#259: John Davis

John Davis

I) John Davis --> '90 Padres --> Benito Santiago, Bip Roberts, Derek Lilliquist

II) Lilliquist --> '95 Red Sox
II) Roberts --> '98 Athletics
II) Santiago --> 2004 Royals

Eventually, every member of the 1995 Red Sox will be connected...

1. John Davis played for the 1990 San Diego Padres with Derek Lilliquist.
2. Derek Lilliquist played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#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!

#249: Anthony Shumaker

Anthony Shumaker

I) Anthony Shumaker --> '99 Phillies --> Desi Relaford, Torey Lovullo, Steve Montgomery, Scott Aldred, Ken Ryan, Billy Brewer

II) Aldred --> '93 Expos
II) Brewer --> '97 Athletics
II) Lovullo --> '96 Athletics
II) Montgomery --> '96-'97 Athletics
II) Relaford --> 2004 Royals
II) Ryan --> '95 Red Sox

1. Anthony Shumaker played for the 1999 Philadelphia Phillies with Ken Ryan.
2. Ken Ryan played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#248: Dick Williams

Dick Williams

The Hall of Fame Manager of the 1967 "Impossible Dream" Boston Red Sox has passed away. This one is dedicated to the man who helped make baseball in Boston matter again.

I) Dick Williams --> '64 Red Sox

I didn't know he played with that very team just a few years earlier.

I) Dick Williams --> '64 Red Sox --> Carl Yastrzemski

Wow, that just seems appropriate, you know?

II) Yastrzemski --> '83 Red Sox --> Dennis Eckersley, Wade Boggs

Two more Hall of Famers here. I have already used Eckersley here, so we'll try and add Boggs.

      III) Boggs --> '99 Devil Rays --> Fred McGriff, Miguel Cairo, Jose Canseco, Tony Graffanino, Jim Mecir, Scott Aldred
              IV) Aldred --> '93 Expos
              IV) Cairo --> 2009 Phillies
              IV) Canseco --> '95 Red Sox
              IV) Graffanino --> 2004 Royals
              IV) McGriff --> 2001 Cubs
              IV) Mecir --> 2000 Athletics

It seems like I'm always short-changing the Royals for better options. It's time to give some respect to KC.

1. Dick Williams played for the 1964 Boston Red Sox with Carl Yastrzemski.
2. Carl Yastrzemski played for the 1983 Boston Red Sox with Wade Boggs.
3. Wade Boggs played for the 1999 Tampa Bay Devil Rays with Tony Graffanino.
4. Tony Graffanino played for the 2004 Kansas City Royals with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 4

R.I.P. Mr. Williams

#243: Mel Nelson

Mel Nelson

I) Mel Nelson --> '69 Cardinals --> Jerry Reuss, Boots Day, Nelson Briles, Mike Torrez, Chuck Taylor

II) Briles --> '77-'78 Orioles
II) Day --> '74 Expos
II) Reuss --> '90 Pirates
II) Taylor --> '74-'76 Expos
II) Torrez --> '74 Expos
II) Torrez --> '75 Orioles

Wow, I honestly didn't believe I'd have this many choices. All are connected team that'll use the same number of degrees. I'll give the Pirates team some attention.

1. Mel Nelson played for the 1969 St. Louis Cardinals with Jerry Reuss.
2. Jerry Reuss played for the 1990 Pittsburgh Pirates with Zane Smith.
3. Zane Smith played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#240: Gary Rajsich

Gary Rajsich

I) Gary Rajsich --> '85 Giants --> Chili Davis

II) Davis --> '99 Yankees --> Scott Brosius, Joe Girardi, D'Angelo Jimenez, Roger Clemens, Mike Stanton, Mike Buddie, Jason Grimsley
      III) Brosius --> '97 Athletics
      III) Buddie --> 2002 Brewers
      III) Clemens --> '95 Red Sox
      III) Girardi --> 2001 Cubs
      III) Grimsley --> 2004 Royals
      III) Jimenez --> 2006 Rangers
      III) Stanton --> '95 Red Sox

Lots of choices here. I'm obviously going with one of the Red Sox here, but picking my childhood-favorite-turned-traitor-turned-PED-punchline...

