The greatest father-son duos in MLB history
You do not have to be the kid of a Major Leaguer to turn into one your self, however hey, it actually does not damage.
Whether these sons grew up in massive league clubhouses, benefited from their fathers’ skilled teaching, or just inherited some good genes, it is hardly uncommon to see acquainted names from a earlier era resurface in MLB.
Just check out the present Blue Jays roster, which incorporates Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Daulton Varsho. As spectacular as these younger gamers have been, it should take so much for them to surpass the profession accomplishments of their fathers, with Gary Varsho an eight-year massive leaguer, Dante Bichette a four-time All-Star, and Craig Biggio and Vladimir Guerrero each within the Hall of Fame.
Toronto does not have a monopoly on second-generation massive leaguers, although. There is an intensive and proficient checklist of energetic gamers with MLB dads, to not point out up-and-coming prospects resembling Jackson Holliday (No. 3 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 checklist and son of Matt) and Druw Jones (No. 11, son of Andruw).
For now, here’s a take a look at the perfect father-son duos in Major League historical past.
Baseball-Reference.com’s Wins Above Replacement (WAR) was used as a tough guideline, with desire given to pairs by which each gamers achieved important success. That’s why every participant on the checklist accrued a minimum of 10 profession WAR, whereas another duos that embrace a Hall of Famer (Yogi Berra, Tony Gwynn, Tony Perez and Tim Raines, for instance) weren’t included.
All pairs are listed with the daddy first, and every participant’s profession WAR in parenthesis.
1. Bobby Bonds (57.9) and Barry Bonds (162.8)
No participant in MLB historical past has racked up extra WAR as a place participant than the youthful Bonds, a seven-time MVP Award winner who owns the single-season and profession house run data and just about rewrote baseball within the early 2000s. Only allegations of performance-enhancing drug use have saved him ready for Cooperstown’s name. And whereas Barry overshadows his father, Bobby should not be underrated. The Bondses are the one two gamers in historical past to mix least 300 profession house runs with a minimum of 400 steals, in addition to the one two to go 20-20 in 10 totally different seasons.
2. Ken Griffey Sr. (34.5) and Ken Griffey Jr. (83.8)
This pair truly performed along with the 1990-91 Mariners, famously smacking back-to-back house runs in opposition to the Angels on Sept. 14, 1990. At the time, Griffey Sr. was ending up a 19-year profession that included three All-Star picks and a pair of World Series rings with the Big Red Machine. While he was extra regular than spectacular — logging an OPS+ between 96 and 129 in 14 seasons — his son turned a megastar. With 630 house runs and 10 Gold Glove Awards, Griffey Jr. cruised into Cooperstown on the primary poll in 2016
3. Felipe Alou (42.3) and Moises Alou (39.9)
This is not even the entire baseball household. Felipe’s brothers, Jesus and Matty, each performed 15 seasons within the Majors, with the latter additionally producing greater than 20 WAR. Their cousin Jose Sosa, pitched briefly in MLB, and their nephew Mel Rojas pitched 10 seasons and picked up 126 saves. And one other of Felipe’s sons, Luis Rojas, managed the Mets in 2020-21. But simply between the 2 of them, Felipe and Moises performed 34 MLB seasons and racked up greater than 4,200 hits, 500 house runs and 750 doubles. And that does not embrace Felipe’s 14 years as a supervisor in Montreal and San Francisco.
4. Vladimir Guerrero (59.5) and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (13.3, by 2022)
There continues to be loads of time for this combo to maneuver up on this checklist. Despite being simply 24 years outdated and in his fifth Major League season, Vlad Jr. is effectively on his option to matching Senior’s Hall of Fame profession numbers. More than 25 years in the past now, Vlad Sr. was making a right away affect on the Montreal Expos, changing into top-of-the-line gamers in franchise historical past earlier than occurring to win an AL MVP Award with the 2004 Angels. He completed with 449 house runs — a reasonably good goal for the youthful Guerrero to pursue.
