#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

#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

#232: Pat Murray

Pat Murray

I) Pat Murray --> '19 Phillies --> Eppa Rixey

II) Rixey --> '33 Reds

And there you have it: I have a Connected Team.

1. Pat Murray played for the 1919 Philadelphia Phillies with Eppa Rixey.
2. Eppa Rixey 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

#223: Elmer Miller

Elmer Miller

I) Elmer Miller --> '22 Yankees
I) Elmer Miller --> '22 Red Sox

Gee, I wonder which team I'll try first?

I) Elmer Miller --> '22 Red Sox --> Jack Quinn, Herb Pennock, Curt Fullerton, Muddy Ruel

II) Fullerton --> '33 Red Sox
II) Pennock --> '34 Red Sox
II) Quinn --> '33 Reds
II) Ruel --> '34 White Sox

The Reds team is the only one I don't have

II) Quinn --> '33 Reds --> Si Johnson, Rollie Hemsley, Ernie Lombardi
      III) Hemsley --> '47 Philles
      III) Johnson --> '47 Boston Braves
      III) Lombardi --> '47 New York Giants

All three of these teams have been used before. I now know I can connect, and it'll take the maximum 6 degrees. Let's see what the Yankees team can offer.

I) Elmer Miller --> '22 Yankees --> Waite Hoyt

II) Hoyt --> '38 Brooklyn Dodgers

Another connected team. By going with the first path, I can add two teams, but if I go with the second path, I add a Hall of Famer. Red Sox bias breaks the tie! (Looks like I get to add a Hall of Famer anyway - Lombardi!)

1. Elmer Miller played for the 1922 Boston Red Sox 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

#220: Ed Wineapple

Ed Wineapple

I) Ed Wineapple --> '29 Washington Senators --> Joe Cronin, Nick Altrock

II) Cronin --> '45 Red Sox
II) Altrock --> '33 Washington Senators

Cronin's my only choice here, but I added Nick Altrock here for a reason. As I was looking through the '29 Senators team, a number next to Altrock stuck out for me - 52. It was under the age column! Altrock's career spanned 35 years until his last season in 1933 at the age of 56. Remarkable! This guy was Minnie Minoso before there was a Minnie Minoso! I may have to look into this player further, but I may have an outside chance to connect someone who played in the 1800's.

Back to Cronin...

II) Cronin --> '45 Red Sox --> Jim Wilson
      III) Wilson --> '58 White Sox --> Norm Cash, Johnny Callison, Luis Aparicio
              IV) Aparicio --> '73 Red Sox
              IV) Callison --> '73 Yankees
              IV) Cash --> '74 Tigers

The Yankees and Tigers teams are connected, not that I wouldn't have picked a Hall of Famer on a Red Sox team above them anyway.

              IV) Aparicio --> '73 Red Sox --> http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifCarlton Fisk
                     V) Fisk --> '93 White Sox --> Jason Bere, Frank Thomas, Tim Raines
                         VI) Bere --> 2001 Cubs
                         VI) Raines --> '99 Athletics
                         VI) Thomas --> 2007 Blue Jays

Done, although this makes the Altrock rambling a moot point. If I could have completed this in 5 or less, it would have been worth exploring.

1. Ed Wineapple played for the 1929 Washington Senators with Joe Cronin.
2. Joe Cronin played for the 1945 Boston Red Sox with Jim Wilson.
3. Jim Wilson played for the 1958 Chicago White Sox with Luis Aparicio.
4. Luis Aparicio played for the 1973 Boston Red Sox with Carlton Fisk.
5. Carlton Fisk played for the 1993 Chicago White Sox with Frank Thomas.
6. Frank Thomas played for the 2007 Toronto Blue Jays with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6

#212: Frank Mills

Frank Mills

I) Frank Mills --> '14 Cleveland Naps

I've already connected the 1914 Naps team. This is a simple copy and paste.

1. Frank Mills 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

#200: Clarence Kraft

Clarence Kraft

I) Clarence Kraft --> '14 Boston Braves --> Dolph Luque, Rabbit Maranville

II) Luque --> '35 New York Giants
II) Maranville --> '35 Boston Braves

Edge goes to Rabbit.

II) Maranville --> '35 Boston Braves --> Ray Mueller

We have a connected player.