1. Gary Rajsich played for the 1985 San Francisco Giants with Chili Davis.
2. Chili Davis played for the 1999 New York Yankees with Roger Clemens.
3. Roger Clemens played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#238: Jon Zuber

Jon Zuber

I) John Zuber --> '98 Phillies --> Desi Relaford, Scott Rolen, Ken Ryan, Billy Brewer

II) Brewer --> '97 Athletics
II) Relaford --> 2004 Royals
II) Rolen --> 2008 Blue Jays
II) Ryan --> '95 Red Sox

Another easy one.

1. John Zuber played for the 1998 Philadelphia Phillies with Ken Ryan.
2. Ken Ryan played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#237: Mark Ryal

Mark Ryal

I) Mark Ryal --> '90 Pirates --> Moises Alou, Zane Smith, Bill Landrum, Stan Belinda

II) Alou --> '92 Expos
II) Belinda --> '95 Red Sox
II) Landrum --> '92 Expos
II) Smith --> '95 Red Sox

Easy.

1. Mark Ryal played for the 1990 Pittsburgh Pirates with Zane Smith.
2. Zane Smith played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#235: Chris Batton

Chris Batton

I) Chris Batton --> '76 Athletics

I have this team already. All I have to do is go here and cut/paste.

1. Chris Batton played for the 1976 Oakland Athletics with Denny Walling.
2. Denny Walling played for the 1992 Houston Astros with Tuffy Rhodes.
3. Tuffy Rhodes played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#223: Elmer Miller

Elmer Miller

I) Elmer Miller --> '22 Yankees
I) Elmer Miller --> '22 Red Sox

Gee, I wonder which team I'll try first?

I) Elmer Miller --> '22 Red Sox --> Jack Quinn, Herb Pennock, Curt Fullerton, Muddy Ruel

II) Fullerton --> '33 Red Sox
II) Pennock --> '34 Red Sox
II) Quinn --> '33 Reds
II) Ruel --> '34 White Sox

The Reds team is the only one I don't have

II) Quinn --> '33 Reds --> Si Johnson, Rollie Hemsley, Ernie Lombardi
      III) Hemsley --> '47 Philles
      III) Johnson --> '47 Boston Braves
      III) Lombardi --> '47 New York Giants

All three of these teams have been used before. I now know I can connect, and it'll take the maximum 6 degrees. Let's see what the Yankees team can offer.

I) Elmer Miller --> '22 Yankees --> Waite Hoyt

II) Hoyt --> '38 Brooklyn Dodgers

Another connected team. By going with the first path, I can add two teams, but if I go with the second path, I add a Hall of Famer. Red Sox bias breaks the tie! (Looks like I get to add a Hall of Famer anyway - Lombardi!)

1. Elmer Miller played for the 1922 Boston Red Sox with Jack Quinn.
2. Jack Quinn played for the 1933 Cincinati Reds with Ernie Lombardi.
3. Ernie Lombardi played for the 1947 New York Giants with Whitey Lockman.
4. Whitey Lockman played for the 1960 Cincinati Reds with Frank Robinson.
5. Frank Robinson played for the 1976 Cleveland Indians with Rick Cerone.
6. Rick Cerone played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6

#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

#221: Brian Bohanon

Brian Bohanon

I) Brian Bohanon --> 2001 Rockies --> Neifi Perez, Larry Walker, Terry Shumpert, Jose Ortiz, Alex Ochoa, Brent Mayne, Sal Fasano, Scott Elarton, John Wasdin, Todd Belitz, Bobby Chouinard

II) Belitz --> 2000 Athletics
II) Chouinard --> '96 Athletics
II) Elarton --> 2006 Royals
II) Fasano --> 2000 Athletics and 2007 Blue Jays
II) Mayne --> '97 Athletics
II) Ochoa --> 2002 Brewers
II) Ortiz --> 2000 Athletics
II) Perez --> 2006 Tigers
II) Shumpert --> '95 Red Sox
II) Walker --> '92 and '93 Expos
II) Wasdin --> '96 Athletics and 2006 Rangers

Lots of choices here, but only one Red Sox player.

