Purplelink

How are MLB stars connected?

Two players are linked if they were teammates in the same season. These are the shortest chains between MLB legends from different eras, worked out over 20,151 baseball players from 1939 to 2025.

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The numbers

Among the 45 biggest stars in our MLB data, any two are on average 2.51 links apart, and no pair is more than 5 apart. The average hides a lot: stars who played for several teams and stayed long are the bridges, so the longest chains run between players from the very start of the league and the newest stars.

Chains between stars from different eras

  • Shohei Ohtani to Ted Williams: 5 links, 79 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Shohei Ohtaniteammates: Angels, 2018-21
    2. Albert Pujolsteammates: Cardinals, 2001
    3. Mark McGwireteammates: Athletics, 1987
    4. Reggie Jacksonteammates: Athletics, 1968-69
    5. Jim Pagliaroniteammates: Red Sox, 1955
    6. Ted Williams

  • Shohei Ohtani to Stan Musial: 5 links, 77 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Shohei Ohtaniteammates: Angels, 2018-21
    2. Albert Pujolsteammates: Cardinals, 2009
    3. John Smoltzteammates: Braves, 1988
    4. Ted Simmonsteammates: Cardinals, 1968-75
    5. Bob Gibsonteammates: Cardinals, 1959-63
    6. Stan Musial

  • Aaron Judge to Ted Williams: 5 links, 77 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Aaron Judgeteammates: Yankees, 2016
    2. Alex Rodriguezteammates: Mariners, 1994-98
    3. Randy Johnsonteammates: Nationals, 1988
    4. Graig Nettlesteammates: Twins, 1967
    5. Russ Nixonteammates: Red Sox, 1960
    6. Ted Williams

  • Aaron Judge to Stan Musial: 5 links, 75 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Aaron Judgeteammates: Yankees, 2016
    2. Alex Rodriguezteammates: Yankees, 2007
    3. Roger Clemensteammates: Red Sox, 1986
    4. Tom Seaverteammates: Mets, 1967
    5. Ken Boyerteammates: Cardinals, 1955-63
    6. Stan Musial

  • Mookie Betts to Yogi Berra: 4 links, 68 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Mookie Bettsteammates: Red Sox, 2014-15
    2. Shane Victorinoteammates: Padres, 2003
    3. Jesse Oroscoteammates: Mets, 1979
    4. Ed Kranepoolteammates: Mets, 1965
    5. Yogi Berra

  • Mike Trout to Yogi Berra: 4 links, 65 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Mike Troutteammates: Angels, 2011-12
    2. Torii Hunterteammates: Twins, 2003
    3. Jesse Oroscoteammates: Mets, 1979
    4. Ed Kranepoolteammates: Mets, 1965
    5. Yogi Berra

  • Mookie Betts to Roy Campanella: 5 links, 66 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Mookie Bettsteammates: Dodgers, 2021
    2. Albert Pujolsteammates: Cardinals, 2009
    3. John Smoltzteammates: Braves, 1989
    4. Darrell Evansteammates: Braves, 1969-70
    5. Bob Aspromonteteammates: Dodgers, 1956
    6. Roy Campanella

  • Mike Trout to Roy Campanella: 5 links, 63 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Mike Troutteammates: Angels, 2012-21
    2. Albert Pujolsteammates: Cardinals, 2009
    3. John Smoltzteammates: Braves, 1989
    4. Darrell Evansteammates: Braves, 1969-70
    5. Bob Aspromonteteammates: Dodgers, 1956
    6. Roy Campanella

  • Clayton Kershaw to Mickey Mantle: 4 links, 57 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Clayton Kershawteammates: Dodgers, 2008
    2. Greg Madduxteammates: Cubs, 1986
    3. Dennis Eckersleyteammates: Guardians, 1975-76
    4. Fritz Petersonteammates: Yankees, 1966-68
    5. Mickey Mantle

  • Bryce Harper to Mickey Mantle: 4 links, 61 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Bryce Harperteammates: Nationals, 2015
    2. Yunel Escobarteammates: Braves, 2007
    3. Julio Francoteammates: Phillies, 1982
    4. Stan Bahnsenteammates: Yankees, 1966
    5. Mickey Mantle

  • Bryce Harper to Willie Mays: 4 links, 61 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Bryce Harperteammates: Nationals, 2015
    2. Yunel Escobarteammates: Braves, 2007
    3. Julio Francoteammates: Phillies, 1982
    4. Tug McGrawteammates: Mets, 1972-73
    5. Willie Mays

  • Justin Verlander to Willie Mays: 4 links, 54 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Justin Verlanderteammates: Tigers, 2005-08
    2. Iván Rodríguezteammates: Rangers, 1991-93
    3. Nolan Ryanteammates: Mets, 1968-71
    4. Tom Seaverteammates: Mets, 1972-73
    5. Willie Mays

