# Most successful siblings (of 3 or more) in sports history **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-nfl, hockey-nhl\ **Created:** [November 30, 2023, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-siblings-of-3-or-more-in-sports-history/993926 "2023-11-30T23:16:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-siblings-of-3-or-more-in-sports-history/993926/61 "2023-12-03T01:53:37Z")
> [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > Since chess is considered a sport in many countries, I remember being perplexed upon moving to the United States to find that the Karpov-Kasparov battles were in the Living/Style section of the newspaper, not the sports section. And that my coworkers found it hilarious that I expected ESPN to have a show where experts analyzed the day’s match! ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-siblings-of-3-or-more-in-sports-history/993926/62 "2023-12-03T09:44:05Z")
In AFL there are the Daniher brothers Anthony, Neale, Terry and Chris who played a combined 752 games including one where all four ran out for Essendon. > [@Hook](#): > > [Mortimer family - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortimer_family) > Three Mortimer brothers (Chris, Peter and Steve) played with Canterbury Bankstown Rugby League club in the 1970’s. In the 1979 Grand Final (Super Bowl equivalent), all 3 scored. In the same period and at the same club were the Hughes brothers Mark, Gary & Graeme. Gary had three sons who also played for Canterbury and Graeme was the last person to play for NSW in rugby league and cricket. ---
**Author:** ![Orville\_mogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/aeb1de/32.png) [@Orville\_mogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orville_mogul)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-siblings-of-3-or-more-in-sports-history/993926/63 "2023-12-03T10:23:06Z")
This is all very interesting. Just curious, how much of these would be due to nature, or to nurture, or to family connections? ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-siblings-of-3-or-more-in-sports-history/993926/64 "2023-12-03T10:54:20Z")
It would be remiss of me not to include the Ella brothers (twins) Mark, Glen and Gary who all played international rugby union. Mark in particular being one of the greats of the sport. As the meme goes, “quantity has it’s own quality” and so I’d also mention the Howes in Sydney club hockey for Glebe. The Howes were from a family of 18 (which is why we have television) and there was at least one occasion with a photo to prove it of a game where all the 11 players were brothers with a gap in ages of over 30 years. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-siblings-of-3-or-more-in-sports-history/993926/65 "2023-12-03T14:20:23Z")
I’m sure some combination of each. A lot of things have to go right. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-siblings-of-3-or-more-in-sports-history/993926/66 "2023-12-03T17:30:36Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > As the meme goes, “quantity has it’s own quality” and so I’d also mention the Howes in Sydney club hockey for Glebe. The Howes were from a family of 18 (which is why we have television) and there was at least one occasion with a photo to prove it of a game where all the 11 players were brothers with a gap in ages of over 30 years. Wow! Given that, in ice hockey, the legendary [Gordie Howe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordie_Howe) played with two of his sons during the 1970s, it appears that, in old English, “Howe” may mean “hockey.” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-siblings-of-3-or-more-in-sports-history/993926/67 "2023-12-03T18:54:26Z")
I think the Sutter brothers still top the list. Six of seven brothers made it into the NHL, four of them went on after their playing career to become coaches in the NHL. They had six Stanley cups between them, Five of the six brothers were first round draft picks, and four were NHL All-stars. The seventh brother was reportedly the best of the bunch at hockey, but wanted to run the damily farm instead. The Sutter’s kids are also hockey players. Six of them went pro, three into the NHL. That’s 9 Sutters in the NHL at various times. ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-siblings-of-3-or-more-in-sports-history/993926/68 "2023-12-03T19:21:00Z")
I will give you the Mohammad brothers. Hanif, Wazir, Mushtaq, Sadiq. All did not just play at top-level cricket in their country (Pakistan), they played in the national, representive team (ie, they were in the best 11 cricketers). Hanif and Mushtaq also captained their country. A fifth brother, Raees, was 12th man (ie, first substitute) for the National Test team. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2023, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-siblings-of-3-or-more-in-sports-history/993926/69 "2023-12-03T19:40:45Z")
I got the Chappell brothers but forgot my own Mohammad brothers. Someone in Pakistan (AK84?) is canceling my birth certificate, quite justifiably. ---
**Author:** ![MeepersC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meepersc/32/12088_2.png) [@MeepersC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeepersC)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2023, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-siblings-of-3-or-more-in-sports-history/993926/70 "2023-12-08T23:46:55Z")
The Plumlee brothers (Miles, Mason, and Marshall) all earned scholarships to Duke University’s basketball program. They may not have set the world on fire as NBA players, but since Duke’s tuition is over $60,000 per year - that’s not a bad return! ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-siblings-of-3-or-more-in-sports-history/993926/71 "2023-12-09T16:29:22Z")
