#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

#234: Carlos Reyes

Carlos Reyes

I) Carlos Reyes --> 2003 Devil Rays --> Ben Grieve, Terry Shumpert, Adam Piatt, Matt Diaz, Jason Smith, Victor Zambrano, Joe Kennedy, Bobby Seay, Chad Gaudin

II) Diaz --> 2005 Royals
II) Gaudin --> 2011 Nationals
II) Grieve --> '97 - 2000 Athletics
II) Kennedy --> 2007 Blue Jays
II) Piatt --> 2000 Athletics
II) Seay --> 2006 Tigers
II) Shumpert --> '95 Red Sox
II) Smith --> 2001 Cubs
II) Zambrano --> 2007 Blue Jays

As much as I'd like to pad my Red Sox total, I can't pass up the opportunity to add Matt's current team.

1. Carlos Reyes played for the 2003 Tampa Bay Devil Rays with Chad Gaudin.
2. Chad Gaudin plays for the 2011 Washington Nationals with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#145: Troy Percival

Troy Percival

I) Troy Percival --> 2009 Rays --> Brian Shouse, Jason Isringhausen, J.P. Howell, Joe Nelson, Greg Zaun, Pat Burrell

II) Burrell --> 2008 Phillies
II) Howell --> 2005 Royals
II) Isringhausen --> 2000 Athletics
II) Nelson --> 2006 Royals
II) Shouse --> 2006 Rangers
II) Zaun --> 2007 Blue Jays

Quite a number of players who spent time with Stairs. I'll give the Royals some love here.

1. Troy Percival played for the 2009 Tampa Bay Rays with Joe Nelson.
2. Joe Nelson played for the 2006 Kansas City Royals with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#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