Fathers and Sons

Today we present some of the most prolific father-son tandems in the history of sports.

Ken Griffey Sr. won two World Series titles and played in three All-Star Games, including 1980, when he was the Midsummer Classic’s MVP.  Junior won ten Gold Gloves, was the 1987 AL MVP, played in 13 All-Star Games, and is a first ballot Hall-of-Famer.

Bobby and Brett Hull – the Golden Jet and Golden Brett — are the only father-and-son pair in the Hockey Hall of Fame and are the only father-son duo to each score 1,000 career points in the NHL.

Lee Petty pioneered NASCAR and was one of its first superstars.  Winner of the inaugural Daytona 500, he captured three career points titles.  His son, Richard, won a record seven Daytona 500s and seven points titles.  The King won 200 races in his career, more than any driver in NASCAR history.

Ken Norton Sr. was heavyweight champion of the world in 1978 and is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.  Junior, an All-American linebacker for UCLA, has four Super Bowl rings: three as a player and one as a coach.

The 1994 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, Dell Curry retired as the Charlotte Hornets’ all-time leader in points and three-point field goals.  His oldest son, Steph, is a two-time NBA champion and has twice been named league MVP.  These two can shoot.

Archie Manning played 16 NFL seasons, was 1969 SEC Player of the Year, and is a two-time Pro Bowler.  His middle son, Peyton, is a five-time NFL MVP and is the most prolific passer in league history.  Youngest son Eli was the first overall pick of the 2004 NFL Draft and is a two-time Super Bowl MVP.

Old Tom Morris designed St. Andrews and won four Open Championships, the last at 47.  He remains the oldest Open champion in history.  His son, Young Tom, also won four Open Championships and was the first young golf prodigy in history.  In 1868, Young Tom won his first Open.  He was 17, and remains the youngest player ever to win golf’s oldest tournament.

Bobby and Barry Bonds are baseball’s most accomplished father-son combination, holding the record for most homers, RBI and stolen bases.  A three-time All-Star and with three Gold Gloves, Bobby was the first player to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in a season five times, a record later matched by Barry.  A seven-time MVP with eight Gold Gloves and a dozen Silver Slugger Awards, Barry Bonds is one of the greatest players in baseball history.

Man ‘O War is considered by many as the greatest horse ever, losing only once in his career [to a horse named Upset].  He did not win the Triple Crown only because he was held out of the Kentucky Derby.  His son, War Admiral, went eight-for-eight in 1937, including the Triple Crown, and finished in the money in 25 of 26 career starts.

Dale Earnhardt won a record seven Winston Cup championships, tying him with Richard Petty.  The Intimidator won 76 Cup races before he died in a crash on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.  His immensely popular son, Dale Jr., is a two-time Daytona winner with 26 career wins.

Cecil and Prince Fielder are the only father/son duo in MLB history to each hit 50 home runs in a season.  A three-time All-Star, Cecil twice led the AL in homers and was a three-time RBI champion.  A six-time All-Star, Prince earned three Silver Slugger Awards.  Father and son each retired with 319 career home runs.

The Matthews’ are a third-generation NFL family.  Clay Sr. played four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers in the 1950s.  His son, Clay Jr., was a first round pick and played in four Pro Bowls over 19 NFL seasons.  His brother, Bruce, is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  Clay Matthews III won the 2010 Butkus Award as college football’s best linebacker at USC.  He is a six-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion.  Clay Jr. and Clay III are the only father-son tandem to be named defensive player of the week in the NFL.