5. Ray Boone (25.8) and Bob Boone (27.4)
There even have been 4 massive league Boones throughout three generations, and this pair might simply as simply embrace both of Bob’s sons, Bret (22.8 WAR) or Aaron (13.5 WAR), who additionally manages the Yankees. Bob, a seven-time Gold Glove Award winner, performed 19 MLB seasons and ranks third all time with 2,225 profession video games caught. His father, Ray, posted a 114 OPS+ in 13 seasons as an infielder, snagging a pair of All-Star picks.
6. Mel Stottlemyre (43.1) and Todd Stottlemyre (22.9)
For some cause, MLB’s father/son duos are closely tilted towards place gamers, with the Stottlemyres two of simply 4 pitchers on this checklist. Mel made 5 All-Star groups in 11 seasons with the Yankees and posted a profession 112 ERA+, however he may need been even higher as a pitching coach, incomes 4 World Series rings in that function with the Yanks after successful one with the Mets. Mel additionally had two sons pitch within the Majors, and whereas Mel Jr. lasted only one season, Todd carved out a 14-year profession by which he threw greater than 2,000 innings and gained rings with the 1992 and ’93 Blue Jays.
7. José Cruz (54.3) and José Cruz Jr. (19.6)
Like Felipe Alou, Jose Cruz was one in all a trio of MLB brothers, with Hector spending 9 seasons within the bigs and Tommy getting a pair cups of espresso. José performed 19 MLB seasons, together with 13 with the Astros, and he ranks amongst that franchise’s all-time leaders in lots of offensive classes, together with third in WAR, hits, and stolen bases, and first in triples. His son turned the third general choose within the 1995 Draft and put collectively a stable 12-year profession of his personal, together with a 30-30 marketing campaign for Toronto in 2001.
8. Gus Bell (15.7) and Buddy Bell (66.3)
Like the Boones, the Bells have three generations of Major Leaguers, the latest of which options brothers (David and Mike). While David (the present supervisor of the Reds) primarily equaled Gus’ WAR whole, Gus was a four-time All-Star outfielder with the Reds within the Nineteen Fifties. Buddy made 5 Midsummer Classics himself, successful six Gold Glove Awards on the scorching nook and producing 4 seasons of a minimum of 6 WAR. Only 9 gamers who’ve spent a minimum of two-thirds of their profession at third base have accrued extra worth.
9. Sandy Alomar (10.5) and Roberto Alomar (67.0)
Mainly a second baseman, Sandy Alomar generated most of his worth from his glove and his baserunning over 15 seasons, recording 227 steals. Yet he had two sons who loved much more profitable careers, with the youthful Sandy changing into a Rookie of the Year Award winner and six-time All-Star catcher, and Roberto creating right into a Hall of Fame second baseman. The latter made 12 straight All-Star squads from 1990-2001, captured 10 Gold Glove Awards and gained a pair of World Series titles with the 1992-93 Blue Jays.
10. Dizzy Trout (50.0) and Steve Trout (13.4)
While there isn’t any relation to Mike Trout, these two did a lot effectively. Dizzy (given title: Paul) spent most of his 15-year profession with the Tigers and pitched in additional than 500 video games. He was a two-time All-Star and completed because the AL MVP runner-up to teammate Hal Newhouser in 1944, when he led the AL with 40 begins, 33 full video games, 351 1/3 innings and a 2.12 ERA. The subsequent yr, Dizzy helped Detroit to a World Series victory over the Cubs. For his half, Steve was the eighth general choose within the 1976 Draft by the White Sox and began greater than 200 massive league video games over 12 seasons.
11. Cecil Fielder (17.2) and Prince Fielder (23.8)
Both father and son had been imposing, highly effective sluggers. Both, amazingly, completed with precisely 319 profession house runs. Cecil positioned second within the AL MVP race with the Tigers in each 1990 and ’91, when he walloped a mixed 95 house runs and drove in 265. Prince reached the 50-homer mark himself in 2007 and was an much more achieved hitter than his father, with a profession 134 OPS+. Unfortunately, a neck damage pressured him into an early retirement at age 32 in 2016.
Some different notable pairs:
• Randy Hundley and Todd Hundley
• Julian Javier and Stan Javier
• Dave LaRoche and Adam LaRoche
• Vern Law and Vance Law
• Gary Matthews Sr. and Gary Matthews Jr.
• Hal McRae and Brian McRae
