Prolific athletic blood lines are among the most impressive quirks in sports, and for Father's Day this year, it's worth taking a look at the best of the best. After all, the greatest gift a son can hope to give is to make his father proud, and these families have plenty to celebrate.
Here's a look at some of the best father-son combinations in sports history.
Sports' Greatest Fathers And Sons Slideshow
Ken Griffey, Sr. and Jr.
The Griffey's are probably the most famous father/son duo in sports history mainly due to the fact they played together on the same team 51 times. In 1991 they became the first father/son duo to hit back-to-back homers in MLB history. The two combined for 782 homers in their combined careers, with Junior accounting for 630 of them. They were so close that Junior said he would never play for the Yankees due to their mistreatment of his father under Billy Martin.
Bobby and Barry Bonds
Another slugging father/son team played on the same coast as the Griffey's, just south in San Francisco. While arguably not as popular as the Griffey's, they were more prolific on the field. The two hit a mind-boggling 1,094 homers, with Barry hitting 762 of them. If you added Barry's Godfather Willie Mays, it would bring that total to 1,754. You can also add 17 All-Star games and 11 Gold Gloves to the Bonds' resume. Not too shabby.
Rick and Brent Barry
The first father/son duo to both win an NBA Championship. Rick was featured on the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team and was an 8-time All-Star. Brent wasn't quite as good as ol' Dad, but he did win two titles with the Spurs and averaged 9.3 points per game for his career. He shot a respectable 40 percent from behind the arc and is 13th all-time in three point field goals made.
Joe and Kobe Bryant
Many people forget about Joe's eight seasons in the NBA, but the elder Bryant could hold his own. He finished his NBA career averaging 8.7 points per game before moving to Italy to play eight more seasons. He scored 53 points twice during the 87-88 season. Kobe has certainly done his Dad proud with his accomplishments. He's got 5 rings, is a 14-time All-Star, snagged 2 Finals MVP's and accomplished plenty more. Must make for a crowded trophy case.
Clay Sr., Jr., and Bruce Matthews
Probably the most underrated football family there is. Dad played seven seasons in the league, sandwiched between a stint in the Korean War. Clay, Jr., was a four-time Pro-Bowler and finished his career with 69.5 sacks. Bruce is a NFL Hall of Famer who played in 14 Pro Bowls and was named to the 1990's All-Decade Team.
Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning
The most famous NFL family of all time. It all started with Archie, who played 13 years in the league and made it to two Pro Bowl games. Peyton is entering his 16th season and is a sure fire Hall of Famer. Eli and his Giants are the defending Super Bowl Champions, their second title under the helm of Mr. Manning. All told, the trio have combined for 106,318 passing yards and 709 touchdowns.
Greg and Ryan Malone
Greg played for the Penguins, Whalers and Nordiques during his 12-year career. His career tally finished at 191 goals and 310 assists. Son Ryan followed in his Dad's footsteps by also playing for the Pens during his still going 8-year career. The two are the only father/son combo to score a hat trick for the same team, both achieving the feat for the Penguins.
Bobby and Brett Hull
Family royalty in the NHL. The only father/son pairing to both win the Hart Trophy for League MVP. Bobby was elected to the NHL Hall of Fame in 1983, with son Brett following suit in 2009. The two combined for 1,351 goals and 1,210 assists. Throw in three Stanley Cups and you have quite a formidable dinner table during Christmas. Don't expect any family to approach those kind of numbers any time soon.
