#208: Billy Goodman

Billy Goodman

I) Billy Goodman --> '62 Houston Colt .45's

Sweet! A chance to add the Colt .45's to my list of teams!

I) Billy Goodman --> '62 Houston Colt .45's --> Dave Giusti

II) Giusti --> '77 Athletics
II) Giusti --> '77 Cubs

I'll go with the Cubs here.

II) Giusti --> '77 Cubs --> Rick Reuscel, Ray Burris, Dennis Lamp, Manny Trillo, Bobby Murcer, Larry Biitner
      III) Biittner --> '74 - '76 Expos
      III) Burris --> '80 - '83 Expos
      III) Lamp --> '88 - '89 Red Sox
      III) Murcer --> '80 - '83 Yankees
      III) Reuscel --> '81 Yankees
      III) Reuscel --> '91 Giants
      III) Trillo --> '83 Expos

Lots of choices here. I'm going to take Reuscel's last season though and try to take a break from using one of my "Big 3".

      III) Reuscel --> '91 Giants --> Kevin Mitchell, Willie McGee
              IV) Mitchell --> '98 Athletics
              IV) McGee --> '95 Red Sox

Although there are likely many more players on the '91 Giants squad that played with Stairs, I stopped when I reached one that played for Boston.

1. Billy Goodman played for the 1962 Colt .45's with Dave Giusti.
2. Dave Giusti played for the 1977 Chicago Cubs with Rick Reuscel.
3. Rick Reuscel played for the 1991 San Francisco Giants with Willie McGee.
4. Willie McGee played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 4

#206: Jophrey Brown

Jophrey Brown

I) Jophrey Brown --> '68 Cubs

I have the '67 Cubs team already, so this may be a quick one.

I) Jophrey Brown --> '68 Cubs --> Joe Niekro

Yep, that was easy.

1. Jophrey Brown played for the 1968 Chicago Cubs with Joe Niekro.
2. Joe Niekro played for the 1988 Minnesota Twins with Eric Bullock.
3. Eric Bullock played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#194: Jim Shilling

Jim Shilling

I) Jim Shilling --> '39 Indians
I) Jim Shilling --> '39 Phillies

I'll go with the Indians team here.

I) Jim Shilling --> '39 Indians --> Bob Feller

I already connected Feller back in December. That makes the rest of this easy.

1. Jim Shilling played for the 1939 Cleveland Indians with Bob Feller.
2. Bob Feller played for the 1956 Cleveland Indians with Hank Aguirre.
3. Hank Aguirre played for the 1970 Chicago Cubs with Ken Rudolph.
4. Ken Rudolph played for the 1977 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez.
5. Dennis Martinez played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 5

#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

#178: Ed Donnelly

Ed Donnelly

I) Ed Donnelly --> '59 Cubs

I've already connected the 1959 Cubs.

1. Ed Donnelly played for the 1959 Chicago Cubs with Tony Taylor.
2. Tony Taylor played on the 1976 Philadelphia Phillies with Dave Cash.
3. Dave Cash played on the 1977 Montreal Expos with Gary Carter.
4. Gary Carter played on the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 4

#172: Homer Spragins

Homer Spragins

I) Homer Spragins --> '47 Phillies

I have the '46 Phillies team already, so there's a chance I can use the same connecting player.

I) Homer Spragins --> '47 Phillies --> Curt Simmons

II) Simmons --> '67 Cubs
II) Simmons --> '67 Angels

I already have the Angels team, so we;ll go with the Cubs.

II) Simmons --> '67 Cubs --> Fred Norman, Joe Niekro, Ken Holtzman
      III) Holtzman --> '76 Orioles
      III) Niekro --> '88 Twins
      III) Niekro --> '87 Yankees
      III) Norman --> '80 Expos

Just on a whim, I'm going to try the Twins team.

      III) Niekro --> '88 Twins --> Eric Bullock
              IV) Bullock --> '92 Expos

Done!

1. Homer Spagins played for the 1947 Philadelphia Phillies with Curt Simmons.
2. Curt Simmons played for the 1967 Chicago Cubs with Joe Niekro.
3. Joe Niekro played for the 1988 Minnesota Twins with Eric Bullock.
4. Eric Bullock played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 4

#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

#151: Christams Edition - Steve Christmas

Steve Christmas

Since I did special holiday editions for Halloween and Thanksgiving, I should do a Christmas one too, right? Fortunately for me, there was a player with Christmas as a last name.

I) Steve Christmas --> '86 Cubs

Hmmm... a certain pitcher started his very long career with the '86 Cubs....

1. Steve Christmas played for the 1986 Chicago Cubs with Jaime Moyer.
2. Jaime Moyer played for the 2009 Philadelphia Phillies with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

Merry Christmas everyone!

#147: Rob Belloir

Rob Belloir

Rob Belloir last played for the Braves in 1978. I already have that as a connected team, so I'm going to play with the prior year.