I just looked up families with at least 3 players in the NHL. There are a surprising number of them: Curt, Harvey and Bill Bennet Reg, Doug, and Max Bentley Christian, JP amd Paulin Bordelau George, Billy, Frank, and Robert Boucher Neil, Aaron, and Paul Broten Paul, Mike, and Aaron Comrie Lionel, Charlie nd Roy Conacher Bill, Bunn, and Bud Cook Bob, Mark, and Lou Crawford Brian, Barry, and Ray Cullen Okay, I’m only into the C’s, so I’m going to,stop there. Summary: Families with 6 players in NHL: 1 Families with 4 players in NHL: 4 Families with 3 players in the NHL: 45 > **[List of family relations in the NHL](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_family_relations_in_the_NHL)** > > This is a list of family relations in the National Hockey League. Since the creation of the National Hockey League in 1917, family members have been involved in all aspects of the league. Although most connections are among players, there have been family members involved in coaching and managing as well. > Since 1917, 47 pairs of brothers have played together on the same team; among them, ten have won the Stanley Cup together. Brothers have also squared off against each other five times in the ... ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-siblings-of-3-or-more-in-sports-history/993926/72 "2023-12-09T16:40:18Z")
I’m reminded of the old joke about the winningest sibling combination in baseball history being Cy Young and his sisters.\* \*actually he only had one sister along with three brothers. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-siblings-of-3-or-more-in-sports-history/993926/73 "2023-12-09T16:43:17Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I’m reminded of the old joke about the winningest sibling combination in baseball history being Cy Young and his sisters.\* There was a similar joke about the brothers with the most NHL goals being the Gretzky brothers: Wayne (894) and Brent (1). ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-siblings-of-3-or-more-in-sports-history/993926/74 "2023-12-09T17:33:43Z")
No mention of motorsports yet. The most famous trio would be the Unser brothers, Bobby, Jerry and Al. Bobby won the Indianapolis 500 3 times, 2 USAC championship and one of the top drivers for wins in both USAC Champ cars and stock cars. Jerry was a USAC stock car champion and looked to have bright future in champ car but died while practicing for the 1959 Indy 500. Al had the most success at Indy, winning 4 times. Both Bobby and Al won the Pikes Peak Hill Climb. Al’s son Al Jr. was also an Indy 500 winner and CART champion. In NASCAR, the only trio of brothers to win at the Cup level was the Flock brothers, Tim, Fonty and Bob. Together they won a total of 39 races back in the 1950’s. The only other brother trio to have any kind of success would be the Bodine brothers, Geoffrey won 18 Cup races along with wins in the Xfinity and truck series. Brett won a Cup race and 5 Xfinity races, Todd won 15 Xfinity races and 22 truck races and is the only Bodine to win a NASCAR championship, he won truck series titles in 2006 and 2010. ---
**Author:** ![LoneRhino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lonerhino/32/1311_2.png) [@LoneRhino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LoneRhino)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-siblings-of-3-or-more-in-sports-history/993926/75 "2023-12-09T18:58:27Z")
As a Giants fan I don’t think Eli (or Phil Simms) belongs in the hall of fame. They’re both close, but not quite there. I tend to favor a small hall of fame. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2023, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-siblings-of-3-or-more-in-sports-history/993926/76 "2023-12-10T02:26:56Z")
On a related note, for quite a few years, ESPN aired the National Spelling Bee, live. Later, it was on network TV, and now, it’s on the ION channel on tape delay. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2023, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-siblings-of-3-or-more-in-sports-history/993926/77 "2023-12-10T04:11:27Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > George, Billy, Frank, and Robert Boucher It’s supposed to be all in the same sport. Robert played football, not hockey. It was a pretty inspirational story, actually, as he was originally one of the equipment guys for the team before he became a player on the team. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2023, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-siblings-of-3-or-more-in-sports-history/993926/78 "2023-12-10T06:07:38Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > It’s supposed to be all in the same sport. Not necessarily (though a lot of the examples given in the thread are all within one sport). Even the OP gives an example of brothers who excelled in two different sports. > [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Without giving it that much thought, the first that come to mind are the Jones brothers: Arthur played in the NFL for many years. Chandler is an excellent NFL D-lineman, perhaps a couple notches below the all-time greats. And Jon, of course, could be the greatest fighter of all-time. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2023, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-siblings-of-3-or-more-in-sports-history/993926/79 "2023-12-10T06:17:18Z")
It was an awkward setup for a Waterboy joke. [![](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/8LoAAOSwIRhiFnx6/s-l1600.jpg) ](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/8LoAAOSwIRhiFnx6/s-l1600.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2023, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-siblings-of-3-or-more-in-sports-history/993926/80 "2023-12-10T09:12:03Z")
I looked up Phil and Steve Mahre, fraternal twins who won gold and silver in men’s slalom at the 1984 Wnter Olympics. I don’t think they qualify for the thread, though. They had seven additional siblings, but I don’t find anything about any other athletes in the family. Phil’s Wikipedia page has a link to a page of Olympic families. Scrolling through the list (and it’s a long one): Gösta, Sture, Erick, and Tomas Pettersson (7 medals, cycling, '64 to '68) Giuseppe, Carmin, and Agostino Abbagnale (9 medals, rowing, '84 to '00) Tirunesh, Ejegayehu, and Genzebe Dibaba (8 medals, distance running, '04 to '16) > **[List of Olympic medalist families](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Olympic_medalist_families)** > > List of Olympic medalists families is a list of people grouped by family who are olympic medalists. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-siblings-of-3-or-more-in-sports-history/993926.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-successful-siblings-of-3-or-more-in-sports-history/993926.md?page=5)