6 Degrees of Raffy: The Russ Nixon Connection

It's time for another installment ("aka filler post") of 6 Degrees Of Raffy, where I connect a beloved card from my collection and connect the player depicted on it to current Red Sox superstar Rafael Devers. 

 

We start with a randomly generated card from my collection:

Random TCDB Card: 

1990 Topps  #171 Russ Nixon (MGR, TL)

  

Poor Russ Nixon. He was fired as manager of the Braves midway through the 1990 season. The General Manager who fired him (booby Cox) took over manager duties himself and relinquished GM duties to someone else after the season. In 1991, the Braves went "worst to first" and started a run of 14 NL East Championships in 15 years (the strike shortened 1994 season being the only miss).

Teammates in the 1990 Topps set
#171 Russ Nixon (MGR, TL)	#535 John Smoltz

OK, technically not teammates, but Nixon managed a young starting pitcher who would go on to spend 21 seasons with the Braves as both a Cy Young winning starter and an All-Star closer.

Teammates in the 2009 Topps Boston Red Sox set
#BOS11 John Smoltz	#BOS3 Dustin Pedroia

Smoltz played one final season outside Atlanta. In 2009, the 42-year old Smoltz signed a free agent contract with the Red Sox. (It did not go well - he was eventually released during the season and finished his career in with the Cardinals). Still, that short stint in Boston allowed him to have the reigning AL MVP behind him on the field.

Teammates in the 2019 Topps Gypsy Queen set
#75 Dustin Pedroia	#147 Rafael Devers

 

Pedroia is on the Hall of Fame ballot this year, although his chances of being inducted are slim. I hope he at least stays on the ballot for awhile. 2019 represented his final year in Boston, but Dever's career was just starting to blossom, as he led the league in doubles and topped 100 RBI for the first time.

Degrees of Raffy: 3