So I had the idea of the generations page whilst writing about Todd Pratt. 

I was writing about one certain memory, but that was just one of a million everlasting memories I have with my old man through baseball. 

And I thought about all the other fathers and sons out there that have similar memories. 

Just regular guys. Guys like us, enjoying the game of baseball. 

But then I had another thought. What about the non regular dudes. The irregular families with unhuman genes. 

The guys who played in the bigs. Then had kids, who also then played in the bigs. Ken Griffey and Junior going back to back has to be the most iconic and theatrical way to connect generations. But there were more. 

Cecil and Prince.

Bobby and Barry. 

Vlad and Vladdy. 

The list goes on. According to Baseball Almanac there’s been 262 father son duos to play in the majors. And some with a few sons.

When I started to write this I actually had no idea there were that many. Some baseball guy I am. 

But then I wanted to add another layer to that.

What’s more insane is the 3 generation Major League families. Grandfather, father, son. 

All big leaguers. 

There have only been 4 baseball family triads. 

The Bells Gus→Buddy→David & Mike

The Boones. Bob→Ray→ Aaron and Bret.

The Colemans. Joe→Joe Jr.→ Casey.

The Hairstons. Sammy→Jerry & Johnny

Jerry→Jerry Jr. & Scott

Side Note: Jayson Werth also had an uncle and grandfather play in the bigs. 

These are some serious baseball genes. 

And these aren’t just guys who are there because of their names. Just to have a cup of coffee in the majors. 

12 of the 16 played 10 or more years. And one of those is Sammy Hairston who spent his prime in the Negro Leagues. 

So the question has to be asked…

Who’s the best baseball family?

Let’s start with the Bells.

Gus played 15 seasons and was a 4 time all star. He posted a .281 career average and an 15.7 career WAR. Not too shabby to start it with Grandpa Bell. 

Buddy Bell, easily the best of the Bells, played 18 seasons posting up all over the diamond. Turned in a .279 career average and over 2500 hits with 6 straight Gold Gloves at the hot corner. A 5 time All Star, Buddy carries the Bell boys on his back. . 

David posted a 15.2 career war over 12 years. A very solid major league ball player. He and his grandfather also both hit for the cycle. 

Mike Bell played 14 years in the minors hitting .265 over 4500 at bats. He played only half a season in the bigs with 27 ABs. 2 homers. 

COMBINED STATS

AVG:.274 

HR: 530

RBI: 2,637

SB: 104

WAR: 97.3 

All Star Games: 9

Gold Gloves:6

World Series Rings: 0

The Boones

Ray Boone was a very solid player from 1948 through 1960. He was a 2 time all star and won a world series with the Indians as a rookie although he had 5 ABs in the regular season and 1 in the World Series. But a World Series ring nonetheless. 

Ray’s son Bob on the other hand was a major asset to the 1980 Phillies team that won the World Series. He hit over .400 in that World Series but his defense was always his biggest tool. He won 7 Gold Gloves as a catcher and played in 4 all star games. 

Bret Boone, also a very solid Major League player. In 14 years Bret won 4 Gold Gloves and 2 Silver Sluggers at 2B. He led the AL in RBIs in 2001 for the Mariners who famously won 116 games. 

Brets brother Aaron is most famous for the homer he hit off of Boston’sTim Wakefield in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS to send the Yankees to the World Series. I don’t know if we can put “memorable moments” into a statistical category. But to me, that means something. 

COMBINED STATS

AVG:263d

HR: 634

RBI:3,139

SB: 260

WAR:89.6

All Star Games: 10

Gold Gloves: 11

World Series Rings: 2

The Colemans

Joe Coleman the grandfather was a serviceable pitcher after serving in the Pacific Theatre of WWII as a pilot. (He went to the same Aviation school as Ted Williams and Johnny Pesky. Via Sabr) Overall he pitched 10 years with a 4.38 career ERA. 52-76 was his record if you’re like me and still like the “win” statistic. 

His son, also Joe, was also a very serviceable big league pitcher. Spending most of his 15 year career with the Senators and Tigers, father Joe had a couple of very solid years. In a three year span from 1971-1973 he posted 62 wins throwing over 280 innings each year. In those three years his ERA was 3.16 with a WHIP (my favorite pitching stat) of 1.22. Not too shabby

The grandson, Casey, threw 4 years with a career era of 5.72. 

OVERALL TOTAL STATS

WINS: 202

LOSSES: 224

ERA: 3.98

WHIP: 1.40

ALL STAR GAMES: 2

WORLD SERIES: 2

WAR: 28.5

The Hairstons

Sam Hairston started the Hairston baseball dynasty. He started his career playing in the Negro National League. Negro League statistics have come a long way in the last few years. But I know his Baseball Reference stats do him justice. That being said, it’s recorded that his 1950 season was his best, winning the NNL Triple Crown. He played just 4 games in the Major Leagues in 1951, but hit .400. Then played minor league ball for 9 more seasons.

John Hairston was the older of the two big league bros, but you could barely call his stint in the majors a cup of coffee only getting 4 ABs and 1 hit for the Cubs. 

His brother Jerry had a much more substantial career. He spent most of his career as a part time outfielder and pinch hitter compiling 438 hits over 14 years.

The Hairston legacy is mostly known for the two grandkids, Jerry Jr. and Scott. 

At least I think it is. Probably since I’m a millennial baseball guy. 

Jerry played 16 years from 1998 to 2013. Never an all star, but a solid Major League outfielder. 

Same with his brother Scott. He played 11 millennial years as a quality outfielder. Nothing fancy with the Hairstons. Just solid ball players. 

When I totalled up the stats I included Sammy’s Negro League stats. Like I said, it’s a shame we don’t have more because from what we do know it seems Grandpa Hairston could play some ball. 

Total Stats

AVG: .256

HR: 211

RBI: 1004

SB: 194

WAR: 29.1

All Star Games: 2

World Series Rings: 1

So Who’s the Best?

An honest case could probably be made for all of them. And I’d be willing to listen to an argument..

 But come on, we know. The Boones are the best trifecta. 

Or quadfecta. Whatever. 

All 4 played over 12 years in the majors. All played in at least one All Star Game. 

All played in at least one World Series. 

They have the numbers. And the numbers aren’t heavily carried by one of them. 

They have the big moments. 

Let’s have a discussion..