#163: Eude Brito

Eude Brito

This guy played for the Phillies just before Stairs did. This will be an easy 2 degree jump.

1. Eude Brito played for the 2006 Philadelphia Phillies with Jaime Moyer.
2. Jaime Moyer played for the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#162: Bob Loane

Bob Loane

Cool! Another Bee!

I) Bob Loane --> '40 Boston Bees --> Hank Majeski, Sibby Sisti

II) Majeski --> '55 Indians
II) Majeski --> '55 Orioles
II) Sisti --> '54 Milwaukee Braves

I really wanted to try Buffalo native Sisti and add a Milwaukee Braves team to my list, but that Orioles team will get me there in the shortest number of steps.

1. Bob Loane played for the 1940 Boston Bees with Hank Majeski.
2. Hank Majeski played for the 1955 Baltimore Orioles with Brooks Robinson.
3. Brooks Robinson played for the 1977 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez.
4. Dennis Martinez played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 4

#161: Glen Barker

Glen Barker

I) Barker --> 2001 Astros --> Mike Williams, Jim Mann, Jose Lima, Kent Bottenfield, Mendy Lopez, Keith Ginter, Moises Alou

II) Alou --> '93 Expos
II) Bottenfield --> '92 Expos
II) Ginter --> 2002 Brewers
II) Lima --> 2005 Royals
II) Lopez --> 2004 Royals
II) Mann --> 2003 Pirates
II) Williams --> 2003 Pirates

It's Lima Time!

1. Glen Barker played for the 2001 Houston Astros with Jose Lima.
2. Jose Lima played for the 2005 Kansas City Royals with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#160: Rankin Johnson

Rankin Johnson

I) Rankin Johnson --> '18 Cardinals --> Charlie Grimm, Rogers Hornby

II) Grimm --> '36 Cubs
II) Hornsby --> '37 St. Louis Browns

Going with the Hall of Famer here.

II) Hornsby --> '37 St. Louis Browns --> Bob Muncrief
      III) Muncrief --> '51 Yankees --> Mickey Mantle

I am by no means a Yankee fan, but Mantle has a special place in my childhood because I got to meet him once.

              IV) Mantle --> '68 Yankees --> Stan Bahnsen, Tony Solaita, Bill Robinson
                     V) Bahnsen --> '81 Expos
                     V) Robinson --> '83 Phillies
                     V) Solaita --> '79 Expo
                     V) Solaita --> '79 Blue Jay

Looking at my connected teams list, I'm surprised I haven't used the '81 Expos yet.

1. Rankin Johnson played for the 1918 St. Louis Cardinals with Rogers Hornsby.
2. Rogers Hornsby played for the 1937 St. Louis Browns with Bob Muncrief.
3. Bob Muncrief played for the 1951 New York Yankees with Mickey Mantle.
4. Mickey Mantle played for the 1968 New York Yankees with Stan Bahnsen.
5. Stan Bahnsen played for the 1981 Montreal Expos with Gary Carter.
6. Gary Carter played for 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6

#159: Ernie Beam

Ernie Beam

Another 1800's player...

I) Ernie Beam --> 1895 Phillies --> Al Orth

II) Orth --> '09 New York Highlanders --> Jack Quinn
      III) Quinn --> '33 Reds --> Si Johnson, Rollie Hemsley, Ernie Lombardi
              IV) Hemsley --> '47 Phillies
              IV) Johnson --> '47 Boston Braves
              IV) Lombardi --> '47 New York Giants

I can eliminate the Giants and Braves teams. I've used them before and know I won't get in under 6 degrees. Only one real chance here.

              IV) Hemsley --> '47 Phillies --> Curt Simmons
                     V) Simmons --> '67 Cubs
                     V) Simmons --> '67 Angels

Once again, I fall short.

Degrees of Matt Stairs: Over 7

#158: Jorge Orta

Jorge Orta

I) Jorge Orta --> '87 Royals --> Mike Macfarlane

Easy one today.

1. Jorge Orta played for the 1987 Kansas City Royals with Mike Macfarlane.
2. Mike Macfarlane played for the 1999 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

Congrats Hall of Fame Class of 2011

Congratulations to newly elected Hall members Bert Blyleven and Roberto Alomar. Your places in the 6 Degrees of Matt Stairs blog are set.

#157: Fred Blanding

Fred Blanding

Alright! A Cleveland Nap!

I) Fred Blanding --> '14 Cleveland Naps --> Steve O'Neill, Sad Sam Jones

I've used O'Neill before, so I know I have a link. Sad Sam lasted a bit longer though, and is worth exploring.

II) Jones --> '35 White Sox --> Luke Appling

Another connected player - I have my link.

1. Fred Blanding 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

#156: Tom Spencer

Tom Spencer

Tom Spencer played one year in the Majors - 1978. Once again, a boatload of players who played with my "Big 3" on this team. However I'm intrigued by 3 players who careers ended in 1990...

I) Tom Spencer --> Thad Bosley, Chet Lemon, Claudell Washington

II) Bosley --> '90 Rangers
II) Lemon --> '90 Tigers
II) Washington --> '90 Angels
II) Washington --> '90 Yankees

Tough choice here...I'm going to try Chet first, because he was a 3 time All-Star and to be honest, I liked the little story the page's sponsor posted.

II) Lemon --> '90 Tigers --> Tony Phillips, Scott Aldred
      III) Aldred --> '93 Expos
      III) Phillips --> '99 Athletics

1. Tom Spencer played for the 1978 Chicago White Sox with Chet Lemon.
2. Chet Lemon played for the 1990 Detroit Tigers with Tony Phillips.
3. Tony Phillips played for the 1999 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#155: Ken Rudolph

Ken Rudolph

Happy New Year!

I ended up using Rudolph as a connected player a few weeks ago in the Bob Feller post. That makes this a simple copy and paste.

1. Ken Rudolph played for the 1977 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez.
2. Dennis Martinez played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2