There have been approximately 200 father-son combinations in the history of Major League Baseball (as well as some three-generation families), the first of which was the combo of Herm and Jack Doscher.
Herm and Jack, while the first, were rather unremarkable in their careers, though.
However, a good majority of the father-son combos seen in the majors have seen some extremely talented players, and some of those combos have been downright amazing.
Following are the five best father-son combinations in the history of MLB:
Bobby Bonds and Barry Bonds.
Combining seven MVPs and 10 top-3 finishes in MVP voting, 11 Gold Gloves, as well as 4,821 hits, 3,485 runs, 903 doubles, 143 triples, 1,094 home runs, 3,020 RBIs, 3,472 walks, and 975 stolen bases, they are without a doubt the most prolific father-son combo in the history of baseball. Hands down.
Those who want to argue they shouldn't take the top spot over the Griffey's because of Barry's alleged (and yes, I maintain alleged because the recent court case in my mind was bogus) use of steroids may as well keep them off the list entirely.
However, since this is my list, I'm not going to do that, and will recognize the greatest father-son combination ever to lace up cleats in the majors.
Ken Griffey and Ken Griffey Jr.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/4305/news
While not as prolific as the Bonds, the Griffeys are certainly baseball royalty. Together Ken Griffey and his son, known to many as the "Kid", combined for 16 All-Star appearances, one MVP award, nine Gold Gloves, seven Silver Slugger awards, 4,924 hits, 2,791 runs, 888 doubles, 115 triples, 782 home runs, 2,695 RBIs, 2,031 walks, and 384 stolen bases.
Most of the damage from this father-son combo was done by Junior, as it was with Barry Bonds and his father, but to a more marked degree. However, Ken Griffey Sr. was no slouch, and was an integral part of the Cincinnati Reds' "Big Red Machine" of the early 1970s.
Of note is the fact this father-son combo was the first in MLB to play at the same time, and even got to play together in 1990 with the Seattle Mariners, smacking back-to-back home runs in a Sept. 14, 1990, game against the California Angels—a game the Mariners lost 7-5.
Mel Stottlemyre and Todd Stottlemyre.
Quite a few people forget this great father-son pitching combo when making these lists, preferring to make note of everyday players. However, this was absolutely one of the greatest generational combinations in the history of the game.
Pitching his entire 11-year career with the New York Yankees, Mel Stottlemyre posted a 164-139 record with a lifetime ERA of 2.97 in 360 with 1,257 strikeouts, 152 complete games, and 40 shutouts. He was a five-time World Series Champion, as well as a five-time All-Star, and finished in the top-25 of MVP voting four separate times, including his rookie year.
His son Todd finished his 14-year career in MLB with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2002, but spent the majority of his early career with the Toronto Blue Jays (seven seasons) where he won two World Series rings. He posted a career 138-121 record with a 4.28 ERA in 372 games with 1,587 strikeouts, and his and his father's 3,144 combined strikeouts are the most in MLB history by any father-son combo.
Of note is the fact Todd's brother, Mel Stottlemyre Jr., also pitched in the majors, posting a 0-1 record and 4.88 ERA with 14 strikeouts in a little less than two months with the Kansas City Royals in 1990.
Felipe Alou and Moises Alou.
Both playing 17 seasons in the majors, the Alou father-son combo is one of my favorites considering Moises Alou helped my beloved Florida Marlins win a World Series in 1997, and depending how you look at it, was helpful in them winning the 2003 World title, as well.
Combining for nine All-Star appearances, one World Series title, two Silver Slugger Awards, along with five top-10 MVP finishes in voting, they also combined for 4,235 hits, 780 doubles, 88 triples, 538 home runs, 2,139 RBIs, 1,160 walks, and 213 stolen bases, making them one of the most prolific father-son batting combinations ever.
Cecil Fielder and Prince Fielder.
This father-son combination looks like it may eventually move up the ranks, as Prince Fielder's career is in mid-swing, so to say. His 6-3, 230-pound father, Cecil, played 13 seasons in the majors, being selected as an All-Star three times, garnering two Silver Slugger awards, and finishing second in MVP voting both in 1990 and 1991 (and 9th in 1992). Over his career he had 1,313 hits, 200 doubles, seven triples, 319 home runs, 1,008 RBIs, and 693 walks.
Prince, in just his seventh season, has already gotten 881 hits, 178 doubles, nine triples, 203 home runs, 578 RBIs, and 485 walks, and looks to surpass his father in every way, being selected as an All-Star twice, winning a Silver Slugger award, and finishing third and fourth in MVP voting in 2007 and 2009. If he continues to produce as he has, and is able to extend his career to at least 13-14 seasons, the Fielders quite likely will go down as the third best father-son combo behind only the Bonds and Griffeys.
Honorable Mentions:
The Alomars: Sandy (Father), and Sandy Jr. and Roberto; the Boones: Ray (Grandfather), Bob (Father), and Aaron and Bret; The Bells: Gus (Grandfather) Buddy (Father), and David and Mike; The Hairstons: Sammy (Grandfather), Jerry (Father), Johnny (Uncle), and Jerry Jr. and Scott; The Duncans: Dave (Father), and Shelly and Chris; Tony Gwynn and Tony Gwynn Jr.(notes): Doug and Kyle Drabek(notes); Yogi and Dale Berra.
Special Note:
There were three amazing father-son combos where the father played in the Negro Leagues and the son played in MLB. They are: Pedro Cepeda and Orlando Cepeda, Martinez Jackson and Reggie Jackson, and Luis Tiant Sr. and Luis Tiant.
