#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

#260: David Segui

David Segui

I) David Segui --> 2004 Orioles --> Miguel Tejada< Jerry Hairston Jr., Luis Lopez, Robert Machado, Jose Bautista, John Parrish, Mike DeJesus, B.J. Ryan, Rick Bauer, Jason Grimsley, Denny Bautista, Rodrigo Lopez, Buddy Groom

II) Bauer --> 2006 Rangers
II) D. Bautsita --> 2004-06 Royals
II) J. Bautista --> 2004 Royals and 2008 Blue Jays
II) DeJesus --> 2002 Brewers
II) Grimsley --> 2004 Royals
II) Groom --> 1996-99 Athletics
II) Hairston --> 2006 Rangers, 2010 Padres, and 2011 Nationals
II) L. Lopez --> 2002 Brewers
II) R. Lopez --> 2009 Phillies
II) Machado --> 2001 Cubs and 2002 Brewers
II) Parrish --> 2008 Blue Jays
II) Ryan --> 2007-08 Blue Jays
II) Tejada --> '97-2000 Athletics

Geez Louise! That's a lot of players. I've only used the Nats twice so far, making this an easy choice.

1. David Segui played for the 2004 Baltimore Orioles with Jerry Hairston Jr.
2. Jerry Hairston Jr. plays for the 2011 Washington Nationals with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#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

#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

#212: Frank Mills

Frank Mills

I) Frank Mills --> '14 Cleveland Naps

I've already connected the 1914 Naps team. This is a simple copy and paste.

1. Frank Mills 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

#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

#199: Jim Hoey

Jim Hoey

It shouldn't be too difficult finding a teammate who played with Stairs here.

I) Jim Hoey --> 2007 Orioles --> Ramon Hernandez,Miguel Tejada, Corey Patterson, Paul Bako, Tike Redman, J.R. House, Alberto Castillo, Jaime Walker, Victor Zambrano

II) Bako --> 2002 Brewers
II) Bako --> 2006 Royals
II) Castillo --> 2004/2005 Royals
II) Hernandez --> '99/2000 Athletics
II) House --> 2003 Pirates
II) Patterson --> 2001 Cubs
II) Redman --> 2003 Pirates
II) Tejada --> '97-2000 Athletics
II) Walker --> 2006 Tigers
II) Zambrano --> 2007 Blue Jays

See, the hardest part was going through 49 names to get these 9. Of all these teams, the Brewers are represented the least. I'll give them some love.

1. Jim Hoey played for the 2007 Baltimore Orioles with Paul Bako.
2. Paul Bako played for the 2002 Milwaukee Brewers with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#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

#192: Herman Pillette

Herman Pillette

I) Herman Pillette --> '24 Tigers

This is a previously connected team. For fun, we'll use the year before.

I) Herman Pillette --> '23 Tigers --> Syl Johnson, Earl Whitehill, Heinie Manush

II) Johnson --> '40 Phillies
II) Manush --> '39 Pirates
II) Whitehill --> '39 Cubs

Gotta give the edge to the Hall of Famer - besides, his name is Heinie!

II) Manush --> '39 Pirates --> Ken Heintzelman, Bob Elliott
      III) Elliott --> '53 White Sox
      III) Heintzelman --> '52 Phillies

Both teams are connected. I'll go with Heintzelman since he's also a connected player.

1. Herman Pillette played for the 1923 Detroit Tigers with Heinie Manush.
2. Heinie Manush played for the 1939 Pittsburgh Pirates with Ken Heintzelman.
3. Ken Heintzelman played for the 1952 Philadelphia Phillies with Robin Roberts.
4. Robin Roberts played for the 1965 Houston Astros with Mike Cuellar.
5. Mike Cuellar played for the 1976 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez.
6. Dennis Martinez played for the 1993 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6

#189: Lew Richie

Lew Richie

I) Lew Richie --> '13 Cubs --> Bubbles Hargrave, Cy Williams, Johnny Evers

II) Evers --> '29 Boston Braves
II) Hargrave --> '30 Yankees
II) Williams --> '30 Phillies

Bubble and the Yankees are out, since I've used them before. I'll go with the Hall of Famer here.

II) Evers --> '29 Boston Braves --> Clay Touchstone, Johnny Cooney
      III) Cooney --> '44 Brooklyn Dodgers
      III) Cooney --> '44 Yankees
      III) Touchstone --> '45 White Sox

I've used Cooney and the Dodgers team already. I could try Cooney and the Yankees, but I'm intrigued by Touchstaone. This player played 2 years in his 20's, only playing in a total of 6 games. He then comes back 16 years later and pitched in 6 more games.

      III) Touchstone --> '45 White Sox --> Floyd Baker, Eddie Lopat, Cass Michaels
              IV) Baker --> '55 Phillies
              IV) Lopat --> '55 Orioles
              IV) Michaels --> '54 White Sox

Hmmmm....I'm on my 4th degree and I'm only into the 1950's. Most of my connected teams require 4 more degrees to get to Stairs. Notice I said 'most' - I have an out. The '55 Orioles team has been used before and will allow me to squeeze in and get this done.

