# Oracle of Bacon, now Oracle of Baseball **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 8, 2003, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-of-bacon-now-oracle-of-baseball/147329 "2003-01-08T17:03:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-of-bacon-now-oracle-of-baseball/147329/1 "2003-01-08T17:03:09Z")
I’m sure most of us are aware of [The Oracle of Bacon](http://oracleofbacon.org/). I just visited [baseball-reference.com](http://baseball-reference.com) where I found that [they have licensed the Oracle’s technology](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/). Guess I have another way to stay awake while I’m at work. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-of-bacon-now-oracle-of-baseball/147329/2 "2003-01-08T17:08:36Z")
Most central player I’ve found so far is [Hank Aaron](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=hank+aaron) at 3.19. Most distant so far is [Charley “Old Hoss” Radbourn](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=charley+radbourn) at 4.819. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-of-bacon-now-oracle-of-baseball/147329/3 "2003-01-08T17:19:36Z")
[Phil Niekro](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=phil+niekro) - 3.159 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-of-bacon-now-oracle-of-baseball/147329/4 "2003-01-08T17:21:28Z")
[Minnie Minoso](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=minnie+minoso) - 2.983 ---
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-of-bacon-now-oracle-of-baseball/147329/5 "2003-01-08T17:52:44Z")
I can’t imagine any player being more connected than Minoso. On the other end, the highest score I can find for a well known player is [Candy Cummings](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=candy+cummings) - 5.600. for not well known… [Charlie Mills](http://baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=Charlie+Mills) - 5.789. I’m sure you could do better with someone who only played in 1871. ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-of-bacon-now-oracle-of-baseball/147329/6 "2003-01-08T18:33:23Z")
[Dick Hurley](http://www.baseball-reference.com/h/hurledi01.shtml) - 6.241. It helps when you only play 2 games in 1872 for a team that lasted only two years. I was really surprised that [Mike Morgan](http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/morgami01.shtml) only came in at 3.598 considering his longevity and number of teams. ---
**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-of-bacon-now-oracle-of-baseball/147329/7 "2003-01-08T18:35:30Z")
That’s cool. I had an [idea](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=115192) like that before. I have to stop playing with this. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-of-bacon-now-oracle-of-baseball/147329/8 "2003-01-08T20:29:13Z")
Perennial nobodys [Faye Throneberry](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=faye+throneberry), [Mave Trhoneberry](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=marv+throneberry), and [Bob Uecker](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=bob+uecker) all have a similar average (around 3.38). ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-of-bacon-now-oracle-of-baseball/147329/9 "2003-01-08T20:37:35Z")
I just did the ‘connections’ thing. HOF Catcher Roger Bresnahan (1897-1915) to Rick Wrona (most decidedly NOT HOF catcher for the 1989 Cubs) 5 links. All of which played for one or the other Chicago teams. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-of-bacon-now-oracle-of-baseball/147329/10 "2003-01-08T20:39:17Z")
Hell, Midget Gaedel averages 3.722. And he only made one appearance. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-of-bacon-now-oracle-of-baseball/147329/11 "2003-01-08T20:44:54Z")
It seems that the players with the lowest numbers are the ones from the '40s and '50s. [Pee Wee Reese](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=pee+wee+reese) averages 3.068. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-of-bacon-now-oracle-of-baseball/147329/12 "2003-01-08T20:52:39Z")
I’d have thought that the numbers would be higher prior to the elimination of the reserve clause. Wouldn’t Jeff’s hypothesis indicate that there was _greater_ player movement in the 40s and 50s than now? ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-of-bacon-now-oracle-of-baseball/147329/13 "2003-01-08T20:54:58Z")
[King Kelly](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=King+Kelly). 4.563 [Moses “Fleet” Walker](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=Fleet+Walker). 4.740 [Matty Alou](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=Matty+Alou). 3.198 Better still, [Al Dark](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=Al+Dark). 3.144 Recent pitcher [Matt Miller](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=matt+miller) is probably the best recent one you’re going to get. 4.855. On a lark, [Mike Jordan](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=Michael+Jordan) (guess who I was trying to find?). 4.904, baby. I’m gonna be playing a _lot_ with this later:D ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-of-bacon-now-oracle-of-baseball/147329/14 "2003-01-08T22:06:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jonathan Chance \* > \*\*Wouldn’t Jeff’s hypothesis indicate that there was _greater_ player movement in the 40s and 50s than now? \*\* I think it has something to do with Minoso’s 6222 common teammates. The man had a plate appearance in four different decades, five if you consider 1980 to be the start of the '80s. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-of-bacon-now-oracle-of-baseball/147329/15 "2003-01-08T22:19:21Z")
[Early Wynn - 2.901](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=Early+Wynn) Connected to old guys and modern, long career, lots of teams. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-of-bacon-now-oracle-of-baseball/147329/16 "2003-01-08T22:37:10Z")
Also, given that Early Wynn maxes out at 6 steps, and Minnie Minoso at 7, it’s highly unlikely anyone could be as high as 7 on average. Minnie Minoso only has 3 players at 7 steps: [Tom Foley - 6.443](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=4626), [Ed Duffy - 6.443](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=ed+duffy), and [Ed Pinkham - 6.443](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=ed+pinkham). I suspect those are our winners for least connected (and they were all teammates). ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-of-bacon-now-oracle-of-baseball/147329/17 "2003-01-08T22:48:26Z")
[Walt Walker: 5.206](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=14948) and [Frank Bell: 5.433](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=892). Furthermore, [Steve Bellan: 5.764](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=880). Squeezing the marrow out of this thing, [Quinlan: 5.784](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=11690). [Stan Musial: 3.084](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=stan+musial). [Johnny Pesky: 3.151](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=Johnny+Pesky). ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-of-bacon-now-oracle-of-baseball/147329/18 "2003-01-08T23:10:04Z")
[Marv Rotblatt](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/linkability.cgi?n1=rotblatt) comes up at a surprising 3.365. ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-of-bacon-now-oracle-of-baseball/147329/19 "2003-01-09T14:14:40Z")
In summary (I think this makes sense, feel free to let me know otherwise): To get the lowest connection number, find a major leaguer from the 40’s to 60’s that had a lengthy career. The number will be lower due to the number of teammates/years and the fact that they split the difference between current and classic players, thus minimizing the steps needed to reach each yearly extreme. To find the highest number: Pick a player that had minimal games in the earliest couple of years represented on the website. The lack of games and lack of teams will translate to vast numbers of steps to reach the players of today. ---
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-of-bacon-now-oracle-of-baseball/147329/20 "2003-01-09T16:52:35Z")
I don’t think it matters how many games they played - just the number of years. For example, [Esix Snead and Mark Little](http://www.baseball-reference.com/oracle/link.cgi?n1=Esix+Snead&n2=Mark+Little) are listed as teammates on the 2002 Mets, but I’m fairly certain they were not on the roster at the same time. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oracle-of-bacon-now-oracle-of-baseball/147329.md?page=2)