1. Clarence Kraft played for the 1914 Boston Braves with Rabbit Maranville.
2. Rabbit Maranville played for the 1935 Boston Braves with Ray Mueller.
3. Ray Mueller played for the 1951 Boston Braves with Lew Burdette.
4. Lew Burdette played for the 1967 California Angels with Aurelio Rodriguez.
5. Aurelio Rodriguez played for the 1983 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez.
6. Dennis Martinez played for the 1993 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6

#198: Joe DeBerry

Joe DeBerry

I) Joe DeBerry --> '21 St. Louis Browns --> Ray Kolp, Marty McManus

II) Kolp --> '34 Reds
II) McManus --> '34 Boston Braves

I'll give the Reds team a go here.

II) Kolp --> '34 Reds --> Si Johnson, Frank McCormick, Ernie Lombardi
      III) Johnson --> '47 Boston Braves
      III) Lombardi --> '47 New York Giants
      III) McCormick --> '48 Boston Braves

The only team I don't have yet is the '48 Braves.

      III) McCormick --> '48 Boston Braves --> Warren Spahn

The rest is done.

1. Joe DeBerry played for the 1921 St. Louis Browns with Ray Kolp.
2. Ray Kolp played for the 1934 Cincinati Reds with Frank McCormick.
3. Frank McCormick played for the 1948 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

#197: Glenn Spencer

Glenn Spencer

I) Glenn Spencer --> '33 New York Giants --> Hal Schumacher, Paul Richards, Mel Ott

II) Ott --> '47 New York Giants
II) Richards --> '46 Tigers
II) Schumacher --> '46 New York Giants

Both Giants teams are connected. I'll give the Tigers team a chance here.

II) Richards --> '46 Tigers --> Johnny Groth
      III) Groth --> '60 Tigers --> Dick McAuliffe, Norm Cash, Al Kaline
              IV) Cash --> '74 Tigers
              IV) Kaline --> '74 Tigers
              IV) McAuliffe --> '75 Red Sox

Again, I've already connected the Tigers team, so I'll go with the Boston team here.

              IV) McAuliffe --> '75 Red Sox --> Carlton Fisk, Jim Rice, Dwight Evans, Juan Beniquez, Tim Blackwell, Butch Hobson, Luis Tiant, Dick Drago, Bill Lee
                     V) Beniquez --> '86 Orioles
                     V) Blackwell --> '77 Expos
                     V) Drago --> '77 Orioles
                     V) Evans --> '88/'89 Red Sox
                     V) Fisk --> '93 White Sox
                     V) Hobson --> '82 Yankees
                     V) Lee --> '79-'82 Expos
                     V) Rice --> '88/'89 Red Sox
                     V) Tiant --> '80 Yankees

It would be hard for me to not pick one of the 2 Red Sox Hall of Famers here.

1. Glenn Spencer played for the 1933 New York Giants with Paul Richards.
2. Paul Richards played for the 1946 Detroit Tigers with Johnny Groth.
3. Johnny Groth played for the 1960 Detroit Tigers with Dick McAuliffe.
4. Dick McAuliffe played for the 1975 Boston Red Sox with Jim Rice.
5. Jim Rice played for the 1988 Boston Red Sox with Rick Cerone.
6. Rick Cerone played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6

#192: Herman Pillette

Herman Pillette

I) Herman Pillette --> '24 Tigers

This is a previously connected team. For fun, we'll use the year before.

I) Herman Pillette --> '23 Tigers --> Syl Johnson, Earl Whitehill, Heinie Manush

II) Johnson --> '40 Phillies
II) Manush --> '39 Pirates
II) Whitehill --> '39 Cubs

Gotta give the edge to the Hall of Famer - besides, his name is Heinie!

II) Manush --> '39 Pirates --> Ken Heintzelman, Bob Elliott
      III) Elliott --> '53 White Sox
      III) Heintzelman --> '52 Phillies

Both teams are connected. I'll go with Heintzelman since he's also a connected player.

1. Herman Pillette played for the 1923 Detroit Tigers with Heinie Manush.
2. Heinie Manush played for the 1939 Pittsburgh Pirates with Ken Heintzelman.
3. Ken Heintzelman played for the 1952 Philadelphia Phillies with Robin Roberts.
4. Robin Roberts played for the 1965 Houston Astros with Mike Cuellar.
5. Mike Cuellar played for the 1976 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez.
6. Dennis Martinez played for the 1993 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6

#190: Joe Kelly

Joe Kelly

I) Joe Kelly --> '28 Cubs --> Guy Bush, Johnny Moore

II) Bush --> '45 Reds
II) Moore --> '45 Cubs

Let's stick with the Cubbies.

