Diamondbacks Manager : Kirk Gibson

Kirk Gibson is the manager of the 2011 Arizona Diamondbacks. He was promoted after AJ Hinch was fired last year. He had been their bench coach since 2007. He also served as coach for the Detroit Tigers from 2003-2005. During all that time I could not find a single card depicting him as a coach but I did find this sweet bobble head. Nice "action shot" of him leaning on the dugout rails.

Of course, Gibson is best known for his walk-off homer in the 1988 World Series. His Teammate on the L.A. Dodgers was Alfredo Griffin.

Griffin was the Rookie of the Year for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1979 and in 1980 was teamed with John Mayberry.

Prior to becoming a power hitting All Star for the royals, Mayberry struggled as a rookie for the Astros. His teammate in 1970 was the gold glove catcher Johnny Edwards.

Even though Edwards was an All Star '63-'65 he was traded from the Cincinnati Reds to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1968 to make room for Johnny Bench. In St. Louis he played with Lou Brock.

Brock spent the first half of the 1964 season on the Chicago Cubs with Ron Santo.

From Gibson to Santo in 5 degrees.

Angels Manager : Mike Scioscia

Mike Scioscia spent all of his managerial career (so far) with the Angels and his entire playing career with the Dodgers.

In 1990 he was the NL All Star starting catcher. His LA Dodger teammate was Hall of Famer Eddie Murray.

In 1980 Murray was playing 1st base for the Baltimore Orioles along with Cy Young winner Steve Stone.

Steve Stone is linked to Ron Santo in many ways, but he never was a teammate of Santo's. For many years Stone called the Cub games on TV while Santo moaned and groaned over the radio. Prior to the 1974 season Santo was traded to the White sox for Stone and 3 other player. In his first year with the northsiders, Santo's replacement was Bill Madlock.

In 1981 Madlock played for the Pittsburgh Pirates along with pitcher Grant Jackson.

In 1968 Jackson was teamed up with another hard hitting 3rd baseman, Dick Allen on the Philadelphia Philles.

Dick allen eventually moved to 1st base and the south side where he played with Ron Santo during his only season on the White Sox.

Mike Scioscia to Ron Santo in 6 degrees.

Two Sport Players : Hoop Dreams

On June 7, 1977 Danny Ainge was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays. In 1981 he was drafted by the Boston Celtics. One of his teammates on the 1981 Blue Jays was Mike Barlow who played Basketball at Syracuse.

Barlow played for the California Angels in 1980 along with Rick Miller who played college basketball at Michigan State.

Rick Miller roamed the outfied behind Fergie Jenkins in 1977 for the Boston Red Sox. 

Jenkins played basketball for the Harlem Globetrotters, but is best known as a Hall of fame pitcher for the Cubs and Ron Santo's 1973 teammate.

Danny Ainge to Ron Santo in 4 degrees of hoopsters.

Another Day Another Near-Perfect Game

June 3rd 1995, Pedro Martinez pitched 9 perfect innings with no run support from his fellow Montreal Expos. In the top of the 10th the Expos finally broke the tie, but Pedro gives up a leadoff double to San Diego Padres left fielder Bip Roberts and Mel Rojas closes the game.

Pedro's 1995 teammate, Roberto Kelly ruined Dave Stieb's 1989 bid for a perfect game with a double of his own with 2 outs in the 9th.

 In 1989 Kelly played for the Yankees along with Hall of Famer Dave Winfield who once got the better of No-Hit-King Nolan Ryan who made sure it never would happen again. Just ask Robin Ventura.

In 1980 Winfield played with Gene Tenace on the San Diego Padres. Tenace caught a 1970 no hitter from Vida Blue and in 1975 caught 6 innings of another Oakland A's no hitter in which 4 pitchers contributed.

In 1973 Tenace caught for Ken Holtzman. In 1976 Holtzman had his 3rd no hit bid broken up with 2 outs in the 9th.

In 1969 Holtzman pitched his 1st no hitter for the Chicago Cubs. His 3rd baseman? Ron Santo.

Pedro Martinez to Ron Santo in 5 degrees.