#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

#263: Hank Greenberg

Hank Greenberg

Hooray! A Hall of Famer! This is only my third randomly generated Hall member.

I) Hank Greenberg --> '47 Pittsburgh Pirate --> Cal McLish

McLish sounded familiar to me. Fortunately, through the miracle of search, I found a half-hearted attempt to use him here. From that post, I get:

II) McLish --> '64 Phillies --> Rick Wise
      III) Wise --> '82 Padres --> Tony Gwyn

We'll continue from here.

              IV) Gwynn --> 2001 Padres --> Damian Jackson, D'Angelo Jimenez, Phil Nevin, Rickey Henderson, Dave Magadan, Emil Brown, Kevin Jarvis, Adam Eaton, Jay Witasick, Jimmy Osting, Rudy Seanez
                     V) Brown --> 2005-06 Royals
                     V) Eaton --> 2006 Rangers, 2008 Phillies
                     V) Henderson --> '98 Athletics
                     V) Jackson --> 2004 Royals
                     V) Jarvis --> '99 Athletics
                     V) Jimenez --> 2006 Rangers
                     V) Magadan --> '97-'98 Athletics
                     V) Nevin --> 2006 Rangers
                     V) Osting --> 2002 Brewers
                     V) Seanez --> 2004 Royals, 2008 Phillies
                     V) Witasick --> '96-'98 Athletics

I could have easily stopped at Rickey, but since I saved some time by finding McLish, I went through with it.

1. Hank Greenberg played for the 1947 Pittsburgh Pirates with Cal McLish.
2. Cal McLish played for the 1964 Philadelphia Phillies with Rick Wise.
3. Rick Wise played for the 1982 San Diego Padres with Tony Gwynn.
4. Tony Gwynn played for the 2001 San Diego Padres with Rickey Henderson.
5. Rickey Henderson played for the 1998 Oakland Athletics 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

#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

#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

#194: Jim Shilling

Jim Shilling

I) Jim Shilling --> '39 Indians
I) Jim Shilling --> '39 Phillies

I'll go with the Indians team here.

I) Jim Shilling --> '39 Indians --> Bob Feller

I already connected Feller back in December. That makes the rest of this easy.

1. Jim Shilling played for the 1939 Cleveland Indians with Bob Feller.
2. Bob Feller played for the 1956 Cleveland Indians with Hank Aguirre.
3. Hank Aguirre played for the 1970 Chicago Cubs with Ken Rudolph.
4. Ken Rudolph played for the 1977 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez.
5. Dennis Martinez played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 5

#188: Ray Yochim

Ray Yochim

I) Ray Yochim --> '49 Cardinals --> Steve Bilko, Red Schoendienst, Stan Musial

II) Bilko --> '62 Angels
II) Musial --> '63 Cardinals
II) Schoendienst --> '63 Cardinals

This is familiar to me. I know Musial/Schoendienst have appeared in this blog before...

I found them!
----------
              IV) Medwick --> '48 Cardinals --> Stan Musial, Red Schoendienst

Both Musial and Schoendienst retired after playing for the Cardinals in 1963. This is still a pretty big gap to cross, although not as bad as the Kinder and Moss links.

                     V) Musial/Schoendienst --> '63 Cardinals --> Bob Gibson, Ray Sadecki, Dal Maxvill, Tim McCarver

Four players who played in the 70's. This is very encouraging. If I can connect any of them to my "Big 3", I've got my link:

                     VI) Gibson --> '75 Cardinals
                     VI) Sadecki --> '77 Mets
                     VI) Maxvill --> '75 Athletics
                     VI) McCarver --> '80 Phillies
----------

Which brings me here. Out of the last group, only the Phillies team has been connected. We'll keep going with another Cardinal Hall of Famer.

      III) Gibson --> '75 Cardinals --> Jim Dwyer, Keith Hernandez
              IV) Dwyer --> '90 Twins
              IV) Hernandez --> '90 Indians

There were numerous players who played with my "Big 3" as well, but I only listed the two who lasted longest. I don't think it'll make that big of a deal. As usual, I'm going with the All-Star.