II) Moore --> '45 Cubs --> Andy Pafko
      III) Pafko --> '59 Milwaukee Braves --> Hank Aaron

It'll be an honor to add Mr. Aaron to my group.

              
IV) Aaron --> '76 Brewers --> Tom Murphy, Steve Bowling, Bill Castro, Pedro Garcia, Tim Johnson, Robin Yount
                     V) Bowling --> '77 Blue Jays
                     V) Castro --> '81 Yankees
                     V) Garcia --> '77 Blue Jays
                     V) Johnson --> '79 Blue Jays
                     V) Murphy --> '79 Blue Jays
                     V) Yount --> '93 Brewers

1. Joe Kelly played for the 1928 Chicago Cubs with Johnny Moore.
2. Johnny Moore played for the 1945 Chicago Cubs with Andy Pafko.
3. Andy Pafko played for the 1959 Milwaukee Braves with Hank Aaron.
4. Hank Aaron played for the 1976 Milwaukee Brewers with Robin Yount.
5. Robin Yount played for the 1993 Milwaukee Brewers with John Jaha.
6. John Jaha played for the 2000 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6

#189: Lew Richie

Lew Richie

I) Lew Richie --> '13 Cubs --> Bubbles Hargrave, Cy Williams, Johnny Evers

II) Evers --> '29 Boston Braves
II) Hargrave --> '30 Yankees
II) Williams --> '30 Phillies

Bubble and the Yankees are out, since I've used them before. I'll go with the Hall of Famer here.

II) Evers --> '29 Boston Braves --> Clay Touchstone, Johnny Cooney
      III) Cooney --> '44 Brooklyn Dodgers
      III) Cooney --> '44 Yankees
      III) Touchstone --> '45 White Sox

I've used Cooney and the Dodgers team already. I could try Cooney and the Yankees, but I'm intrigued by Touchstaone. This player played 2 years in his 20's, only playing in a total of 6 games. He then comes back 16 years later and pitched in 6 more games.

      III) Touchstone --> '45 White Sox --> Floyd Baker, Eddie Lopat, Cass Michaels
              IV) Baker --> '55 Phillies
              IV) Lopat --> '55 Orioles
              IV) Michaels --> '54 White Sox

Hmmmm....I'm on my 4th degree and I'm only into the 1950's. Most of my connected teams require 4 more degrees to get to Stairs. Notice I said 'most' - I have an out. The '55 Orioles team has been used before and will allow me to squeeze in and get this done.

1. Lew Richie played for the 1913 Chicago Cubs with Johnny Evers.
2. Johnny Evers played for the 1929 Boston Braves with Clay Touchstone.
3. Clay Touchstone played for the 1945 Chicago White Sox with Eddie Lopat.
4. Eddie Lopat played for the 1955 Baltimore Orioles with Brooks Robinson.
5. Brooks Robinson played for the 1977 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez.
6. Dennis Martinez played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6

#186: Miller Huggins

Miller Huggins

Hooray! A Hall of Famer! My first randomly generated Hall member since Frank Chance.

I) Miller Huggins --> '16 St. Louis Browns --> Rogers Hornsby

From one Hall of Famer to another, Hornsby has been connected before.

1. Miller Huggins played for the 1916 St. Louis Browns 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

#183: Rollin Cook

Rollin Cook

I) Rollin Cook --> '15 St. Louis Browns

This is a connected team. Done!

1. Rollin Cook 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

#176: Mike Menosky

Mike Menosky

I) Mike Menosky --> '23 Red Sox --> Jack Quinn, George Murray, Curt Fullerton, Lefty O'Doul, Val Picinich

II) Fullerton --> '33 Red Sox
II) Murray --> '33 White Sox
II) O'Doul --> '34 New York Giants
II) Picinich --> '33 Brooklyn Dodgers
II) Picinich --> '33 Pirates
II) Quinn --> '33 Reds

Wow, lots of choices here! I already have the '33 Dodgers here, so that one is out. I have the '34 Red Sox and '34 White Sox, so those are probably easy. Basically, I think I'm down to my Red Sox bias and adding a player named Lefty. Oh well, Red Sox bias wins out!

