#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

#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

#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

#235: Chris Batton

Chris Batton

I) Chris Batton --> '76 Athletics

I have this team already. All I have to do is go here and cut/paste.

1. Chris Batton played for the 1976 Oakland Athletics with Denny Walling.
2. Denny Walling played for the 1992 Houston Astros with Tuffy Rhodes.
3. Tuffy Rhodes played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#231: Harmon Killebrew

Harmon Killebrew

Baseball lost another of its all time greats today. For this post, all I have to do is cut and paste from here. RIP Mr. Killebrew...

1. Harmon Killebrew played for the 1975 Kansas City Royals with George Brett.
2. George Brett played for the 1993 Kansas City Royals with Mike Macfarlane.
3. Mike Macfarlane played for the 1999 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#216: Rich Barnes

Rich Barnes

I) Rich Barnes --> '83 Indians --> Otto Velez, Julio Franco, Toby Harrah, Andre Thorton

II) Franco --> 2007 Braves
II) Harrah --> '84 Yankees
II) Thorton --> '76 Expos
II) Velez --> '79 Blue Jays

I'm going to try and not use a Big 3 link here.

II) Franco --> 2007 Braves --> Tim Hudson, Ron Mahay, Mark Redmond, Craig Wilson, Matt Diaz, Mike Gonzalez, Wil Ledezma
      III) Diaz --> 2005 Royals
      III) Gonzalez --> 2003 Pirates
      III) Hudson --> 2000 Athletics
      III) Ledezma --> 2006 Tigers
      III) Mahay --> 2000 Athletics
      III) Redmond --> 2006 Royals
      III) Wilson --> 2003 Pirates

Only one of these guys has been used before.

1. Rich Barnes played for the 1983 Cleveland Indians with Julio Franco.
2. Julio Franco played for the 2007 Atlanta Braves with Ron Mahay.
3. Ron Mahay played for the 2000 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#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

#181: Bob Malloy

Bob Malloy

I) Bob Malloy --> '90 Expos

I've already linked this Expos team, so I'm going to try the only other year he played instead.

I) Bob Malloy --> '87 Rangers --> Mike Stanley

Another easy one.

1. Bob Malloy played for the 1987 Texas Rangers with Mike Stanley.
2. Mike Stanley played for the 2000 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#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

#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

#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

#154: Angel Mangual

Angel Mangual

When you get a guy who played in the 70's, there's a good chance of finding a teammate that played with one of my "Big 3", and the '76 Athletics are no different. A looked at each player and found 11 who played with Gary Carter, Rick Cerone, or Dennis Martinez. The longest tenured Athletic, however, played until 1992. I'm going to go with him.

I) Mangual --> '76 Athletics --> Denny Walling

II) Walling --> '92 Astros --> Tuffy Rhodes, Butch Henry, Jimmy Jones, Doug Jones
      III) Henry --> '93 Expos
      III) Doug Jones --> 2000 Athletics
      III) Jimmy Jones --> '93 Expos
      III) Rhodes --> '95 Red Sox

How can you not go for guy named Tuffy?

1. Angel Mangual played for the 1976 Oakland Athletics with Denny Walling.
2. Denny Walling played for the 1992 Houston Astros with Tuffy Rhodes.
3. Tuffy Rhodes played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#152: Hal Griggs

Hal Griggs

Hal Griggs played with the Washington Senators in the late 1950's. I have the '59 Senators team checked off already, so I'll go one back and see if I can add any new teams.

I) Hal Griggs --> '58 Washington Senators --> Harmon Killebrew

Always good to add a Hall of Famer!

II) Killebrew --> '75 Royals --> John Mayberry, George Brett, Jim Wohlford, Tony Solaita, Bob Stinson, Rodney Scott, Bob McClure, Nelson Briles, Doug Bird
      III) Bird --> '81 Yankees
      III) Brett --> '93 Royals
      III) Briles --> '78 Orioles
      III) Mayberry --> '79 Blue Jays
      III) McClure --> '93 Marlins
      III) Scott --> '82 Expos
      III) Solaita --> '79 Expos
      III) Stinson --> '74 Expos
      III) Wohlford --> '83 Expos

A lot of guys here who played with my "Big 3", plus 2 who lasted all the way to 1993. I can take an easy path, but I have a hunch on Brett's '93 Royals.

1. Hal Griggs played for the 1958 Washington Senators with Harmon Killebrew.
2. Harmon Killebrew played for the 1975 Kansas City Royals with George Brett.
3. George Brett played for the 1993 Kansas City Royals with Mike Macfarlane.
4. Mike Macfarlane played for the 1999 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 4

I had a hunch that once I got to the early 1990's, I could find a former teammate of Stairs. Easy enough.

#149: Ford Garrison

Ford Garrison

I) Ford Garrison --> '46 Philadelphia Athletics --> Elmer Valo

II) Valo --> '61 Twins
II) Valo --> '61 Phillies

I've only connected one other Twins team, so I'll use them again.

II) Valo --> '61 Twins --> Jim Kaat

Done.

1. Ford Garrison played for the 1946 Philadelphia Athletics with Elmer Valo.
2. Elmer Valo played for the 1961 Minnesota Twins with Jim Kaat.
3. Jim Kaat 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

#144: Greg Goossen

Greg Goossen

Goossen ended his career in 1970 with both the Brewers and the Senators. However, I'm going to break from my traditional tactics and go with the year before. Why? Because it offers me a rare opportunity to add the Seattle Pilots - a team that lasted one year before they became the Brewers.

I) Greg Goossen --> '69 Seattle Pilots --> Fred Stanley, Tommy Harper

53 men could make the claim they were a Seattle Pilot. Only 2 make the cut here.

II) Harper --> '76 Orioles
II) Stanley --> '80 Yankees
II) Stanley --> '82 Athletics

The Orioles and Yankees will link me with Stairs via my "Big 3". If the Athletics team has someone who also played with Stairs, I'll have another team to add.

II) Stanley --> '82 Athletics --> Rickey Henderson, Tony Phillips

Rickey!

1. Greg Goossen played for the 1969 Seattle Pilots with Fred Stanley.
2. Fred Stanley played for the 1982 Oakland Athletics with Rickey Henderson.
3. Rickey Henderson played for the 1998 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#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

#142: Ray Knight

Ray Knight

It's a good thing my Red Sox have won the World Series recently, otherwise I might have spewed a little venom towards the 1986 World Series MVP. It's all good now.

I) Ray Knoght --> '88 Tigers --> Torey Lovullo

II) Lovullo --> '96 Athletics

1. Ray Knight played for the 1988 Detroit Tigers with Torey Lovullo.
2. Torey Lovullo played for the 1996 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#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

#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