There is a party game called "The Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon". If you don't know what that is, the game rests on the assumption that anyone involved in the Hollywood film industry can be linked through their film roles to legendary Hollywood film actor Kevin Bacon within six steps. The game requires a group of players to try to connect any such individual to Kevin Bacon as quickly as possible and in as few links as possible. I was wondering if there was a baseball equivalent to this and this being the internet, there is! But there are more than six steps in mine. Why is that? It's because I like being different!
Anyway, for the purposes of this entry, I will use former MLB pitcher Jamie Moyer in place of Kevin Bacon.
In Jamie Moyer’s first game as a Major Leaguer, he beat Steve Carlton.
In Steve Carlton’s first game as a Major Leaguer, he relieved Bob Gibson (well, Gibson started the game).
In Bob Gibson’s first game as a Major leaguer, Stan Musial got two hits.
In Stan Musial’s first game as a Major Leaguer, he got two hits off Jimmy Tobin.
In Jimmy Tobin’s first game as a Major Leaguer, Paul Waner got two hits.
In Paul Waner’s first game as a Major Leaguer, he walked against Flint Rhem.
In 1924 Flint Rhem — who had thrown a no-hitter in the Western League — was brought to the big leagues by Branch Rickey.
Branch Rickey’s first big signing was George Sisler.
In George Sisler’s first season, he was teammates with Bobby Wallace.
Bobby Wallace played his early years for the Cleveland Spiders. His most prominent teammate was Cy Young.
But, wait! There's more!
Here is another way to link Jamie Moyer with Cy Young...
Jamie Moyer was teammates with Ron Cey
Ron Cey was teammates with Hoyt Wilhelm
Hoyt Wilhelm was teammates with Bob Elliott
Bob Elliott was teammates with Paul Waner
Paul Waner was teammates with Joe Bush
Joe Bush was teammates with Tris Speaker
Tris Speaker was teammates with Cy Young
What do you think?