I) Rob Belloir --> '77 Braves --> Steve Hargan, Phil Niekro, Tom Paciorek, Joe Nolan, Dale Murphy, Rowland Office, Jerry Royster,

II) Hargan --> '77 Blue Jays
II) Murphy --> '93 Rockies
II) Niekro --> '84 Yankees
II) Nolan --> '82 Orioles
II) Office --> '80 Expos
II) Paciorek --> '85 Mets
II) Royster --> '87 Yankees

All of these guys aside from Murphy played for my "Big 3" However, Murphy played until 1993, making him an excellent bet to continue.

II) Murphy --> '93 Rockies --> Joe Girardi

That will do.

1. Rob Belloir played for the 1977 Atlanta Braves with Dale Murphy.
2. Dale Murphy played for the 1993 Colorado Rockies with Joe Girardi.
3. Joe Girardi played for the 2001 Chicago Cubs with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#146: Bob Feller

Bob Feller

Hall of Fame Great Bob Feller passed away yesterday. Here's to you, Mr. Feller...

I) Bob Feller --> '56 Indians --> Hank Aguirre

II) Aguirre --> '70 Cubs --> Larry Gura, Ken Holtzman, Ken Rudolph
      III) Gura --> '85 Royals
      III) Gura --> '85 Cubs
      III) Holtzman --> '76 Orioles
      III) Rudolph --> '77 Orioles

The Orioles way is the quickest way.

1. Bob Feller played for the 1956 Cleveland Indians with Hank Aguirre.
2. Hank Aguirre played for the 1970 Chicago Cubs with Ken Rudolph.
3. Ken Rudolph 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

#119: Art Reinholz

Art Reinholz

2 games in 1928 - not the briefest baseball career we've seen, but still pretty brief.

I) Art Reinholz --> '28 Indians --> Mel Harder

II) Harder --> '47 Indians

I have the '47 Indians team already, so I have my chain.

1. Art Reinholz played for the 1928 Cleveland Indians with Mel Harder.
2. Mel Harder played for the 1947 Cleveland Indians with Jim Heagan.
3. Jim Heagan played on the 1960 Chicago Cubs with Tony Taylor.
4. Tony Taylor played on the 1976 Philadelphia Phillies with Dave Cash.
5. Dave Cash played on the 1977 Montreal Expos with HoF Gary Carter.
6. Gary Carter played on the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6

#107: Danny Young

Danny Young

This guy played on the Cubs the year before Stairs did. If I throw dart at the team roster, I'll likely hit my connecting player. I've used a couple of these guys before, so we'll keep it simple.

1. Danny Young played for the 2000 Chicago Cubs with Corey Patterson.
2. Corey Patterson played for the 2001 Chicago Cubs with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#99: Lu Blue

Lu Blue

What a great name!

I) Lu Blu --> '33 Brooklyn Dodgers --> Dutch Leonard

Dutch has helped us before, so this is an easy link.

1. Lu Blue played for the 1933 Brooklyn Dodgers with Dutch Leonard.
2. Dutch Leonard played for the 1953 Chicago Cubs with Ernie Banks.
3. Ernie Banks played for the 1971 Chicago Cubs with Earl Stephenson.
4. Earl Stephenson played for the 1978 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez.
5. Dennis Mrtinez played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 5

#72: Todd Ritchie

Todd Ritchie

Todd Ritchie traveled around in his brief career. I'll have to just poke around and see what I can recognize as possible links.

I) Todd Ritchie --> 2004 Devil Rays --> Fred McGriff
I) Todd Ritchie --> 2002 White Sox --> Frank Thomas
I) Todd Ritchie --> '98 Twins --> Terry Steinbach

In addition to these players, he played on the Pirates 2 years before Stairs did, so there's a bunch of guys there too. I haven't added a team from Tampa Bay yet, so I'll give the nod to the Crime Dog.

1. Todd Ritchie played for the 2004 Tampa Bay Devil Rays with Fred McGriff.
2. Fred McGriff played for the 2001 Chicago Cubs with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#69: Pat Howell

Pat Howell

Howell joined Stairs in that rookie class of 1992, but only lasted that one season with the Mets. A look through that roster and I found an easy 2 degree link.

1. Pat Howell played for the 1992 New York Mets with Todd Hundley.
2. Todd Hundley played for the 2001 Chicago Cubs with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#45: Tom Needham

Tom Needham

I) Tom Needham --> '14 Cubs --> Bubbles Hargrave, Cy Williams

II) Hargrave --> '30 Yankees --> Red Ruffing, Bill Dickey, Ben Chapman
      III) Ruffing --> '47 White Sox
      III) Dickey --> '46 Yankees
      III) Chapman --> '46 Phillies
II) Williams --> '30 Phillies --> Spud Davis, Chuck Klein, Tommy Thevenow
      III) Thevenow --> '38 Pirates
      III) Davis --> '45 Pirates
      III) Klein --> '44 Blue Jays

The '46 Phillies are a connected team, so I know this will be a success. Tommy Thevenow is also a successful link, but not an option since he required 5 degrees on his own. I have one branch that gets me to 1947, so I'll use that one.