1. Brian Bohanon played for the 2001 Colorado Rockies with Terry Shumpert.
2. Terry Shumpert played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#220: Ed Wineapple

Ed Wineapple

I) Ed Wineapple --> '29 Washington Senators --> Joe Cronin, Nick Altrock

II) Cronin --> '45 Red Sox
II) Altrock --> '33 Washington Senators

Cronin's my only choice here, but I added Nick Altrock here for a reason. As I was looking through the '29 Senators team, a number next to Altrock stuck out for me - 52. It was under the age column! Altrock's career spanned 35 years until his last season in 1933 at the age of 56. Remarkable! This guy was Minnie Minoso before there was a Minnie Minoso! I may have to look into this player further, but I may have an outside chance to connect someone who played in the 1800's.

Back to Cronin...

II) Cronin --> '45 Red Sox --> Jim Wilson
      III) Wilson --> '58 White Sox --> Norm Cash, Johnny Callison, Luis Aparicio
              IV) Aparicio --> '73 Red Sox
              IV) Callison --> '73 Yankees
              IV) Cash --> '74 Tigers

The Yankees and Tigers teams are connected, not that I wouldn't have picked a Hall of Famer on a Red Sox team above them anyway.

              IV) Aparicio --> '73 Red Sox --> http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifCarlton Fisk
                     V) Fisk --> '93 White Sox --> Jason Bere, Frank Thomas, Tim Raines
                         VI) Bere --> 2001 Cubs
                         VI) Raines --> '99 Athletics
                         VI) Thomas --> 2007 Blue Jays

Done, although this makes the Altrock rambling a moot point. If I could have completed this in 5 or less, it would have been worth exploring.

1. Ed Wineapple played for the 1929 Washington Senators with Joe Cronin.
2. Joe Cronin played for the 1945 Boston Red Sox with Jim Wilson.
3. Jim Wilson played for the 1958 Chicago White Sox with Luis Aparicio.
4. Luis Aparicio played for the 1973 Boston Red Sox with Carlton Fisk.
5. Carlton Fisk played for the 1993 Chicago White Sox with Frank Thomas.
6. Frank Thomas played for the 2007 Toronto Blue Jays with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 6

#217: Tommy Fine

Tommy Fine

I) Tommy Fine --> '50 St. Louis Browns

I already connected this team, so I'm going to try the only other team he played for.

I) Tommy Fine --> '47 Red Sox --> Chuck Stobbs, Billy Goodman

II) Goodman --> '62 Houston Colt .45's
II) Stobbs --> '61 Twins

Billy Goodman is a connected player. The '61 Twins are a connected team. Twins get me to Stairs quicker.

1. Tommy Fine played for the 1947 Boston Red Sox with Chuck Stobbs.
2. Chuck Stobbs played for the 1961 Minnesota Twins with Jim Kaat.
3. Jim Kaat played for the 1980 New York Yankees with Rick Cerone.
4. Rick Cerone played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 4

#215: George Glinatsis

George Glinatsis

I) George Glinatsis --> '94 Mariners --> Reggie Jefferson, Mike Blowers, Bill Haselman, Torey Luvullo, Jerry Willard

II) Blowers --> '98 Athletics
II) Haselman --> '95 Red Sox
II) Jefferson --> '95 Red Sox
II) Luvullo --> '96 Athletics
II) Willard --> '92 Expos

Bias showing through!

