phillies and '60 Milwaukee Braves
      III) Harshman --> '60 Indians
      III) Hearn --> '59 Phillies
      III) Lockman --> '60 Reds
      III) Mueller --> '59 White Sox
      III) Spencer --> '60 Tigers
      III) Thomson --> '60 Red Sox and '60 Orioles

Quite a list to choose from here. The '59 Phillies, '60 Reds, '60 Orioles, and '60 Tigers are all connected already. Out of the ones I haven't done, I'm playing the favorite card and adding another Red Sox team to my list.

      III) Thomson --> '60 Red Sox --> Earl Wilson, Al Worthington, Jim Pagliaroni, Gary Geiger
              IV) Geiger --> '70 Astros
              IV) Pagliaroni --> '69 Athletics and '69 Pilots
              IV) Wilson --> '70 Tigers and '70 Padres
              IV) Worthington --> '69 Twins

I have to admit, I'm a little underwhelmed here. I'm only jumping around ten years per degree here. I can estimate continuing along this route will take all 6 degrees, but I also know that I can do it in 5 by using the Orioles team. In the long term, it serves me better to complete chains as quickly as possible.

1. Bill Hoffman played for the 1939 Philadelphia Phillies with Kirby Higbe.
2. Kirby Higbe played for the 1950 New York Giants with Bobby Thomson.
3. Bobby Thomson played for the 1960 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

#254-255: 2011 Hall of Fame - Roberto Alomar, Bert Blyleven

Today, the Baseball Hall of Fame inducts 3 more members - 2B Roberto Alomar, SP Bert Blyleven and executive Pat Gillick. Gillick never played professionally, but I dedicate this post to the other two.

Roberto Alomar

I) Roberto Alomar --> 2004 Diamondbacks, White Sox

I have yet to use the Diamondbacks as a team, so that makes them the easy choice.

I) Roberto Alomar --> 2004 Diamondbacks --> Brent Mayne, Richie Sexton, Greg Colbrunn, Elmer Dressens, Scott Service< Chad Durbin, Mike Fetters, Jeff Fassero, Shane Nance

II) Colbrunn --> '92-'93 Expos
II) Dressens --> 2006 Royals
II) Durbin --> 2006 Tigers, 2009 Phillies
II) Fassero --> '92-'93 Expos, 2001 Cubs
II) Fetters --> '98 Athletics
II) Mayne --> '97 Athletics
II) Nance --> 2002 Brewers
II) Service --> '92 Expos, 2000 Athletics
II) Sexton --> 2002 Brewers

Wow. A lot of choices here, including 3 guys who played with Stairs on 2 separate teams. The honor goes to All-Star.

1. Robert Alomar played with the 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks with Richie Sexton.
2. Richie Sexton played with the 2002 Milwaukee Brewers with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

Bert Blyleven

I) Bert Blyleven --> '92 Angels

I'm surprised. 1992 was Stairs' first season, so I was sure I'd find someone on this Angels team who had played with him. Not one, not a single one. This is going to be a 3-degree chain. Fortunately, there is a connected player on here I can use.

1. Bert Blyleven played for the 1992 California Angels 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

Welcome to the Hall, gentlemen!

#253: Frank Lobert

Frank Lobert

I) Frank Lobert --> '14 Baltimore Terrapins --> Jack Quinn

I've used Quinn before here! This means I get to add the Terrapins to my list of connected teams! It's always exciting to add a long retired franchise, especially when it's a old Federal League team that was only in existence for two years. Score!

1. Frank Lobert played with the 1914 Baltimore Terrapins with Jack Quinn.
2. Jack Quinn played for the 1933 Cincinati Reds with Ernie Lombardi.
3. Ernie Lombardi played for the 1947 New York Giants with Whitey Lockman.
4. Whitey Lockman played for the 1960 Cincinati Reds with Frank Robinson.
5. Frank Robinson played for the 1976 Cleveland Indians with Rick Cerone.
6. Rick Cerone played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6

#252: Jack Wisner

Jack Wisner

I) Jack Wisner --> '26 New York Giants

This is already a connected team, so I'm going to use the prior year.

I) Jack Wisner --> '25 New York Giants --> Freddie Fitzsimmons

II) Fitzsimmons --> '43 Brooklyn Dodgers

1943 Dodgers are a connected team.

1. Jack Wisner played for the 1925 New York Giants with Freddie Fitzsimmons.
2. Freddie Fitzsimmons played for the 1943 Brooklyn Dodgers with Gil Hodges.
3. Gil Hodges played for the 1963 New York Mets with Ron Hunt.
4. Ron Hunt played for the 1974 Montreal Expos with Gary Carter.
5. Gary Carter played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 5

#251: Vince Coleman

Vince Coleman

Vincent Van Go is one of those players you always remember with one team, in this case the Cardinals. He ended his career as a journeyman, playing his last games as a Tiger.

