#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

#240: Gary Rajsich

Gary Rajsich

I) Gary Rajsich --> '85 Giants --> Chili Davis

II) Davis --> '99 Yankees --> Scott Brosius, Joe Girardi, D'Angelo Jimenez, Roger Clemens, Mike Stanton, Mike Buddie, Jason Grimsley
      III) Brosius --> '97 Athletics
      III) Buddie --> 2002 Brewers
      III) Clemens --> '95 Red Sox
      III) Girardi --> 2001 Cubs
      III) Grimsley --> 2004 Royals
      III) Jimenez --> 2006 Rangers
      III) Stanton --> '95 Red Sox

Lots of choices here. I'm obviously going with one of the Red Sox here, but picking my childhood-favorite-turned-traitor-turned-PED-punchline...

1. Gary Rajsich played for the 1985 San Francisco Giants with Chili Davis.
2. Chili Davis played for the 1999 New York Yankees with Roger Clemens.
3. Roger Clemens played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#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

#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

#211: Vida Blue

Vida Blue

With only 6 years between Blue's last year and Stairs's first year, I was pretty confident I'd find someone who played for both. Alas, that isn't the case. I did find a number of 3 degree jumps, including a few using teams I don't have yet.

1. Vida Blue played for the 1986 San Francisco Giants with Randy Kutcher.
2. Randy Kutcher played for the 1990 Boston Red Sox with Mike Greenwell.
3. Mike Greenwell played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#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

#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

#184: Duke Snider

Duke Snider

Major League Baseball lost another great when Hall of Famer Duke Snider passed away yesterday. In tribute, this post is dedicated to him.

I) Duke Snider --> '64 Giants --> Gaylord Perry

II) Perry --> '83 Mariners
II) Perry --> '83 Royals

A rare chance to add a Mariners team here.

II) Perry --> '83 Mariners --> Spike Owen

R.I.P. Duke!

1. Duke Snider played for the 1964 San Francisco Giants with Gaylord Perry.
2. Gaylord Perry played for the 1983 Seattle Mariners with Spike Owen.
3. Spike Owen played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#171: Pat Burke

Pat Burke

I) Pat Burke --> '24 St. Louis Browns --> Boom-Boom Beck

Boom-Boom Beck! I recall trying to use that name in a chain once before. It took some digging, but I was able to find him here. That saves a lot of work for me.

What I'm going to do is essentially copy what I had before and revisit it.

----------
      III) Beck --> '45 Reds --> Herm Wehmeier, Hank Sauer
              IV) Wehmeier --> '58 Cardinals
              IV) Wehmeier --> '58 Tigers
              IV) Sauer --> '59 Giants

      III) Beck --> '45 Pirates --> Bob Elliott, Preacher Roe
              IV) Elliott --> '53 Browns
              IV) Elliott --> '53 White Sox
              IV) Roe --> '54 Dodgers
----------

Since this post, I've only added the '53 White Sox team.

----------
Lots of choices here, but I'm going to ignore the '45 Pirates branch, since the '45 Reds give me an extra 5 years.

              IV) Sauer --> '59 Giants --> Willie MCCovey
                     V) McCovey --> '80 Giants
              IV) Wehmeier --> '58 Cardinals --> Lindy McDaniel
                     V) McDaniel --> '75 Royals
              IV) Wehmeier --> '58 Tigers --> Al Kaline
                     V) Kaline --> '74 Tigers
----------

I've also added the '74 Tigers and '75 Royals. That makes the '80 Giants a logical choice. My path so far:

II) Beck --> '45 Reds --> Hank Sauer
      III) Sauer --> '59 Giants --> Willie McCovey
              IV) McCovey --> '80 Giants

Two degrees to get to Stairs. I think I can do it.

              IV) McCovey --> '80 Giants --> Ed Whitson, Max Venable, Jack Clark
                     V) Clark --> '92 Red Sox
                     V) Venable --> '91 Angels
                     V) Whitson --> '91 Padres

Red Sox for the win!