1. George Glinatsis played for the 1994 Seattle Mariners with Reggie Jefferson.
2. Reggie Jefferson played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#213: Carl Crawford

Carl Crawford

One year ago today, I hand picked Jeremy Hermida to kick start my blog. Unfortunately, he did not have a good year, breaking a few ribs and eventually getting released. I refuse to believe I cursed him. Still, for my one year anniversary, I am going to hand pick another player. Just like last year, I'm picking a new addition to the Red Sox family, and just like last year, I'm going under the assumption he plays for this year's team. What makes this connection easy/boring is that the elder statesman of baseball, Tim Wakefield, is still pitching. Go Sox!

1. Carl Crawford plays for the 2011 Boston Red Sox with Tim Wakefield.
2. Tim Wakefield played on the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs.

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#211: Vida Blue

Vida Blue

With only 6 years between Blue's last year and Stairs's first year, I was pretty confident I'd find someone who played for both. Alas, that isn't the case. I did find a number of 3 degree jumps, including a few using teams I don't have yet.

1. Vida Blue played for the 1986 San Francisco Giants with Randy Kutcher.
2. Randy Kutcher played for the 1990 Boston Red Sox with Mike Greenwell.
3. Mike Greenwell played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#208: Billy Goodman

Billy Goodman

I) Billy Goodman --> '62 Houston Colt .45's

Sweet! A chance to add the Colt .45's to my list of teams!

I) Billy Goodman --> '62 Houston Colt .45's --> Dave Giusti

II) Giusti --> '77 Athletics
II) Giusti --> '77 Cubs

I'll go with the Cubs here.

II) Giusti --> '77 Cubs --> Rick Reuscel, Ray Burris, Dennis Lamp, Manny Trillo, Bobby Murcer, Larry Biitner
      III) Biittner --> '74 - '76 Expos
      III) Burris --> '80 - '83 Expos
      III) Lamp --> '88 - '89 Red Sox
      III) Murcer --> '80 - '83 Yankees
      III) Reuscel --> '81 Yankees
      III) Reuscel --> '91 Giants
      III) Trillo --> '83 Expos

Lots of choices here. I'm going to take Reuscel's last season though and try to take a break from using one of my "Big 3".

      III) Reuscel --> '91 Giants --> Kevin Mitchell, Willie McGee
              IV) Mitchell --> '98 Athletics
              IV) McGee --> '95 Red Sox

Although there are likely many more players on the '91 Giants squad that played with Stairs, I stopped when I reached one that played for Boston.

1. Billy Goodman played for the 1962 Colt .45's with Dave Giusti.
2. Dave Giusti played for the 1977 Chicago Cubs with Rick Reuscel.
3. Rick Reuscel played for the 1991 San Francisco Giants with Willie McGee.
4. Willie McGee played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 4

#204: Ray Rippelmeyer

Ray Rippelmeyer

I) Ray Rippelmeyer --> '62 Washington Senators --> Claude Osteen, Ed Brinkman, John Kennedy

II) Brinkman --> '75 Cardinals
II) Brinkman --> '75 Rangers
II) Brinkman --> '75 Yankees
II) Kennedy --> '74 Red Sox
II) Osteen --> '75 White Sox

Wow. 5 different teams here, and only the '75 Cardinals have been connected. Hmmm...Brinkman and Osteen were both All-Stars, but Kennedy played for the Red Sox...

II) Kennedy --> '74 Red Sox --> Jim Rice

What can I say? Go Red Sox!

1. Ray Rippelmeyer played for the 1962 Washington Senators with John Kennedy.
2. John Kennedy played for the 1974 Boston Red Sox with Jim Rice.
3. Jim Rice played for the 1988 Boston Red Sox with Rick Cerone.
4. Rick Cerone played for the 1992 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 4

#201: Joe Redfield

Joe Redfield

I) Redfield --> '91 Pirates --> Stan Belinda, Zane Smith

I have to admit, one year away from Stairs' rookie year, I would have thought there would be more direct links. Both these players played with Stairs the same year, so we'll use previously connected Zane Smith.

1. Joe Redfield played for the 1991 Pittsburgh Pirates with Zane Smith.
2. Zane Smith played for the 1995 Boston Red Sox with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2