# Best Parent/Offspring Professional Athletes **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 19, 2002, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-parent-offspring-professional-athletes/143797 "2002-12-19T14:17:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Shark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-parent-offspring-professional-athletes/143797/1 "2002-12-19T14:17:37Z")
I was thinking the other day about how the offspring of famous professional athletes don’t usually exceed the performance of their parents. Then I got thinking about those rare cases when they both had outstanding careers. In particular, I’m thinking about fathers and sons who play the same professional sport. So, who is the best father/son combo in the world of professional sports? I’ve got a few in mind, but I know there have got to be others. Football: Archie Manning/Peyton Manning Baseball: Bobby Bonds/Barry Bonds or Ken Griffey Sr./Ken Griffey Jr. Basketball: ? ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-parent-offspring-professional-athletes/143797/2 "2002-12-19T14:23:56Z")
Possibilities in football (soccer): Frank Lampard / Frank Lampard Ian Wright / Shaun Wright-Phillips Archie Gemmill / Scott Gemmill Harry Redknapp / Jamie Redknapp ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-parent-offspring-professional-athletes/143797/3 "2002-12-19T15:24:59Z")
1. In hockey, we have Bobby Hull and son Brett- both authentic superstars. 2. Basketball star Grant Hill is the son of stellar Dallas Cowboys running back Calvin Hill. 3. Former heavyweight champ Ken Norton’s son, Ken Jr., was an all-Pro middle linebacker with the Cowboys and the 49ers. 4. Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Griese’s son Brian won a college football national title as quarterback of the Michigan Wolverines. And Brian’s been a pretty good (occasionally great) quarterback for the Denver Broncos. 5. NBA scoring champ Rick Barry has several sons (including Jon & Brent) who’ve played pro basketball (none as well as Dad). 6. NBA star Mike Bibby’s dad Henry played for the Knicks- and his uncle Jim was a good pitcher for the Texas Rangers. 7. Gus Bell was an all-star outfielder for the Reds in the 1950s, and his son Buddy was an all-star 3rd baseman for the Indians and Rangers. 8. Randy Hundley was a terriffic catcher for the Cubs, and his son Todd became a big league catcher, too. 9. The Phillies’ all-star catcher Bob Boone had a son Brett, who was an all-star 2nd baseman for the Seattle Mariners. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-parent-offspring-professional-athletes/143797/4 "2002-12-19T15:38:14Z")
In auto racing, Al Unser Sr. and Al. Unser Jr. have both won multiple Indy 500 races. And in NASCAR, you could point to Dale Earbnhardt Sr. & Jr. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-parent-offspring-professional-athletes/143797/5 "2002-12-19T15:41:14Z")
Tony Dorsett’s son is beginning to make a name for himself in the pros as well. ---
**Author:** ![Shark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Shark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-parent-offspring-professional-athletes/143797/6 "2002-12-19T16:03:55Z")
It’s funny, but one of the first father/son combos that I thought of when I started thinking about this whole thing was Ken Norton Sr. and Jr. But alas, they played different sports. I can’t believe I didn’t think of Bobby and Brett Hull in hockey. That’s the type of father/son duo I’m talking about, both top caliber in the same sport. Quite a few good examples of baseball duos, but I still think either the Griffeys or the Bonds would get the vote. So, as I have it now. Football(US) Archie/Peyton Manning or Bob/Brian Griese Football(Soccer) Frank Lampard / Frank Lampard Ian Wright / Shaun Wright-Phillips Archie Gemmill / Scott Gemmill Harry Redknapp / Jamie Redknapp I don’t know anything about Soccer, so I defer to Crusoe Baseball Ken Griffey Sr./Jr. or Bobby/Barry Bonds Basketball Henry/Mike Bibby or Rick/John or Brent Barry NASCAR Dale Earnhardt Sr./Jr. Indy Cars Al Unser Sr./Jr. Hockey Bobby/Brett Hull Keep em comin’ ---
**Author:** ![Raymond\_Luxury\_Yacht](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raymond_luxury_yacht/32/4099_2.png) [@Raymond\_Luxury\_Yacht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raymond_Luxury_Yacht)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-parent-offspring-professional-athletes/143797/7 "2002-12-19T16:19:38Z")
Joe (Jelly Bean) Bryant, who played for the 76ers in the 1970’s has a son who plays for the Lakers. Dolph Schayes is an NBA hall of famer - his son Danny had a long NBA career. The biological father of Jalen Rose played for the Pistons. In different sports there is Calvin Hill (football) and son Grant (basketball); and Kyle Rote (football) and son Kyle Jr. (soccer). BTW, the Bells of baseball have a third generation playing pro ball, no? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-parent-offspring-professional-athletes/143797/8 "2002-12-19T16:32:14Z")
