#254-255: 2011 Hall of Fame - Roberto Alomar, Bert Blyleven

Today, the Baseball Hall of Fame inducts 3 more members - 2B Roberto Alomar, SP Bert Blyleven and executive Pat Gillick. Gillick never played professionally, but I dedicate this post to the other two.

Roberto Alomar

I) Roberto Alomar --> 2004 Diamondbacks, White Sox

I have yet to use the Diamondbacks as a team, so that makes them the easy choice.

I) Roberto Alomar --> 2004 Diamondbacks --> Brent Mayne, Richie Sexton, Greg Colbrunn, Elmer Dressens, Scott Service< Chad Durbin, Mike Fetters, Jeff Fassero, Shane Nance

II) Colbrunn --> '92-'93 Expos
II) Dressens --> 2006 Royals
II) Durbin --> 2006 Tigers, 2009 Phillies
II) Fassero --> '92-'93 Expos, 2001 Cubs
II) Fetters --> '98 Athletics
II) Mayne --> '97 Athletics
II) Nance --> 2002 Brewers
II) Service --> '92 Expos, 2000 Athletics
II) Sexton --> 2002 Brewers

Wow. A lot of choices here, including 3 guys who played with Stairs on 2 separate teams. The honor goes to All-Star.

1. Robert Alomar played with the 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks with Richie Sexton.
2. Richie Sexton played with the 2002 Milwaukee Brewers with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

Bert Blyleven

I) Bert Blyleven --> '92 Angels

I'm surprised. 1992 was Stairs' first season, so I was sure I'd find someone on this Angels team who had played with him. Not one, not a single one. This is going to be a 3-degree chain. Fortunately, there is a connected player on here I can use.

1. Bert Blyleven played for the 1992 California Angels with Gary Gaetti.
2. Gary Gaetti played for the 2000 Boston Red Sox with Tim Wakefield.
3. Tim Wakefield played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

Welcome to the Hall, gentlemen!

#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

#102: Kelvim Escobar

Kelvim Escobar

Relatively current players are easy.

I) Kelvim Escobar --> 2009 Angels --> Gary Matthews Jr.

II) Matthews --> 2001 Cubs
II) Matthews --> 2006 Rangers

Gary Matthews played with Matt Stairs on 2 separate occasions. I don't have the Rangers team yet so I'll go with that.

1. Kelvim Escobar played for the 2009 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim with Gary Matthews Jr.
2. Gary Matthews Jr. played for the 2006 Texas Rangers with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#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

#73: Gene Mauch

Gene Mauch

It always seems weird to get someone who was known more for managing than playing. That's how I see Mauch.

I) Gene Mauch --> '57 Red Sox --> Marty Keogh, Frank Malzone, Jim Piersall

II) Keough --> '66 Braves
II) Keough --> '66 Cubs
II) Malzone --> '66 Angels
II) Piersall --> '67 Angels

We'll start with Piersall first.

II) Piersall --> '67 Angels --> Aurelio Rodriguez
      III) Rodriguez --> '83 Orioles

That will do.

1. Gene Mauch played for the 1957 Boston Red Sox with Jim Piersall.
2. Jim Piersall played for the 1967 California Angels with Aurelio Rodriguez.
3. Aurelio Rodriguez played for the 1983 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez.
4. Dennis Martinez played for the 1993 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 4