#67: Ed Abbaticchio

Ed Abbaticchio

I) Ed Abbaticchio --> '10 Pirates
I) Ed Abbaticchio --> '10 Doves

Doves? There was a team called the Doves?

I) Ed Abbaticchio --> '10 Pirates --> Max Carey
II) Carey --> '29 Robins

I) Ed Abbaticchio --> '10 Doves --> Lefty Tyler, Bill Rariden, Rowdy Elliott, Buck Herzog
II) Tyler/Herzog --> '21 Cubs
II) Rariden --> '20 Reds
II) Elliott --> '20 Robins

The Pirates team gives me a significant advantage. We'll start there.

II) Carey --> '29 Robins --> Bobo Newsom

Way to go Bobo! Newsom has been a critical link twice before (John Merritt, Jack Rothrock) and helps me again today. Even more amazing, his third appearance on my Connected Teams table comes with his third different team during a third different decade. That's versatility!

1. Ed Abbaticchio played for the 1910 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

#66: Brandon Medders

Brandon Medders

A quick look at Medders' current team shows he plays with Barry Zito, the former ace of Oakland.

1. Brandon Medders plays for the 2010 San Francisco Giants with Barry Zito.
2. Barry Zito played for the 2000 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#65: Ryan Shealy

Ryan Shealy

Shealy played with two teams in his brief career: the Rockies and the Royals.* I'm pretty confident I can connect him through the Rockies, as the 2007 team is on my Connected Teams list. Since he only played 4 seasons, I'll take a quick peak and see if there any names that stand out.

*This is one of those times where I get one of these done, only to have something change. Ryan made his 2010 debut last month with the Red Sox. It doesn't affect my link however.

I) Ryan Shealy --> 2006 Rockies --> Yorvit Torrealba

We've used Torrealba before, in our Zach McClellan chain - an easy 2 degree connect here.

I) Ryan Shealy --> 2006-07 Royals --> Reggie Sanders

Sanders was one of the first connecting players I had, in our Mike Lincoln chain.

Two choices, three teams here. I'll give the nod to Reggie, for old time's sake.

1. Ryan Shealy played for the 2007 Kansas City Royals with Reggie Sanders.
2. Reggie Sanders played for the 2003 Pittsburgh Pirates with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 2

#64: Tom York

Tom York

Sigh. Another 1800's player. It is very unlikely I make it, but let's try anyway!

I) Tom York --> 1885 Orioles --> Frank Foreman

II) Foreman --> '02 Orioles --> Roger Bresnahan
      III) Bresnahan --> '15 Cubs --> Bob O'Farrell
              IV) O'Farrell --> '35 Cardinals --> Ed Heusser, Dizzy Dean, Joe Medwick, Terry Moore
                      V) Dean --> '47 Browns --> Les Moss
                            IV) Moss --> '58 White Sox
                      V) Heusser --> '48 Phillies --> Curt Simmons
                            IV) Simmons --> '67 Cubs
                            IV) Simmons --> '67 Angels
                      V) Medwick/Moore --> '48 Cardinals --> Red Schoendienst, Stan Musial
                            IV) Schoendienst/Musial --> '63 Cardinals

Just for fun, I took this to see how far I could get in 6 degrees. I only got as far as 1967, which isn't even close to Matt Stairs. It looks like players from the 1800s are going to be automatic outs.

Degrees of Matt Stairs: Over 6

#63: Hal Hudson

Hal Hudson

I) Hal Hudson --> '53 White Sox --> Minnie Minoso

Minoso Jump!

1. Hal Hudson played for the 1953 Chicago White Sox with Minnie Minoso.
2. Minnie Minoso played for the 1980 Chicago White Sox with Harold Baines.
3. Harold Baines played for the 1992 Oakland Athletics with Terry Steinbach.
4. Terry Steinbach played for the 1996 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 4

#62: Fred Talbot

Fred Talbot

I) Fred Talbot --> '70 Athletics --> Reggie Jefferson

Reggie actually played one year with the Orioles in 1976, meaning he played with Big 3 Denny Martinez. He also played his last year in Oakland 1987, which I've already connected. When it doubt, go with the "Big 3".

1. Fred Talbot played for the 1970 Oakland Athletics with Reggie Jackson.
2. Reggie Jackson played for the 1976 Baltimore Orioles with Dennis Martinez.
3. Dennis Martinez played for the 1993 Montreal Expos with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#61: Chico Carrasquel

Chico Carrasquel

At first, I was tempted to use his Chicago years and connect via the Minoso Jump, but then I noticed he ended his career with the Orioles. I have a much quicker link.

1. Chico Carrasquel played for the 1959 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

#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

#59: Sixto Lezcano

Sixto Lezcano

Randomness can be funny sometimes. Yesterday, I followed a path that essentially used Hank Aaron''s years as a Brewer and took that all the way to a possible Stairs connection. I didn't use it because I could complete the chain in fewer degrees by going another route. Well, Lezcano was also a Brewer during that time, so I can recycle my work from last my last post and complete this link.

1. Sixto Lezcano played for the 1980 Milwaukee Brewers with Robin Yount.
2. Robin Yount played for the 1993 Milwaukee Brewers with John Jaha.
3. John Jaha played for the 2000 Oakland Athletics with Matt Stairs!

Degrees of Matt Stairs: 3

#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