This MLB puzzle ran on Oct 14, 2026. The task was to connect Tony Oliva to Willie Mays with a chain of real players. The objective: “Your chain must include an Rookie of the Year winner.” Par was 3 links.
Tony Oliva (OF) played in the MLB from 1962 to 1976. A one-team career, spent with the Twins (1962 to 1976). No college is on record for this player. As the Start of the chain, a household name like this gives you a lot of teammates to branch from, which makes it a friendly place to begin.
Willie Mays (OF) played in the MLB from 1951 to 1973. Career stops: the Giants (1951 to 1972) and the Mets (1972 to 1973). No college is on record for this player. As the Finish of the chain, a household name like this gives you a lot of teammates to branch from, which makes it a friendly place to begin.
Tony Oliva and Willie Mays do not share a team or a college, so there is no direct link. You need at least one connector in between, and the objective decides which ones are allowed to count.
This was an award objective. At least one player in the chain has to be a winner of the named honor. Of the 11,807 players in the pool, 116 satisfy it. The best known are Derek Jeter (SS, 1995 to 2014), Cal Ripken Jr. (SS, 1981 to 2001), Ichiro Suzuki (OF, 2001 to 2019), Mike Piazza (C, 1992 to 2007), Eddie Murray (1B, 1977 to 1997), and Andre Dawson (OF, 1976 to 1996).
7 of those players share a team or college with Tony Oliva, and 25 share one with Willie Mays. The Start is the tighter side, so working forward from Tony Oliva narrows the options fastest.
One shortest chain found by searching the full player pool, preferring the best known names at every step:
Many other chains work. Scoring rewards lower-profile connectors, so the best-known route is rarely the highest scoring one.
Want more? Browse the full MLB puzzle archive, read the strategy guides, or see how scoring works on How to Play.