1. Pat Burke played for the 1924 St. Louis Browns with Boom-Boom Beck.
2. Boom-Boom Beck played for the 1945 Cincinati Reds with Hank Sauer.
3. Hank Sauer played for the 1959 San Francisco Giants with Willie McCovey.
4. Williw McCovey played for the 1980 San Francisco Giants with Jack Clark.
5. Jack Clark played for the 1992 Boston Red Sox with Mike Greenwell.
6. Mike Greenwell played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6

#96: Gus Getz

Gus Getz

I) Gus Getz --> '18 Indians
I) Gus Getz --> '18 Pirates

Two teams to go with here. I'll try both and see where I get the farthest.

I) Gus Getz --> '18 Indians --> Steve O'Neill, Tris Speaker, Stan Coveleski, Eddie Onslow

II) O'Neill --> '28 St. Louis Browns
II) Speaker --> '28 Philadelphia Athletics
II) Coveleski --> '28 Yankees
II) Onslow --> '27 Washington Senators

O'Neill and Speaker have appeared on this blog before, so I know I have a complete chain. I'll try the Pirates group just to see if anyone pops up that I may want to try.

I) Gus Getz --> '18 Pirates --> Carmen Hill, Hal Carlson, Billy Southworth, Max Carey

II) Hill --> '30 Cardinals
II) Carlson --> '30 Cubs
II) Southworth --> '29 Cardinals
II) Carey --> '29 Brooklyn Robins

Carey and the '29 Robins are also returning links. For the sake of fun and expanding my list of teams, I'll go with Carlson and those lovable Cubs.

II) Carlson --> '30 Cubs --> Guy Bush, Lon Warneke
      III) Bush --> '45 Reds
      III) Warneke --> '45 Cubs

Two more branches here. I guess I'll just have to see who takes me the farthest.

      III) Bush --> '45 Reds --> Herm Wehmeier, Hank Sauer
              IV) Wehmeier --> '58 Cardinals
              IV) Wehmeier --> '58 Tigers
              IV) Sauer --> '59 Giants

      III) Warneke --> '45 Cubs --> Andy Pafko
              IV) Pafko --> '59 Milwaukee Braves

Still no clear-cut choices. Let's just keep going...

      III) Warneke --> '45 Cubs --> Andy Pafko
              IV) Pafko --> '59 Milwaukee Braves --> Hank Aaron
                     V) Aaron - '76 Brewers

Nope.

      III) Bush --> '45 Reds --> Hank Sauer
              IV) Sauer --> '59 Giants --> Willie MCovey, Orlando Cepeda, Felipe Alou
                     V) McCovey --> '80 Giants
                     V) Cepeda --> '74 Royals
                     V) Alou --> '73 Expos
                     V) Alou --> '74 Brewers

Very close here. If Alou had played for the Expos the following year, I could have made a connection.

      III) Bush --> '45 Reds --> Herm Wehmeier
              IV) Wehmeier --> '58 Cardinals --> Lindy McDaniel
                     V) McDaniel --> '75 Royals

Nada.

      III) Bush --> '45 Reds --> Herm Wehmeier
              IV) Wehmeier --> '58 Tigers --> Al Kaline

Another dead end. Kaline helped us before, but we're too far down the chain to squeeze into 6 degrees. Fortunately, I established a couple links early on in the posts, so I can still make it to 6.

1. Gus Getz played for the 1918 Cleveland Indians with Steve O'Neill.
2. Steve O'Neill played for the 1928 St. Louis Browns with Red Kress.
3. Red Kress played for the 1946 New York Giants with Bobby Thompson.
4. Bobby Thompson played for the 1960 Baltimore Orioles with Brooks Robinson.
5. Brooks Robinson 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

#66: Brandon Medders

Brandon Medders

A quick look at Medders' current team shows he plays with Barry Zito, the former ace of Oakland.

1. Brandon Medders plays for the 2010 San Francisco Giants with Barry Zito.
2. Barry Zito played for the 2000 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#50: Tim McNamara

Tim McNamara

I) Tim McNamara --> '26 Giants

The '24 Giants are on my Connected Teams list, and the connecting player, Freddie Lindstrom played on the '26 team as well.

I) Tim McNamara --> '26 Giants --> Freddie Lindstrom, Ty Tyson, Grover Hartley

It's like a 6 Degrees reunion! Yet, neither of these players lasted the longest. That honor goes to a Hall of Famer who debuted with the '26 Giants:

I) Tim McNamara --> '26 Giants --> Mel Ott

II) Ott --> '47 Giants

One of the greats things about this era was that there were only 16 teams at the time. That makes for a lot of repetition. Although, the '47 Giants aren't on my table yet, the '46 Giants are, so I can easily use Bobby Thompson and complete my chain. It'd be a safe assumption that he'd be the longest lasting player. Still I'll double check the roster.

