#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

#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

#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

#167: Chris Haughey

Chris Haughey

Haughey started one game for the Dodgers in 1943. I have the 1944 team on my list, so this may be an easy one.

I) Chris Haughey --> '43 Brooklyn Dodgers --> Gil Hodges

II) Hodges --> '63 Mets --> Ed Kranepool, Ron Hunt
      III) Hunt --> '74 Expos
      III) Kranepool --> '79 Mets

Kranepool played longer, but Hunt will get us there quicker.

1. Chris Haughey played for the 1943 Brooklyn Dodgers with Gil Hodges.
2. Gil Hodges played for the 1963 New York Mets with Ron Hunt.
3. Ron Hunt played for the 1974 Montreal Expos with Gary Carter.
4. Gary Carter played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 4

#166: Tim Crews

Tim Crews

I still recall reading about the tragic accident that occurred in the Spring of 1993. Continue to rest in peace, Tim Crews.

I) Tim Crews --> '92 Dodgers --> Lenny Harris, Eric Young, Rafael Bournigal, Tom Candiotti, Pedro Martinez

II) Bournigal --> '98 Athletics
II) Candiotti --> '98 Athletics
II) Harris --> 2002 Brewers
II) Martinez --> 2009 Phillies
II) Young --> 2001 Cubs
II) Young --> 2006 Rangers

There's no way I'm going to pass up the opportunity to add one of my all time favorite players!

1. Tim Crews played for the 1992 Los Angeles Dodgers with Pedro Martinez.
2. Pedro Martinez played for the 2009 Philadelphia Phillies with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#126: Jeff Hamilton

Jeff Hamilton

I thought this one would be tricky, but it turned out to be super easy!

1. Jeff Hamilton played on the 1991 Los Angeles Dodgers with Gary Carter.
2. Gary Carter played on the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#100: Don Miles

Don Miles

My 100th player!

I) Don Miles --> '58 Dodgers --> Ron Fairly

II) Fairly --> '74 Expos --> Gary Carter
II) Fairly --> '77 Blue Jays --> Rick Cerone

Fairly played with two of my "Big 3" guys - Once again, I have to give the edge to the Hall of Famer.

1. Don Miles played for the 1958 Los Angeles Dodgers with Ron Fairly.
2. Ron Fairly played for the 1974 Montreal Expos with Gary Carter.
3. Gary Carter played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#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

#85: Hal Goldsmith

Hal Goldsmith

Goldsmith last played for the '29 Browns, which I've already connected. I'm going to take the year before and see if I can connect a new team.

I) Hal Goldsmith --> '28 Braves --> Johnny Cooney, Clay Touchstone

II) Cooney --> '44 Dodgers
II) Cooney --> '44 Yankees
II) Touchstone --> '45 White Sox

Cooney popped up 2 days ago in one of our chains.

II) Cooney --> '44 Dodgers --> Gene Mauch, Eddie Miksis
      III) Mauch --> '57 Red Sox
      III) Miksis --> '58 Orioles
      III) Miksis --> '58 Reds

We've already connected Mauch, so I know I can complete that link in 6 steps. However, I'm able to connect the '29 Browns in only 5 steps. Anything greater would just be taking a longer route. Miksis may be a possibility though.

      III) Miksis --> '58 Orioles --> Brooks Robinson

That'll get me to Stairs in 5 degrees. I'll give the Reds team a shot just to see if I can add a few more teams.

      III) Miksis --> '58 Reds --> Frank Robinson

Yep, Frank will get me there too. It looks like 5 degrees is the best I can hope for, so I'll end here.

1. Hal Goldsmith played for the 1928 Boston Braves with Johnny Cooney.
2. Johnny Cooney played for the 1944 Brooklyn Dodgers with Eddie Miksis.
3. Eddie Miksis played for the 1958 Cincinnati Reds with Frank Robinson.
4. Frank Robinson played for the 1976 Cleveland Indians with Rick Cerone.
5. Rick Cerone playedfor the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 5

#60: Ralph Birkofer

Ralph Birkofer

I) Ralph Birkofer --> '37 Dodgers --> Bert Haas

The '38 Dodgers joined my Connected Teams last week, and the chain is exactly the same.

1. Ralph Birkofer played for the 1937 Brooklyn Dodgers with Bert Haas.
2. Bert Haas played for the 1951 Chicago White Sox with Minnie Minoso.
3. Minnie Minoso played for the 1980 Chicago White Sox with Harold Baines.
4. Harold Baines played for the 1992 Oakland Athletics with Terry Steinbach.
5. Terry Steinbach played for the 1996 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 5

#56: Buck Marrow

Buck Marrow

I) Buck Marrow --> '38 Dodgers --> Bert Haas

II) Haas --> '51 White Sox --> Minnie Minoso

Just like that, I've got my link. I discovered the Minnie Minoso time warp awhile back, and because of him, I can jump from 1951 to 1980. I'm not going to do any better than that.

1. Buck Marrow played for the 1938 Brooklyn Dodgers with Bert Haas.
2. Bert Haas played for the 1951 Chicago White Sox with Minnie Minoso.
3. Minnie Minoso played for the 1980 Chicago White Sox with Harold Baines.
4. Harold Baines played for the 1992 Oakland Athletics with Terry Steinbach.
5. Terry Steinbach played for the 1996 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 5

#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

#19: Myron White

Myron White

Yet another guy who had just a cup of coffee in the majors. At least this guy played during my lifetime. Since White played in an era where I have a somewhat familiarity with the players, and since it's only a 14 year gap to the beginning of Matt Stairs career, I don't have to find the player with the longest service time here. I can pick someone I'm familiar with and just run with it. I may not find the quickest link to Stairs, but I'm confident I'll make it in under 6 degrees.

I) Myron White --> '78 Dodgers --> Bob Welch, Dave Stewart, Rick Sutcliffe

I picked 3 pitchers whose careers I'm familiar with. They all had good, long careers and played with other clubs (Cubs, Athletics) that Stairs also played on.

II) Sutcliffe --> '90 Cubs --> Joe Girardi

From here it's the same chain as the Lance Dickson chain. I'd like to try and establish some new clubs and players though, so let's see what else I can come up with.

II) Stewart --> '95 Athletics
II) Welch --> '94 Athletics

Both players just missed playing with Stairs in 1996. It's really a moot point which one I go with. I'm going with Stewart, because I will always believe Welch didn't deserve to beat Roger Clemens for that Cy Young in 1990.

1. Myron White played for the 1978 Los Angeles Dodgers with Dave Stewart.
2. Dave Stewart played the 1987 Oakland Athletics with Terry Steinbach.
3. Terry Steinbach played for the 1996 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs.

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

I really could have gone with any of Stewart's 8 years in Oakland, but I wanted to build up my database of clubs with one from the 80's.