Daniel Barber Yahoo Sports Contributor.
Herm and Jack, while the first, were rather unremarkable in their careers, though.
However, a good majority of the father-son combos seen in the majors have seen some extremely talented players, and some of those combos have been downright amazing.
Following are the five best father-son combinations in the history of MLB:
Bobby Bonds and Barry Bonds.
Combining seven MVPs and 10 top-3 finishes in MVP voting, 11 Gold Gloves, as well as 4,821 hits, 3,485 runs, 903 doubles, 143 triples, 1,094 home runs, 3,020 RBIs, 3,472 walks, and 975 stolen bases, they are without a doubt the most prolific father-son combo in the history of baseball. Hands down.
Those who want to argue they shouldn't take the top spot over the Griffey's because of Barry's alleged (and yes, I maintain alleged because the recent court case in my mind was bogus) use of steroids may as well keep them off the list entirely.
However, since this is my list, I'm not going to do that, and will recognize the greatest father-son combination ever to lace up cleats in the majors.
Ken Griffey and Ken Griffey Jr.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/4305/news
While not as prolific as the Bonds, the Griffeys are certainly baseball royalty. Together Ken Griffey and his son, known to many as the "Kid", combined for 16 All-Star appearances, one MVP award, nine Gold Gloves, seven Silver Slugger awards, 4,924 hits, 2,791 runs, 888 doubles, 115 triples, 782 home runs, 2,695 RBIs, 2,031 walks, and 384 stolen bases.
Most of the damage from this father-son combo was done by Junior, as it was with Barry Bonds and his father, but to a more marked degree. However, Ken Griffey Sr. was no slouch, and was an integral part of the Cincinnati Reds' "Big Red Machine" of the early 1970s.
Of note is the fact this father-son combo was the first in MLB to play at the same time, and even got to play together in 1990 with the Seattle Mariners, smacking back-to-back home runs in a Sept. 14, 1990, game against the California Angels—a game the Mariners lost 7-5.
Mel Stottlemyre and Todd Stottlemyre.
Quite a few people forget this great father-son pitching combo when making these lists, preferring to make note of everyday players. However, this was absolutely one of the greatest generational combinations in the history of the game.
Pitching his entire 11-year career with the New York Yankees, Mel Stottlemyre posted a 164-139 record with a lifetime ERA of 2.97 in 360 with 1,257 strikeouts, 152 complete games, and 40 shutouts. He was a five-time World Series Champion, as well as a five-time All-Star, and finished in the top-25 of MVP voting four separate times, including his rookie year.
His son Todd finished his 14-year career in MLB with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2002, but spent the majority of his early career with the Toronto Blue Jays (seven seasons) where he won two World Series rings. He posted a career 138-121 record with a 4.28 ERA in 372 games with 1,587 strikeouts, and his and his father's 3,144 combined strikeouts are the most in MLB history by any father-son combo.
Of note is the fact Todd's brother, Mel Stottlemyre Jr., also pitched in the majors, posting a 0-1 record and 4.88 ERA with 14 strikeouts in a little less than two months with the Kansas City Royals in 1990.
Felipe Alou and Moises Alou.
Both playing 17 seasons in the majors, the Alou father-son combo is one of my favorites considering Moises Alou helped my beloved Florida Marlins win a World Series in 1997, and depending how you look at it, was helpful in them winning the 2003 World title, as well.
Combining for nine All-Star appearances, one World Series title, two Silver Slugger Awards, along with five top-10 MVP finishes in voting, they also combined for 4,235 hits, 780 doubles, 88 triples, 538 home runs, 2,139 RBIs, 1,160 walks, and 213 stolen bases, making them one of the most prolific father-son batting combinations ever.
Cecil Fielder and Prince Fielder.
This father-son combination looks like it may eventually move up the ranks, as Prince Fielder's career is in mid-swing, so to say. His 6-3, 230-pound father, Cecil, played 13 seasons in the majors, being selected as an All-Star three times, garnering two Silver Slugger awards, and finishing second in MVP voting both in 1990 and 1991 (and 9th in 1992). Over his career he had 1,313 hits, 200 doubles, seven triples, 319 home runs, 1,008 RBIs, and 693 walks.
Prince, in just his seventh season, has already gotten 881 hits, 178 doubles, nine triples, 203 home runs, 578 RBIs, and 485 walks, and looks to surpass his father in every way, being selected as an All-Star twice, winning a Silver Slugger award, and finishing third and fourth in MVP voting in 2007 and 2009. If he continues to produce as he has, and is able to extend his career to at least 13-14 seasons, the Fielders quite likely will go down as the third best father-son combo behind only the Bonds and Griffeys.
Honorable Mentions:
The Alomars: Sandy (Father), and Sandy Jr. and Roberto; the Boones: Ray (Grandfather), Bob (Father), and Aaron and Bret; The Bells: Gus (Grandfather) Buddy (Father), and David and Mike; The Hairstons: Sammy (Grandfather), Jerry (Father), Johnny (Uncle), and Jerry Jr. and Scott; The Duncans: Dave (Father), and Shelly and Chris; Tony Gwynn and Tony Gwynn Jr.(notes): Doug and Kyle Drabek(notes); Yogi and Dale Berra.
Special Note:
There were three amazing father-son combos where the father played in the Negro Leagues and the son played in MLB. They are: Pedro Cepeda and Orlando Cepeda, Martinez Jackson and Reggie Jackson, and Luis Tiant Sr. and Luis Tiant.
Daniel Barber Yahoo Sports Contributor.