Baseball: Yogi Berra’s son Dale had a successful baseball career. Hall of Famer George Sisler had two baseball playing sons. Dick Sisler was an All-Star, and his home run in 1950 put the Phillies in the World Series. Dave Sisler was a moderately successful relief pitcher. All-Star Felipe Alou is father of All-Star Moises Alou. Felipe had a long and successful career, and Moises looks even better. Sandy Alomar, Sr., was also a success (and an all-star). His sons Sandy, Jr. and Roberto were also all-stars. ---
**Author:** ![Shark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Shark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-parent-offspring-professional-athletes/143797/9 "2002-12-19T16:38:37Z")
It seems that the NBA has yet to field a superstar combo of father and son yet. Plenty of combinations of great/decent, decent/great and decent/decent, just no great/great combos. Is that because of the smaller number of players in the NBA compared to other sports? I suppose on a combined greatness scale, if any of Michael Jordan’s kids even make it to the NBA they would be near the top. Also, if Bill Walton’s kid, Luke ends up playing in the NBA and being half the player his old man was, thats a pretty good duo. I suppose you could say his old man was only half the player he could have been, but that’s a topic for another day. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-parent-offspring-professional-athletes/143797/10 "2002-12-19T16:57:10Z")
Oh, in basketball… Dolph Schayes was a perennial All-Star. His son Danny wasn’t nearly as good, but still had a long, solid NBA career. ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-parent-offspring-professional-athletes/143797/11 "2002-12-19T19:03:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jehovah68 \* > \*\*Joe (Jelly Bean) Bryant, who played for the 76ers in the 1970’s has a son who plays for the Lakers. > \*\* I think his name is Kobe or something. I hear he’s pretty good ;). > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jehovah68 \* > \*\* > > BTW, the Bells of baseball have a third generation playing pro ball, no? \*\* David Bell, 2nd base, most recently of the World Series losers, signed this week with the Philadelphia Phillies. ---
**Author:** ![Raymond\_Luxury\_Yacht](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raymond_luxury_yacht/32/4099_2.png) [@Raymond\_Luxury\_Yacht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raymond_Luxury_Yacht)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-parent-offspring-professional-athletes/143797/12 "2002-12-19T19:18:53Z")
Other NBA combos: Mike Dunleavy/ Mike Jr. Bob Ferry/ Danny Milt Wagner/ Dajuan ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-parent-offspring-professional-athletes/143797/13 "2002-12-19T20:11:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ol’Gaffer \* > \*\* > > David Bell, 2nd base, most recently of the World Series losers, signed this week with the Philadelphia Phillies. \*\* Oops. Getting my David Bells confused with my Jeff Kents. The aforementioned Mr. Bell plays _3rd_ base and signed a couple of weeks ago. ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-parent-offspring-professional-athletes/143797/14 "2002-12-19T20:17:41Z")
Aren’t the baseball Boones at least 3 generations? ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-parent-offspring-professional-athletes/143797/15 "2002-12-19T20:27:22Z")
> [@](#): > > Aren’t the baseball Boones at least 3 generations? Yes…Ray, son Bob, grandon Aaron. ---
**Author:** ![Lure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@Lure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lure)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-parent-offspring-professional-athletes/143797/16 "2002-12-19T20:57:56Z")
The Cal Ripkens were the first to come to my mind.Not so much in terms of numbers,but work ethic in the game. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-parent-offspring-professional-athletes/143797/17 "2002-12-19T21:02:04Z")
In hockey, you have Gordie Howe, Hall of Famer, and his son Mark Howe, four time All-Star. ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2002, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-parent-offspring-professional-athletes/143797/18 "2002-12-19T21:10:53Z")
Nascar had a 4th generation in Lee, Richard, Kyle and Adam Petty.