Dodgers Manager : Don Mattingly

Don Mattingly worked on Joe Torre's coaching staff on the Yankees from 2003-2007. After being passed over when Torre left, he went to L.A. and was Torre's bench coach on the Dodgers. When Torre retired last year the manager job was given to Mattingly.

Mattingly was the A.L. MVP in 1985 while on the New York Yankees. He was teamed with Don Baylor.

Don Baylor was the A.L. MVP in 1979 while on the California Angels where he played with Hall of Famer Rod Carew.

Rod Carew was also an A.L. MVP in 1977 and Rookie of the Year in 1967 on the Minnesota Twins. His teammate there was Dean Chance.

Chance was the AL Cy Young award winner in 1964 on the Los Angeles Angles. Albie Pearson was his teammate.

Pearson was the Rookie of the Year in 1958 with the Senators and in 1960 he played with Milt Pappas on the Baltimore Orioles.

In 1972 Pappas pitched a near-perfect game. He retired the first 26 San Diego Padres and had a 1-2 count on Larry Stahl. Umpire Bruce Froeming called the next 3 pitches balls. Although Pappas has never forgiven Froeming, he got the next batter to pop out. Ant the first player on the mound to congratulate him was Ron Santo.

From Mattingly to Santo in 6 degrees.

Cardinals Manager : Tony LaRussa

Tony LaRussa has been managing the St. Louis Cardinals since 1996 making him the longest tenured manager in the majors. 

LaRussa played sporadically from 1963-1973 for the A's, Braves and Cubs. In  1968 he was teammates on the Oaland A's with Floyd Robinson who was in his final MLB season.

In 1964 Robinson played with another Sox great Minnie Minoso at the end of his career (not including "comebacks" in 1976 and 1980).

In 1958 Minnie earned his second Gold Glove, sharing the Cleveland Indian outfield with another great fielder, Jimmy Piersall. 

In 1963 Piersall donned a Washington Senators uniform (in addition to a Mets and finally an Angels uniform). His teammate Chuck Cottier would later manage the Seattle Mariners.

In 1960 Cottier was playing for the Milwaukee Braves along with pitcher Bob Buhl  who made his only All Star appearance in 1960.

Buhl pitched a total of 2 1/3 innings for the Cubs in 1966 before being part of the trade that brought Fergie Jenkins to Chicago. But those 2 1/3 inning linked him to Ron Santo.

Full Disclosure: Tony La Russa actually played with Ron Santo on the 1973 Cubs.  I didn't link him directly to Santo because there wasn't a 1973 card depicting LaRussa on the Cubs, he only made one appearance as a pinch runner, and it would've been a really short blog.  Fortunately, Paul over at Wrigley Wax made a 1973 LaRussa, so here it is:

So we can link Tony LaRussa directly to Ron Santo, or take the scenic route in 6 degrees.

Cards That Never Were: 1960 Topps

1960 Topps Ron Santo

This is my first attempt at this, but I really love the cards created on other blogs. Specifically Wrigley Wax , White Sox Cards  and The Phillies Room among others.  I plan on posting my own version of cards that never were on the weekends as a break from the regular post.