1. Lew Richie played for the 1913 Chicago Cubs with Johnny Evers.
2. Johnny Evers played for the 1929 Boston Braves with Clay Touchstone.
3. Clay Touchstone played for the 1945 Chicago White Sox with Eddie Lopat.
4. Eddie Lopat played for the 1955 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

#183: Rollin Cook

Rollin Cook

I) Rollin Cook --> '15 St. Louis Browns

This is a connected team. Done!

1. Rollin Cook played for the 1915 St. Louis Browns with Muddy Ruel.
2. Muddy Ruel played for the 1934 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

#173: John Papa

John Papa

Someone who played with the Orioles in the 1960's. No challenge here.

1. John Papa played for the 1962 Baltimore Orioles with Brooks Robinson.
2. Brooks Robinson played for the 1977 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez.
3. Dennis Martinez played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#170: Charlie Bowles

Charlie Bowles

I) Charlie Bowles --> '45 Philadelphia Athletics --> Joe Astroth, George Kell

II) Astroth --> '56 Kansas City Athletics
II) Kell --> '57 Orioles

The Orioles team is connected, I can get this chain in 4 degrees. I'm going to try the Athletics team and see if I can match it.

II) Astroth --> '56 Kansas City Athletics --> George Brunet, Clete Boyer
      III) Boyer --> '71 Braves
      III) Brunet --> '71 Cardinals

No chance here. I should have stuck with the Hall of Famer.

1. Charles Bowles played for the 1945 Philadelphia Athletics with George Kell.
2. George Kell played for the 1957 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

#165: John Leary

John Leary

I) John Leary --> '15 St. Louis Browns --> Muddy Ruel

Ruel is a connected player. All I have to do is retrace the path.

1. John Leary played for the 1915 St. Louis Browns with Muddy Ruel.
2. Muddy Ruel played for the 1934 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

#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

#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

#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

#153: Dave Philley

Dave Philley

Dave Philley is already a connected player. Easy one today.

1. Dave Philley played for the 1961 Baltimore Orioles with Brooks Robinson.
2. Brooks Robinson played for the 1977 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez.
3. Dennis Martinez played for the 1993 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#146: Bob Feller

Bob Feller

Hall of Fame Great Bob Feller passed away yesterday. Here's to you, Mr. Feller...

I) Bob Feller --> '56 Indians --> Hank Aguirre

II) Aguirre --> '70 Cubs --> Larry Gura, Ken Holtzman, Ken Rudolph
      III) Gura --> '85 Royals
      III) Gura --> '85 Cubs
      III) Holtzman --> '76 Orioles
      III) Rudolph --> '77 Orioles

The Orioles way is the quickest way.

1. Bob Feller played for the 1956 Cleveland Indians with Hank Aguirre.
2. Hank Aguirre played for the 1970 Chicago Cubs with Ken Rudolph.
3. Ken Rudolph 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

#143: Luke Boone

Luke Boone

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

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

I've already used Carey and the '29 Robins before. I'll try another path and see where it takes me. As always, my bias goes to the Hall of Famer.

II) Southworth --> '29 Cardinals --> Syl Johnson, Fred Frankhouse, Jimmie Wilson, Charlie Gelbert
      III) Frankhouse --> '39 Boston Bees
      III) Gelbert --> '40 Red Sox
      III) Gelbert --> '40 Washington Senators
      III) Johnson --> '40 Phillies
      III) Wilson --> '40 Reds

The Reds team is my only connected one, so I have a lot of choices here. Showing my Red Sox bias here...

      III) Gelbert --> '40 Red Sox --> Ted Williams

Well, I used my bias towards Hall of Famers and my bias towards the Red Sox. It's only fair I end up with a Red Sox Hall of Famer.

              IV) Williams --> '60 Red Sox --> Earl Wilson, Al Worthington, Jim Pagliaroni, Gary Geiger
                     V) Geiger --> '70 Astros
                     V) Pagliaroni --> '69 Seattle Pilots
                     V) Wilson --> '70 Padres
                     V) Worthington --> '69 Twins

Dead end here. I'm going to have to go back a couple steps.

      III) Gelbert --> '40 Washington Senators --> Mickey Vernon
              IV) Vernon --> '60 Pirates --> Joe Gibbons, Dick SChofield, Bill Mazeroski, Roberto Clemente
                     V) Clemente --> '72 Pirates
                     V) Gibbons --> '72 Astros
                     V) Gibbons --> '72 Reds
                     V) Mazeroski --> '72 Pirates
                     V) Schofield --> '71 Brewers
                     V) Schofield --> '71 Cardinals

Another dead end. Rather than make this endlessly long, I'm going to take a path I've used before.

1. Luke Boone played for the 1918 Pittsburgh Pirates with Max Carey.
2. Max Carey played for the 1929 Brooklyn Robins 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