II) Ott --> '47 Giants --> Bobby Thompson, Whitey Lockman
      III) Thompson --> '60 Orioles
      III) Thompson --> '60 Red Sox
      III) Lockman --> '60 Reds

Thompson still reigns, but he has company. Lockman for some reason played in '45 and '47 but somehow missed playing in '46. Still, he lasted as long as Thompson, so that's one more possibility. I had to go back and find the Thompson link again. (Note to self - it may be beneficial to amend the Connecting Teams table to show where the chain was used.) Anyway, it turns out I never tested the '60 Red Sox link, so that may be worth trying too. If I follow the Orioles path, I'll have the chain completed in 5 degrees. if the Reds or Red Sox paths can equal that, they'd be worth adding.

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

I only get 10 years out of the Red Sox path, not nearly enough to make it worthwhile.

      III) Lockman --> '60 Reds --> Frank Robinson, Vida Pinson, Leo Cardenas, Orlando Pena, Claude Osteen
              IV) Robinson --> '76 Indians
              IV) Osteen --> '75 White Sox
              IV) Pena --> '75 Angels
              IV) Cardenas --> '75 Rangers
              IV) Pinson --> '75 Royals

Yeah, that will work. I didn't need to go any further than Robinson though. I'm ready.

1. Tim McNamara played for the 1926 New York Giants with Mel Ott.
2. Mel Ott played for the 1947 New York Giants with Whitey Lockman.
3. Whitey Lockman played for the 1960 Cincinati Reds with Frank Robinson.
4. Frank Robinson played for the 1976 Cleveland Indians with Rick Cerone.
5. Rick Cerone played for the 1992 Montreal Expos 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

#38: Spec Harkness

Spec Harkness

I) Spec Harkness --> '11 Naps --> Steve O'Neill

I had never heard of the Naps before, but the roster featured two huge names from our baseball lore - Shoeless Joe Jackson and Cy Young (plus Hall of Famer Nap Lajoie). Pretty cool.

II) O'Neill --> '28 Browns

I had already connected the '29 Browns, however Rick Ferrell isn't on the '28 team, so onward I push...

II) O'Neill --> '28 Browns --> Dick Coffman, Boom-Boom Beck, Red Kress
      III) Coffman --> '45 Phillies
      III) Beck --> '45 Reds
      III) Beck --> '45 Pirates
      III) Kress --> '46 Giants

I've connected the '45 Phillies and the '46 Giants before, so I know I can complete the chain with either Coffman or Kress. However, I cannot pass up the opportunity to include a guy nicknamed Boom-Boom, so I'm going to see where he takes me.

      III) Beck --> '45 Reds --> Herm Wehmeier, Hank Sauer
              IV) Wehmeier --> '58 Cardinals
              IV) Wehmeier --> '58 Tigers
              IV) Sauer --> '59 Giants

      III) Beck --> '45 Pirates --> Bob Elliott, Preacher Roe
              IV) Elliott --> '53 Browns
              IV) Elliott --> '53 White Sox
              IV) Roe --> '54 Dodgers

Lots of choices here, but I'm going to ignore the '45 Pirates branch, since the '45 Reds give me an extra 5 years.

              IV) Sauer --> '59 Giants --> Willie MCCovey
                     V) McCovey --> '80 Giants
              IV) Wehmeier --> '58 Cardinals --> Lindy McDaniel
                     V) McDaniel --> '75 Royals
              IV) Wehmeier --> '58 Tigers --> Al Kaline
                     V) Kaline --> '74 Tigers

By now, I should have at least been able to get to one of my "Big 3". A lot of work for naught I'm afraid. Fortunately, I already knew I could complete my chain. I'm going with the '46 Giants over the '45 Phillies, for no reason other than to give Granny Hamner a break.

1. Spec Harkness played for the 1911 Cleveland Naps with Steve O'Neill.
2. Steve O'Neill played for the 1928 St. Louis Browns with Red Kress.
3. Red Kress played for the 1946 New York Giants with Bobby Thompson.
4. Bobby Thompson played for the 1960 Baltimore Orioles with Brooks Robinson.
5. Brooks Robinson 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

#10: Frank Chance

Frank Chance

Whoo-Hoo! My first Hall of Fame player!

