#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

#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

#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

#176: Mike Menosky

Mike Menosky

I) Mike Menosky --> '23 Red Sox --> Jack Quinn, George Murray, Curt Fullerton, Lefty O'Doul, Val Picinich

II) Fullerton --> '33 Red Sox
II) Murray --> '33 White Sox
II) O'Doul --> '34 New York Giants
II) Picinich --> '33 Brooklyn Dodgers
II) Picinich --> '33 Pirates
II) Quinn --> '33 Reds

Wow, lots of choices here! I already have the '33 Dodgers here, so that one is out. I have the '34 Red Sox and '34 White Sox, so those are probably easy. Basically, I think I'm down to my Red Sox bias and adding a player named Lefty. Oh well, Red Sox bias wins out!

II) Fullerton --> '33 Red Sox --> Bucky Walters

As expected, the same connecting player as the '34 team. Done.

1. Mike Menosky played for the 1923 Boston Red Sox with Curt Fullerton.
2. Curt Fullerton played for the 1933 Boston Red Sox with Bucky Walters.
3. Bucky Walters played for the 1950 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

#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

#141: Joe Lake

Joe Lake

Another turn of the century player...

I) Joe Lake --> '13 Tigers --> Ty Cobb, Wally Pipp, Frank Gibson, Eddie Onslow

II) Cobb --> '28 Philadelphia Athletics
II) Gibson --> '27 Boston Braves
II) Onslow --> '27 Washington Senators
II) Pipp --> '28 Reds

I'm going to bypass Hall of Famer Ty Cobb, since the Athletics team has already been connected. I'll give Wally Pipp his due.

II) Pipp --> '27 Reds --> Si Johnson

Si is a connected player, so I have a link here. I could try to add some new teams by trying the other two guys above, but with all the old players I've had recently, I'm going to stop here.

1. Joe Lake played for the 1913 Detroit Tigers with Wally Pipp.
2. Wally Pipp played for the 1928 Cincinati Reds with Si Johnson.
3. Si Johnson played for the 1947 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

#135: Roger Salmon

Roger Salmon

I) Roger Salmon --> '12 Philadelphia Athletics --> Herb Pennock

The Hall of Famer make a repeat appearance!

1. Roger Salmon played for the 1912 Philadelphia Athletics with Herb Pennock.
2. Herb Penock played for the 1934 Boston Red Sox with Bucky Walters.
3. Bucky Walters played for the 1950 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

#118: Ben Dyer

Ben Dyer

How funny, my last post compiled a list of absent years on my Connected Teams table, and now for I get to hopefully cross another year off that list.

I) Ben Dyer --> '19 Tigers --> Harry Heilmann

II) Heilmann --> '32 Reds --> Ernie Lombardi, Si Johnson

I don't have any 1932 teams either!

      III) Lombardi --> '47 New York Giants
      III) Johnson --> '47 Boston Braves

I have the '47 Giants team already connected, so lets see where the '47 Braves can take us.

      III) Johnson --> '47 Boston Braves --> Warren Spahn

I've used Spahn before, so this is as far as I need to go!

1. Ben Dyer played for the 1919 Detroit Tigers with Harry Heilmann.
2. Harry Heilmann played for the 1932 Cincinati Reds with Si Johnson.
3. Si Johnson played for the 1947 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

#91: Sam McConnell

Sam McConnell

I) Sam McConnell --> '15 Athletics --> Herb Penock, Socks Seibold, Cy Perkins

II) Penock --> '34 Red Sox
II) Perkins --> '34 Tigers
II) Seibold --> '33 Braves

When in doubt, start with the Red Sox Hall of Famer!

II) Penock --> '34 Red Sox --> Bucky Walters
      III) Walters --> '50 Braves --> Warren Spahn, Dick Donovan, Del Crandall
              IV) Crandall --> '66 Indians
              IV) Donovan --> '65 Indians
              IV) Spahn --> '65 Mets
              IV) Spahn --> '65 Giants

I've used both Spahn and Crandall before, so I've got my chain.

1. Sam McConnell played for the 1915 Philadelphia Athletics with Herb Penock.
2. Herb Penock played for the 1934 Boston Red Sox with Bucky Walters.
3. Bucky Walters played for the 1950 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

#71: Joe Sambito

Joe Sambito

An easy one.

1. Joe Sambito played for the 1985 New York Mets with Gary Carter.
2. Gary Carter played for the 1992 Montreal Expos 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

#51: Art Johnson

Art Johnson

I) Art Johnson --> '42 Braves --> Warren Spahn

Wow, the great Warren Spahn played 10 whole seasons longer than anyone else on this roster.

II) Spahn --> '65 Mets
II) Spahn --> '65 Giants

I never knew he ended his career with these two teams. He played 20 years with the Braves, and it just seemed like he was a one team lifer.

II) Spahn --> '65 Mets --> Ron Swoboda

We've already connected Swoboda, so I know I can go from Johnson to Stairs in 5 degrees. As usual, I'll see what other paths I can take.

II) Spahn --> '65 Mets --> Tug McGraw, Bud Harrelson, Ed Kranepool, Ron Hunt
      III) McGraw --> '84 Phillies
      III) Harrelson --> '80 Rangers
      III) Kranepool --> '79 Mets
      III) Hunt --> '74 Expos

Despite 3 players who lasted longer, Hunt wins because he played with the Expos. I doubt I can do better than this.

1. Art Johnson played for the 1942 Boston Braves with Warren Spahn.
2. Warren Spahn 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

#42: Charlie Chant

Charlie Chant

I) Charlie Chant --> '75 Athletics
I) Charlie Chant --> '76 Cardinals

There really isn't any benefit of picking one over the other. Looking at the teams, there are some players I know I can connect. Ray Fosse played for the Athletics that year, so I know I can connect via him. Keith Hernandez played with Gary Carter on the Mets. I don't think I can do any better than those two, which will allow me to connect within 3 degrees. I'll go with the Cardinals here, since it'll allow me to add an 80's Mets team.

1. Charlie Chant played for the 1976 St. Louis Cardinals with Keith Hernandez.
2. Keith Hernandez played for the 1985 New York Mets with Gary Carter.
3. Gary Carter played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#40: Ron Darling

Ron Darling

Easy enough.

1. Ron Darling played for the 1988 New York Mets with Gary Carter.
2. Gary Carter played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#14: Billy Baldwin

Billy Baldwin

Looking at the 2 teams he played for, no one name stands out. However, he did play for the Mets, so I should be able to link him to Gary Carter.

1. Billy Baldwin played for the 1976 New York Mets with Lee Mazzilli.
2. Lee Mazzilli played for the 1987 New York Mets with Gary Carter.
3. Gary Carter played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs.

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3