#264: Mel Almada

Mel Amada

I) Mel Almada --> '39 St. Louis Browns
I) Mel Almada --> '39 Brooklyn Dodgers

We'll go with the Browns and see what we can come up with.

I) Mel Almada --> '39 St. Louis Browns --> Bobo Newsom, Johnny Berardino

II) Berardino --> '52 Indians, '52 Pirates
II) Newsom --> '53 Philadelphia Athletics

Bobo Newsom is a Connected player. I was about to completely dismiss him and move on to Berardino, but then I noticed something. The '53 Philadelphia Athletics were not one of my connected teams. The '53 Philadelphia Phillies however, were. Uh-oh. I think I made a boo-boo. Which means I'm going to have to go back and fix a few entries here. That won't be fun.

Until then, I have a chain to complete. I'm taking the least represented team, the Pirates.

II) Berardino --> '52 Pirates --> Ron Kline, Dick Hall
      III) Hall --> '71 Orioles
      III) Kline --> '70 Braves

Well, I know if I take the Orioles I can use Brooks Robinson, so I'll stop here.

1. Mel Almada played for the 1939 St. Louis Browns with Johnny Berardino.
2. Johnny Berardino played for the 1952 Pittsburgh Pirates with Dick Hall.
3. Dick Hall played for the 1971 Baltimore Orioles with Brooks Robinson.
4. Brooks Robinson played for the 1977 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez.
5. Dennis Martinez played for the 1993 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 5

#256: Bill Hoffman

Bill Hoffman

I) Bill Hoffman --> '39 Phillies --> Kirby Higbe

II) Higbe --> '50 New York Giants --> Jim Hearn, George Spencer, Jack Harshman, Al Dark, Whitey Lockman, Don Mueller, Bobby Thomson
      III) Dark --> '60 Phillies and '60 Milwaukee Braves
      III) Harshman --> '60 Indians
      III) Hearn --> '59 Phillies
      III) Lockman --> '60 Reds
      III) Mueller --> '59 White Sox
      III) Spencer --> '60 Tigers
      III) Thomson --> '60 Red Sox and '60 Orioles

Quite a list to choose from here. The '59 Phillies, '60 Reds, '60 Orioles, and '60 Tigers are all connected already. Out of the ones I haven't done, I'm playing the favorite card and adding another Red Sox team to my list.

      III) Thomson --> '60 Red Sox --> Earl Wilson, Al Worthington, Jim Pagliaroni, Gary Geiger
              IV) Geiger --> '70 Astros
              IV) Pagliaroni --> '69 Athletics and '69 Pilots
              IV) Wilson --> '70 Tigers and '70 Padres
              IV) Worthington --> '69 Twins

I have to admit, I'm a little underwhelmed here. I'm only jumping around ten years per degree here. I can estimate continuing along this route will take all 6 degrees, but I also know that I can do it in 5 by using the Orioles team. In the long term, it serves me better to complete chains as quickly as possible.

1. Bill Hoffman played for the 1939 Philadelphia Phillies with Kirby Higbe.
2. Kirby Higbe played for the 1950 New York Giants with Bobby Thomson.
3. Bobby Thomson played for the 1960 Baltimore Orioles with Brooks Robinson.
4. Brooks Robinson played for the 1977 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez.
5. Dennis Martinez played for the 1993 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 5

#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

#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

#247: Normie Ray

Normie Ray

I) Normie Ray --> '50 Boston Braves

Another connected team. Easy one for me - all I have to do is copy and paste from this post!

1. Normie Ray played for the 1950 Boston Braves with Del Crandall.
2. Del Crandall played for the 1966 Cleveland Indians with Luis Tiant.
3. Luis Tiant 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

#239: Dyar Miller

Dyar Miller

I) Dyar Miller --> '76-'77 Orioles, '79 Blue Jays, '81 Mets

I can match up to one of my Big 3 with either the Orioles or the Blue Jays. I'll take my chances with the Mets team and try to add something new.

I) Dyar Miller --> '81 Mets --> Jesse Orosco

II) Orosco --> 2003 Padres, Yankees, Twins

No one on this Mets team has direct connection to Stairs. It'll be quicker to use one of the other teams.

1. Dyar Miller played for the 1979 Toronto Blue Jays with Rick Cerone.
2. Rick Cerone played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#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

#233: George Elder

George Elder

I) George Elder --> '49 St. Louis Browns --> Roy Sievers

After a string of unconnected players, I've now had two easy connections. I added Roy Sievers here.

