Immaculate Grid baseball: Answers, connections, hints for Grid 97 (July 9)

Here are some of the possible answers for the 97th edition of the Immaculate Grid baseball game on July 9th featuring the Nationals, Royals, Padres, Rangers, and Brewers. 

Immaculate Grid has staying power, folks. At almost 100 daily games signed, sealed, and delivered, the MLB trivia game is more popular than ever and even inspiring its own spinoffs in other sports.

I have yet to see an IMDB-ish version of this, which I really want someone to develop. Which actor appeared in Friends and 17 Again? That would be good fun.

Anyway, back to what you’re here for, Immaculate Grid baseball. Today’s grid featured five teams, with the only stat row/column being the right-most row, a 30-plus stolen base season. Let’s start by looking at the most popular answers and make our way to other possibilities.

Immaculate Grid 97: Top answers and connections for each square (July 9)

• Player that played for Royals/Nationals: Michael A. Taylor (42%)
• Player that played for Royals/Padres: Eric Hosmer (70%)
• Player that played for Royals/30+ SB season: Adalberto Mondesi (17%)
• Player that played for Rangers/Nationals: Nelson Cruz (24%)
• Player that played for Rangers/Padres: Yu Darvish (26%)
• Player that played for Rangers/30+ SB season: Elvis Andrus (50%)
• Player that played for Brewers/Nationals: Luke Voit (21%)
• Player that played for Brewers/Padres: Josh Hader (46%)
• Player that played for Brewers/30+ SB season: Christian Yelich (40%)

Players that have played for Nationals, Padres, Royals, Rangers, Brewers

There is one player who has appeared for all five franchises and thus would qualify for any of the team squares.

His name? Matt Stairs. Stairs played 19 leagues in the bigs and was a true journeyman, playing for 12 different franchises and only spending three years or more with just three of them. Seven teams he had a season or fewer with, with fewer than 50 games with the Red Sox, Rangers, and Tigers.

Stairs won a World Series in 2008 with the Phillies after he was traded midseason from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Fabio Castro.

By the time he hung the cleats up, he had a career slash line of .262/.356/.477 with an OPS of .832.

Stairs joined the Phillies as a hitting coach in 2016, but sticking with his journeyman ways, went on to serve that same role for the Padres a year later.

Players that played for Royals, Nationals

Here are some players that played for Kansas City and Washington:

• Chris Haney
• Alcides Escobar
• Jim Wohlford
• Jose Guillen
• Mark Grudzielanek

Players that played for Royals, Padres

Midwest and Pacific vibes from these five:

• Ian Kennedy
• Gaylord Perry
• Eric Hosmer
• Kurt Stillwell
• Wally Joyner

Players that played for Royals with a 30+ stolen base season

Fast Royals feature these ones:

• Willie Nelson
• Freddie Patek
• Amos Otis
• Joe Foy

Players that played for Rangers and Nationals

Texas and Washington might be known for the Bush family, but these five players repped both of the teams in each city:

• Jackie Brown
• Ken Hill
• Dave Schmidt
• Ivan Rodriguez
• Larry Biittner

Players that played for Rangers and Padres

Rangers and Padres crossover feature these players, including current Angels manager Phil Nevin:

• Gaylord Perry
• Joaquin Benoit
• Phil Nevin
• Johnny Grubb
• Dave Roberts

Players that played for Rangers with a 30+ stolen base season

Here are three players who have reached the 30/30 club for the Rangers, which includes home runs as well but also marks this statistical feat:

• Ian Kinsler
• Alfonso Soriano
• Bobby Bonds

Players that played for Brewers, Nationals

Here’s a look at five players who suited up for the Brewers and Nationals both:

• Bob McClure
• Eric Thames
• Adam Lind
• Royce Clayton
• Ned Yost

Players that played for Brewers, Padres

Crossover between Milwaukee and San Diego is highlighted by these five:

• Trevor Hoffman
• Ollie Brown
• Kurt Bevacqua
• Trent Grisham
• Randy Wolf

Players that played for Brewers with a 30+ stolen base season

Here’s a sampling of the players who have accomplished this for the Brewers:

• Christian Yelich
• Ryan Braun
• Tommy Harper
• Tommy Harper
• Paul Molitor
• Darryl Hamilton
• Pat Listach