I) Vince Coleman --> '97 Tigers --> Raul Casanova, Phil Nevin, Curtis Pride, Omar Olivares, Todd Jones, Kevin Jarvis

II) Casanova --> 2002 Brewers
II) Jarvis --> '99 Athletics
II) Jones --> 2006 Tigers
II) Nevin --> 2006 Rangers
II) Olivares --> '99-2000 Athletics
II) Pride --> '93 Expos

Brew Crew is the low team on the totem pole.

1. Vince Coleman played for the 1997 Detroit Tigers with Raul Casanova.
2. Raul Casanova played for the 2002 Milwaukee Brewers with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#250: George Rettger

George Rettger

I) George Rettger --> 1892 Cleveland Spiders
I) George Rettger --> 1892 Reds

We'll go with the Reds team first, since they still exist.

I) George Rettger --> 1892 Reds --> Arlie Latham

Could it be? It is! It's The Freshest Man On Earth! As it is, we've come across this dapper gent already, and can stop this chain right here. Onward to Cleveland!

I) George Rettger --> 1892 Cleveland Spiders --> Cy Young, Jack O'Connor

II) O'Connor --> '10 St. Louis Browns
II) Young --> '11 Cleveland Naps
II) Young --> '11 Boston Rustlers

Jack O'Connor got us nowhere in this post. The Cleveland Naps team has been connected and requires all 6 degrees. My one and only hope is the Rustlers (or, as they are known now, the Atlanta Braves).

II) Young --> '11 Boston Rustlers --> Hank Gowdy
      III) Gowdy --> '30 Boston Braves

That's the end folks. Gowdy and the '30 Braves showed up once before here.

Degrees of Matt Stairs: Over 6

#249: Anthony Shumaker

Anthony Shumaker

I) Anthony Shumaker --> '99 Phillies --> Desi Relaford, Torey Lovullo, Steve Montgomery, Scott Aldred, Ken Ryan, Billy Brewer

II) Aldred --> '93 Expos
II) Brewer --> '97 Athletics
II) Lovullo --> '96 Athletics
II) Montgomery --> '96-'97 Athletics
II) Relaford --> 2004 Royals
II) Ryan --> '95 Red Sox

1. Anthony Shumaker played for the 1999 Philadelphia Phillies with Ken Ryan.
2. Ken Ryan played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#248: Dick Williams

Dick Williams

The Hall of Fame Manager of the 1967 "Impossible Dream" Boston Red Sox has passed away. This one is dedicated to the man who helped make baseball in Boston matter again.

I) Dick Williams --> '64 Red Sox

I didn't know he played with that very team just a few years earlier.

I) Dick Williams --> '64 Red Sox --> Carl Yastrzemski

Wow, that just seems appropriate, you know?

II) Yastrzemski --> '83 Red Sox --> Dennis Eckersley, Wade Boggs

Two more Hall of Famers here. I have already used Eckersley here, so we'll try and add Boggs.

      III) Boggs --> '99 Devil Rays --> Fred McGriff, Miguel Cairo, Jose Canseco, Tony Graffanino, Jim Mecir, Scott Aldred
              IV) Aldred --> '93 Expos
              IV) Cairo --> 2009 Phillies
              IV) Canseco --> '95 Red Sox
              IV) Graffanino --> 2004 Royals
              IV) McGriff --> 2001 Cubs
              IV) Mecir --> 2000 Athletics

It seems like I'm always short-changing the Royals for better options. It's time to give some respect to KC.

1. Dick Williams played for the 1964 Boston Red Sox with Carl Yastrzemski.
2. Carl Yastrzemski played for the 1983 Boston Red Sox with Wade Boggs.
3. Wade Boggs played for the 1999 Tampa Bay Devil Rays with Tony Graffanino.
4. Tony Graffanino played for the 2004 Kansas City Royals with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 4

R.I.P. Mr. Williams

#247: Normie Ray

Normie Ray

I) Normie Ray --> '50 Boston Braves

Another connected team. Easy one for me - all I have to do is copy and paste from this post!

1. Normie Ray played for the 1950 Boston Braves with Del Crandall.
2. Del Crandall played for the 1966 Cleveland Indians with Luis Tiant.
3. Luis Tiant played for the 1980 New York Yankees with Rick Cerone.
4. Rick Cerone played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 4

#246: Terry Felton

Terry Felton

I) Terry Felton --> '82 Twins

I don't have many Twins teams connected, so I was mildly enthused to use this team. Wouldn't you know? The '82 squad is one of the few connected Twins teams I had. I'm going to try an earlier team and see if I can match the number of degrees.

I) Terry Felton --> '80 Twins --> Gary Ward

II) Ward --> '90 Tigers

The Tigers team has been previously connected as well. At least I can add one team here.

1. Terry Felton played for the 1980 Minnesota Twins with Gary Ward.
2. Gary Ward 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