              IV) Hernandez --> '90 Indians --> Doug Jones, Rudy Seanez, Tom Candiotti, Sergio Valdez, Chris James
                     V) Candiotti --> '98 Athletics
                     V) James --> '95 Red Sox
                     V) Jones --> 2000 Athletics
                     V) Seanez --> 2004 Royals
                     V) Seanez --> 2008 Phillies
                     V) Valdez --> '93 Expos

1. Ray Yochim played for the 1949 St. Louis Cardinals with Stan Musial.
2. Stan Musial played for the 1963 St. Louis Cardinals with Bob Gibson.
3. Bob Gibson played for the 1975 St. Louis Cardinals with Keith Hernandez.
4. Keith Hernandez played for the 1990 Cleveland Indians with Chris James.
5. Chris James played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 5

#164: Lonnie Goldstein

Lonnie Goldstein

I) Lonnie Goldstein --> '46 Reds --> Bobby Adams, Grady Hatton

II) Adams --> '59 Cubs
II) Hatton --> '60 Cubs

I've connected the '60 Cubs already, and the 1959 team features the same player I used.

1. Lonnie Goldstein played for the 1946 Cincinati Reds with Bobby Adams.
2. Bobby Adams played for the 1959 Chicago Cubs with Tony Taylor.
3. Tony Taylor played on the 1976 Philadelphia Phillies with Dave Cash.
4. Dave Cash played on the 1977 Montreal Expos with Gary Carter.
5. Gary Carter played on the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 5

#134: Thanksgiving Edition: Turkey Gross

Turkey Gross

In the same manner as my Halloween post, I did another search on baseball-reference.com and came up with a beauty! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I) Turkey Gross --> '25 Red Sox --> Red Ruffing

II) Ruffing --> '47 White Sox

I've connected this White Sox team already. The rest is easy.

1. Turkey Gross 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

Here's hoping your turkey is not gross!

#130: Doc Farrell

Doc Farrell

What's up Doc?

I) Doc Farrell --> '35 Red Sox --> Fritz Ostermueller, George Dickey, Rick Ferrell

II) Dickey --> '47 White Sox
II) Ferrell --> '47 Washington Senators
II) Ostermueller --> '48 Pirates

I already have both '47 teams, so we'll try the Pirates and see where that goes.

II) Ostermueller --> '48 Pirates --> Cal McLish
      III) McLish --> '64 Phillies --> Rick Wise
              IV) Wise --> '82 Padres --> Tony Gwynn

Gwynn is the only Padre to make it past 1992, but if I go back and use one of the '47 teams, I'll complete my chain in one less degree.

1. Doc Farrell played for the 1935 Boston Red Sox with Rick Ferrell.
2. Rick Ferrell played for the 1947 Washington Senators with Early Wynn.
3. Early Wynn played for the 1963 Cleveland Indians with Jim Perry.
4. Jim Perry played for the 1975 Cleveland Indians with Rick Cerone.
5. Rick Cerone played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 5

#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

#88: Abe White

Abe White

I) Abe White --> '37 Cardinals --> Mickey Owen, Johnny Mize

II) Owen --> '54 Red Sox
II) Mize --> '53 Yankees

Owen gets first chance. Take that Yankee fans!

II) Owen --> '54 Red Sox --> Bill Henry
      III) Henry --> '69 Astros --> John Mayberry, Bob Watson
              IV) Mayberry --> '82 Yankees
              IV) Watson --> '81 Yankees

I guess I was little quick to tease the Yankee fans, since it looks like I need to use a New York team to get to Cerone...or do I?

              IV) Mayberry --> '79 Blue Jays --> Rick Cerone

Double burn!

1. Abe White played for the 1937 St. Louis Cardinals with Mickey Owen.
2. Mickey Owen played for the 1954 Boston Red Sox with Bill Henry.
3. Bill Henry played for the 1969 Houston Astros with John Mayberry.
4. John Mayberry played for the 1979 Toronto Blue Jays with Rick Cerone.
5. Rick Cerone played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt stairs: 5

#86: Billy Urbanski

Billy Urbanski

I) Billy Urbanski --> '37 Boston Bees --> Tommy Thevenow

Shout out to connected player Thevenow!

I) Billy Urbanski --> '37 Boston Bees --> Ray Mueller

II) Mueller --> '51 Braves --> Gene Mauch, Lew Burdette

Since I gave a shout out to one connected player, it's only fair I give Mauch his due!

      III) Burdette --> '67 Angels

This Angels team is one of my Connected Teams, ironically enough as part of the Gene Mauch chain. I have my link!