  • Clayton Kershaw to Sandy Koufax: 4 links, 53 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Clayton Kershawteammates: Dodgers, 2021
    2. Albert Pujolsteammates: Cardinals, 2002
    3. Chuck Finleyteammates: Angels, 1986-87
    4. Don Suttonteammates: Dodgers, 1966
    5. Sandy Koufax

  • Justin Verlander to Sandy Koufax: 4 links, 50 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Justin Verlanderteammates: Tigers, 2005-08
    2. Iván Rodríguezteammates: Rangers, 1991-93
    3. Nolan Ryanteammates: Astros, 1981-82
    4. Don Suttonteammates: Dodgers, 1966
    5. Sandy Koufax

  • Ernie Banks to Max Scherzer: 4 links, 55 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Ernie Banksteammates: Cubs, 1961-64
    2. Lou Brockteammates: Cardinals, 1973-75
    3. Jim Dwyerteammates: Nationals, 1989
    4. Randy Johnsonteammates: Diamondbacks, 2008
    5. Max Scherzer

  • Hank Aaron to Max Scherzer: 4 links, 54 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Hank Aaronteammates: Brewers, 1975-76
    2. Robin Yountteammates: Brewers, 1978-92
    3. Paul Molitorteammates: Twins, 1997-98
    4. Torii Hunterteammates: Tigers, 2013-14
    5. Max Scherzer

  • Albert Pujols to Ernie Banks: 4 links, 48 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Albert Pujolsteammates: Cardinals, 2009
    2. John Smoltzteammates: Braves, 1988
    3. Bruce Sutterteammates: Cubs, 1976-77
    4. Randy Hundleyteammates: Cubs, 1966-71
    5. Ernie Banks

  • Albert Pujols to Roberto Clemente: 4 links, 46 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Albert Pujolsteammates: Dodgers, 2021
    2. Max Scherzerteammates: Diamondbacks, 2009
    3. Tom Gordonteammates: Royals, 1988
    4. Gene Garberteammates: Pirates, 1969-70
    5. Roberto Clemente

  • Miguel Cabrera to Roberto Clemente: 4 links, 48 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Miguel Cabrerateammates: Tigers, 2010-14
    2. Max Scherzerteammates: Diamondbacks, 2009
    3. Tom Gordonteammates: Royals, 1988
    4. Gene Garberteammates: Pirates, 1969-70
    5. Roberto Clemente

  • Brooks Robinson to Miguel Cabrera: 3 links, 48 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Brooks Robinsonteammates: Orioles, 1977
    2. Eddie Murrayteammates: Dodgers, 1997
    3. Todd Hollandsworthteammates: Marlins, 2003
    4. Miguel Cabrera

  • Brooks Robinson to Ichiro Suzuki: 3 links, 46 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Brooks Robinsonteammates: Orioles, 1976
    2. Reggie Jacksonteammates: Athletics, 1987
    3. Stan Javierteammates: Mariners, 2001
    4. Ichiro Suzuki

  • Frank Robinson to Ichiro Suzuki: 3 links, 45 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Frank Robinsonteammates: Angels, 1973-74
    2. Nolan Ryanteammates: Rangers, 1989-92
    3. Ruben Sierrateammates: Mariners, 2002
    4. Ichiro Suzuki

  • Alex Rodriguez to Frank Robinson: 3 links, 38 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Alex Rodriguezteammates: Yankees, 2007
    2. Roger Clemensteammates: Red Sox, 1984
    3. Dennis Eckersleyteammates: Guardians, 1975-76
    4. Frank Robinson

  • Alex Rodriguez to Hank Aaron: 3 links, 40 years apart at the start of their careers.

    1. Alex Rodriguezteammates: Mariners, 2000
    2. Rickey Hendersonteammates: Yankees, 1985
    3. Phil Niekroteammates: Braves, 1964-74
    4. Hank Aaron

Questions

How many degrees of separation are there between MLB stars?

Among the 45 biggest MLB stars in our database, two players are on average 2.51 links apart through chains of teammates, and the longest shortest chain is 5 links. Counting every pair: 54 pairs are 1 links apart, 536 pairs are 2 links apart, 262 pairs are 3 links apart, 118 pairs are 4 links apart, 20 pairs are 5 links apart.

What counts as a link?

Two players are linked if they played for the same franchise in the same season. A team that moved or changed its name is one franchise.

Is there always a shorter chain?

These are the shortest chains in our database of 20,151 MLB players from 1939 to 2025. The database is not complete: some defunct clubs and some players are missing, so a shorter real chain can exist.

Can I try one myself?

Yes. Lockerlink gives you two players every day and asks you to build the shortest chain. It rotates through the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL, and practice mode lets you pick the sport and the difficulty.

Rosters and seasons come from public sources, mostly Wikipedia, nflverse and the Lahman Baseball Database, matched and merged by us; the credits are on the Lockerlink page.