I) Frank Chance --> '14 Yankees --> Joe Harris, Roger Peckinpaugh

II) Harris --> '28 Pirates
II) Harris --> '28 Robins
II) Peckinpaugh --> '27 White Sox

Joe Harris played with a previous link, Ty Tyson, on that '28 Robins team. I know I can get to Matt Stairs that way, but it won't be within 6 degrees. That leaves me with two branches left.

II) Harris --> '28 Pirates --> Dick Bartell, Rollie Hemsley
      III) Bartell --> '46 Giants --> Marv Grissom, Bobby Thomson
              IV) Grissom --> '59 Cardinals
              IV) Thomson --> '60 Orioles
              IV) Thomson --> '60 Red Sox
      III) Hemsley --> '47 Phillies --> Curt Simmons
              IV) Simmons --> '67 Cubs
              IV) Simmons --> '67 Angels

Harris to Hemsley to Simmons seems like my best bet here, although I am intrigued by the possibility of 1960 Orioles team, especially if there's someone who played all the way to 1976 with the team. Let's try that one first:

              IV) Thomson --> '60 Orioles --> Brooks Robinson

There we go! Robinson played until 1977, just long enough to play with "Big 3" Denny Martinez...

1. HoF Frank Chance played for the 1914 New York Yankees with Joe Harris.
2. Joe Harris played for the 1928 Pittsburgh Pirates with Dick Bartell.
3. Dick Bartell played for the 1946 New York Giants with Bobby Thomson.
4. Bobby Thomson played for the 1960 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

#7: Jim Pena

Jim Pena

Another guy with 1 year in "The Show". At least this one played in the same era as Stairs.

1. Jim Pena played on the 1992 San Francisco Giants with Gil Heredia.
2. Gil Heredia played on the 1999 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#5: John Merritt

John Merritt


Dear Lord, I've stumbled upon Archie Graham! OK, so he's not really Archibald "Moonlight" Graham, but look at this guy's page! This guy got into 1 game with the Giants at the ripe age of 18 on September 27, 1913. No at bats, no fielding chances. That's it. Done. If I can do this, I don't think there's a player I can't do this with!

John Merritt --> '13 Giants --> Grover Hartley
--> Hartley --> '34 Browns --> Bobo Newsom
----> Newsom --> '53 Athletics --> Bobby Shantz
------> Shantz --> '64 Cardinals
------> Shantz --> '64 Cubs
------> Shantz --> '64 Phillies

I may have caught a break here. Three teams in one year gives me a lot of options.

------> Shantz --> '64 Phillies --> Tony Taylor

Tony Taylor helped me get the Ty Tyson completed. I know for certain I can connect the chain to Stairs:

Merritt --> '13 Giants --> Hartley
Hartley --> '34 Browns --> Newsom
Newsom --> '53 Athletics --> Shantz
Shantz --> '64 Phillies --> Taylor
Taylor --> '76 Phillies --> Cash
Cash --> '77 Expos --> Carter
Carter --> '92 Expos --> Stairs

OK, so worst case scenario, I can link Merritt to Stairs in 7 degrees. However, since the goal is to get 6 or less, I'll go back to Shantz and the three teams he played with.

------> Shantz --> '64 Phillies --> Rick Wise
--------> Wise --> '82 Padres

------> Shantz --> '64 Cubs --> Fred Norman, Don Kessinger
--------> Kessinger --> '79 White Sox
--------> Norman --> '80 Expos

------> Shantz --> '64 Cardinals --> Lou Brock, Tim McCarver, Mike Cueller
--------> Brock --> '79 Cardinals
--------> Cuellar --> '77 Angels
--------> McCarver --> '80 Phillies

I have two potential links to my "Big 3" - Fred Norman most definitely played with Carter on that Expos team, and Mike Cuellar was an Oriole with Denny Martinez. Since I used Carter last time, let's go with Martinez today.

1. John Merritt played for the 1913 New York Giants with Grover Hartley
2. Grover Hartley played for the 1934 St. Louis Browns 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

Seriously, can this get any more difficult? Abner Doubleday doesn't have a page, does he? (I checked, he only has a bio.)