1. Billy Urbanski played for the 1937 Boston Bees with Ray Mueller.
2. Ray Mueller played for the 1951 Boston Braves with Lew Burdette.
3. Lew Burdette played for the 1967 California Angels with Aurelio Rodriguez.
4. Aurelio Rodriguez played for the 1983 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez.
5. Dennis Martinez played for the 1993 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

#58: Orville Armburst

Orville Armburst

A pitcher with the unfortunate name of Armburst. I hope that's not why he only lasted one year.

I) Orville Armburst --> '34 Senators --> Ray Prim, Red Kress, Joe Kuhel, Cecil Travis

II) Prim --> '46 Cubs
II) Kress --> '46 Giants
II) Kuhel --> '47 White Sox
II) Travis --> '47 Senators

The '46 Giants, '47 White Sox and the '47 Senators are all on my Connected Teams list. Since I know I have a few completed chains, lets give the '46 Cubs a shot.

II) Prim --> '46 Cubs --> Russ Meyer, Andy Pafko
      III) Meyer --> '59 Athletics
      III) Pafko --> '59 Braves

The '59 Athletics are also a Connected Team. Onward with the Braves...

      III) Pafko --> '59 Braves --> Hank Aaron
              IV) Aaron --> '76 Brewers --> Robin Yount
                     V) Yount --> '93 Brewers --> John Jaha

I'm stopping here. Although I easily could have finished this chain, I can complete my link in one fewer degree by using one of the connected teams above.

1. Orville Armburst played for the 1934 Washington Senators with Joe Kuhel.
2. Joe Kuhel 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

#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

#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

#25: Tommy Thevenow

Tommy Thevenow

I) Tommy Thevenow --> '38 Pirates --> Ken Heintzelman

II) Heintzelman --> '52 Phillies

So close! The '53 Philles are a Connected Team, so I think I can make my link there. Let's see what else we can find.

II) Heintzelman --> '52 Phillies --> Curt Simmons, Steve Ridzik, Robin Roberts, Smoky Burgess
      III) Simmons --> '67 Cubs
      III) Simmons --> '67 Angels
      III) Burgess --> '67 White Sox
      III) Ridzik --> '66 Phillies
      III) Roberts --> '66 Astros
      III) Roberts --> '66 Cubs

Six potential branches, non of them featuring a Connected Team. However, the '65 Astros, of which Roberts also was on, is on my table. If there were three or four teams to test here, I might forgo the Astros link and see what other connections I can make. Six teams is a lot to go through, and I think this time I'm going to take the easy way out:

1. Tommy Thevenow played for the 1938 Pittsburgh Pirates with Ken Heintzelman.
2. Ken Heintzelman played for the 1952 Philadelphia Phillies with Robin Roberts.
3. Robin Roberts played for the 1965 Houston Astros with Mike Cuellar.
4. Mike Cuellar played for the 1976 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez.
5. Dennis Martinez played for the 1993 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 5

#17: Bob Weiland

Bob Weiland

I) Bob Weiland --> '40 Cardinals --> Murry Dickson, Enos Slaughter

II) Dickson --> '59 Athletics
II) Slaughter --> '59 Yankees
II) Slaughter --> '59 Braves

Of the three branches I have, I like Dickson the best. The '62 Athletics are on my Connected Teams list, so it should be fairly easy to jump the 3 years I need.

II) Dickson --> '59 Athletics --> Jerry Lumpe
      III) Lumpe --> '62 Athletics

However, in the interest of expanding my field of teams, I'm going to continue finding players who played the longest.

II) Dickson --> '59 Athletics --> Howie Reed, Ken Johnson, George Brunet, Russ Snyder, Lou Klimchock
      III) Brunet --> '71 Cardinals
      III) Reed --> '71 Expos
      III) Johnson --> '70 Expos
      III) Klimchock --> '70 Indians
      III) Snyder --> '70 Brewers

Wow, I was not expecting it to branch out so much. I'm tempted to take Klimchock here, because he ended his playing days with the Indians. Early in this blog, I identified 3 players who started in the 70's and played with Matt Stairs, my "Big 3". Denny Martinez and Gary Carter have already proven their worth, but the third, Rick Cerone, has yet to be connected. I think it's time I fixed that.

      III) Klimchock --> '70 Indians --> Ray Fosse
              IV) Fosse --> '76 Indians --> Rick Cerone

From one Indians catcher to another.

1. Bob Weiland played for the 1940 St. Louis Cardinals with Murry Dickson.
2. Murry Dickson played for the 1959 Kansas City Athletics with Lou Klimchock.
3. Lou Klimchock played for the 1970 Cleveland Indians with Ray Fosse.
4. Ray Fosse 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