1. George Elder played for the 1949 St. Louis Browns with Roy Sievers.
2. Roy Sievers played for the 1965 Washington Senators with Joe Coleman.
3. Joe Coleman played for the 1978 Toronto Blue Jays with Rick Cerone.
4. Rick Cerone played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 4

#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

#230: Jim Bolger

Jim Bolger

Finally! Someone I have a reasonable shot of connecting!

I) Jim Bolger --> '59 Indians and '59 Phillies

I already have the Phillies team connected, so we'll go with the Indians here.

I) Jim Bolger --> '59 Indians --> Jim Perry, Minnie Minoso

II) Minoso --> '80 White Sox
II) Perry --> '75 Indians and '75 Athletics

Even though Minoso has 5 more years than Perry, Perry has the edge. The '75 Indians can get me to Stairs in 2 degrees, while the '80 White Sox needs 3. I'll give the '75 Athletics a fighting chance. If they can't do it in 2, I'm going with Cleveland.

II) Perry --> '75 Athletics --> Dick Bosman, Ken Holtzman, Stan Bahnsen, Tommy Harper, Bert Campaneris, Claudell Washington, Reggie Jackson, Ray Fosse
      III) Bahnsen --> '77 Expos
      III) Bosman --> '76 Indians
      III) Campaneris --> '83 Yankees
      III) Fosse --> '76 Indians
      III) Harper --> '76 Orioles
      III) Holtzman --> '76 Orioles
      III) Jackson --> '76 Orioles
      III) Washington --> '87 Yankees

Nope. Cleveland it is!

1. Jim Bolger played for the 1959 Cleveland Indians with Jim Perry.
2. Jim Perry played for the 1975 Cleveland Indians with Rick Cerone.
3. Rick Cerone played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#225: Bud Metheny

Bud Metheny

I) Bud Metheny --> '46 Yankees --> Yogi Berra

Yogi makes another appearance here. I get the feeling he is going to be the top guy in a lot of Yankee teams from this era.

1. Bud Metheny played for the 1946 New York Yankees with Yogi Berra.
2. Yogi Berra played for the 1965 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

#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

#222: Herb Welch

Herb Welch

I) Herb Welch --> '25 Red Sox

I've used this team already as part of my Thanksgiving Special. Done!

1. Herb Welch played for the 1925 Boston Red Sox with Red Ruffing.
2. Red Ruffing played for the 1947 Chicago White Sox with Dave Philley.
3. Dave Philley played for the 1961 Baltimore Orioles with Brooks Robinson.
4. Brooks Robinson played for the 1977 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez.
5. Dennis Martinez played for the 1993 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 5

#217: Tommy Fine

Tommy Fine

I) Tommy Fine --> '50 St. Louis Browns

I already connected this team, so I'm going to try the only other team he played for.

I) Tommy Fine --> '47 Red Sox --> Chuck Stobbs, Billy Goodman

II) Goodman --> '62 Houston Colt .45's
II) Stobbs --> '61 Twins

Billy Goodman is a connected player. The '61 Twins are a connected team. Twins get me to Stairs quicker.

1. Tommy Fine played for the 1947 Boston Red Sox with Chuck Stobbs.
2. Chuck Stobbs 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

#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

#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

#204: Ray Rippelmeyer

Ray Rippelmeyer

I) Ray Rippelmeyer --> '62 Washington Senators --> Claude Osteen, Ed Brinkman, John Kennedy

II) Brinkman --> '75 Cardinals
II) Brinkman --> '75 Rangers
II) Brinkman --> '75 Yankees
II) Kennedy --> '74 Red Sox
II) Osteen --> '75 White Sox

Wow. 5 different teams here, and only the '75 Cardinals have been connected. Hmmm...Brinkman and Osteen were both All-Stars, but Kennedy played for the Red Sox...

II) Kennedy --> '74 Red Sox --> Jim Rice

What can I say? Go Red Sox!

1. Ray Rippelmeyer played for the 1962 Washington Senators with John Kennedy.
2. John Kennedy played for the 1974 Boston Red Sox with Jim Rice.
3. Jim Rice played for the 1988 Boston Red Sox with Rick Cerone.
4. Rick Cerone played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 4

#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