      III) Ruffing --> '47 White Sox --> Dave Philley
              IV) Philley --> '62 Red Sox --> Carl Yastrzemski
                     V) Yastrzemski --> '83 Red Sox

This is a case where taking the longest lasting player probably hurt my chances. This far down the branch, I just don't have enough to make the jump. However, Philley played for the Orioles the two years before, making him a member of a Connected Team. If I use the '61 Orioles, I'll add 4 new teams to my table - that's good enough for me.

1. Tom Needham played for the 1914 Chicago Cubs with Bubbles Hargrave.
2. Bubbles Hargrave played for the 1930 New York Yankees with Red Ruffing.
3. Red Ruffing played for the 1947 Chicago White Sox with Dave Philley.
4. Dave Philley played for the 1961 Baltimore Orioles with Brooks Robinson.
5. Brooks Robinson played for the 1977 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez.
6. Dennis Martinez played for the 1993 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6

#39: Leon Cadore

Leon Cadore

I) Leon Cadore --> '24 Giants --> Grover Hartley

Hartley was a connecting player in on of my previous chains, so I know I'll get to Stairs eventually. There are others on this team that played longer, though, so I want to see where they take me first.

I) Leon Cadore --> '24 Giants --> Bill Terry, Freddie Lindstrom, Frankie Frisch, Travis Jackson

II) Terry, Jackson --> '36 Giants
II) Lindstrom --> '36 Dodgers
II) Frisch --> '37 Cardinals

Three branches to choose from here. We'll start with Frisch, who played the longest.

II) Frisch --> '37 Cardinals --> Bob Weiland, Mickey Owen, Johnny Mize
      III) Mize --> '53 Yankees
      III) Owen --> '54 Red Sox

We've already connected Weiland, so I know this is a good route too. I'm going to go back to the '36 Giants and Cardinals teams, and see if I get any further there.

II) Terry, Jackson --> '36 Giants --> Dick Bartell, Harry Gumbert
      III) Gumbert --> '50 Pirates

Bartell was a connecting player too! So far, every branch has yielded a player I've already used. Can I go 4-4?

II) Lindstrom --> '36 Dodgers --> Dutch Leonard
      III) Leonard --> '53 Cubs

I guess not. That's OK, because I'm looking to add new teams to my table. I'm going to stick with this branch and see where it takes me.

      III) Leonard --> '53 Cubs --> Ernie Banks
              IV) Banks --> '71 Cubs --> Ken Holtzman, Earl Stephenson, Hal Breeden, Ken Rudolph
                     V) Breeden --> '75 Expos
                     V) Holtzman --> '76 Orioles
                     V) Rudolph --> '77 Orioles
                     V) Stephenson --> '78 Orioles

Although numerous players on the '71 Cubs team played well into the 1980's, these 4 stick out because they played with one of my "Big 3", which at this point is neccessary to get this at 6 degrees. I don't have the '78 Orioles on my list yet, so Stephenson gets the nod.

1. Leon Cadore played for the 1924 New York Giants with Freddie Lindstrom.
2. Freddie Lindstrom played for the 1936 Brooklyn Dodgers with Dutch Leonard.
3. Dutch Leonard played for the 1953 Chicago Cubs with Ernie Banks.
4. Ernie Banks played for the 1971 Chicago Cubs with Earl Stephenson.
5. Earl Stephenson played for the 1978 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez.
6. Dennis Mrtinez played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6

#35: Orlando Alvarez

Orlando Alvarez

Another 70's player. Looking at the two teams he played for, I see a couple of recognizable names that I believe will help me along, including a trio of pitchers who pitched well into their 40's:

I) Orlando Alvarez --> '75 Dodgers --> Charlie Hough
I) Orlando Alvarez --> '76 Angels --> Frank Tanana, Nolan Ryan

I don't see the benefit of using one over the other yet, so I'll try them all out.

II) Hough --> '94 Florida Marlins --> David Weathers

I've already connected Weathers, he's my only direct link connection so far. I'm not going to do any better than that - sorry Frank and Nolan!

1. Orlando Alvarez played for the 1975 Los Angeles Dodgers with Charlie Hough.
2. Charlie Hough played for the 1994 Florida Marlins with David Weathers.
3. David Weathers played for the 2001 Chicago Cubs with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#28: David Weathers

David Weathers

1. David Weathers played for the 2001 Chicago Cubs with Matt Stairs!

A direct link! My first randomly generated player who actually played with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 1