II) Fullerton --> '33 Red Sox --> Bucky Walters

As expected, the same connecting player as the '34 team. Done.

1. Mike Menosky played for the 1923 Boston Red Sox with Curt Fullerton.
2. Curt Fullerton played for the 1933 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

#171: Pat Burke

Pat Burke

I) Pat Burke --> '24 St. Louis Browns --> Boom-Boom Beck

Boom-Boom Beck! I recall trying to use that name in a chain once before. It took some digging, but I was able to find him here. That saves a lot of work for me.

What I'm going to do is essentially copy what I had before and revisit it.

----------
      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
----------

Since this post, I've only added the '53 White Sox team.

----------
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
----------

I've also added the '74 Tigers and '75 Royals. That makes the '80 Giants a logical choice. My path so far:

II) Beck --> '45 Reds --> Hank Sauer
      III) Sauer --> '59 Giants --> Willie McCovey
              IV) McCovey --> '80 Giants

Two degrees to get to Stairs. I think I can do it.

              IV) McCovey --> '80 Giants --> Ed Whitson, Max Venable, Jack Clark
                     V) Clark --> '92 Red Sox
                     V) Venable --> '91 Angels
                     V) Whitson --> '91 Padres

Red Sox for the win!

1. Pat Burke played for the 1924 St. Louis Browns with Boom-Boom Beck.
2. Boom-Boom Beck played for the 1945 Cincinati Reds with Hank Sauer.
3. Hank Sauer played for the 1959 San Francisco Giants with Willie McCovey.
4. Williw McCovey played for the 1980 San Francisco Giants with Jack Clark.
5. Jack Clark played for the 1992 Boston Red Sox with Mike Greenwell.
6. Mike Greenwell played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6

#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

#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

#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

#143: Luke Boone

Luke Boone

I) Luke Boone --> '18 Pirates --> Carmen Hill, Hal Carlson, Billy Southworth, Max Carey

II) Carey --> '29 Brooklyn Robins
II) Carlson --> '30 Cubs
II) Hill --> '30 Cardinals
II) Southworth --> '29 Cardinals

I've already used Carey and the '29 Robins before. I'll try another path and see where it takes me. As always, my bias goes to the Hall of Famer.

II) Southworth --> '29 Cardinals --> Syl Johnson, Fred Frankhouse, Jimmie Wilson, Charlie Gelbert
      III) Frankhouse --> '39 Boston Bees
      III) Gelbert --> '40 Red Sox
      III) Gelbert --> '40 Washington Senators
      III) Johnson --> '40 Phillies
      III) Wilson --> '40 Reds

The Reds team is my only connected one, so I have a lot of choices here. Showing my Red Sox bias here...

      III) Gelbert --> '40 Red Sox --> Ted Williams

Well, I used my bias towards Hall of Famers and my bias towards the Red Sox. It's only fair I end up with a Red Sox Hall of Famer.

              IV) Williams --> '60 Red Sox --> Earl Wilson, Al Worthington, Jim Pagliaroni, Gary Geiger
                     V) Geiger --> '70 Astros
                     V) Pagliaroni --> '69 Seattle Pilots
                     V) Wilson --> '70 Padres
                     V) Worthington --> '69 Twins

Dead end here. I'm going to have to go back a couple steps.

      III) Gelbert --> '40 Washington Senators --> Mickey Vernon
              IV) Vernon --> '60 Pirates --> Joe Gibbons, Dick SChofield, Bill Mazeroski, Roberto Clemente
                     V) Clemente --> '72 Pirates
                     V) Gibbons --> '72 Astros
                     V) Gibbons --> '72 Reds
                     V) Mazeroski --> '72 Pirates
                     V) Schofield --> '71 Brewers
                     V) Schofield --> '71 Cardinals

Another dead end. Rather than make this endlessly long, I'm going to take a path I've used before.

1. Luke Boone played for the 1918 Pittsburgh Pirates with Max Carey.
2. Max Carey played for the 1929 Brooklyn Robins with Bobo Newsom.
3. Bobo Newsom played for the 1953 Philadelphia Athletics with Bobby Shantz
4. Bobby Shantz played for the 1964 St. Louis Cardinals with Mike Cuellar
5. Mike Cuellar 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