Cllct is continuing its dual autos week, compiling the best potential dual autograph cards we could dream up.
Next up today: parents and children.
Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr.
There have been many father-son duos in baseball history, but two stand miles above the rest: the Griffeys and Bobby and Barry Bonds.
The accolades between the families are incredible.
Griffey family:
- 1 MVP
- 16 All-Star Game appearances
- 2 All-Star Game MVPs
- 2 World Series titles
- 118.3 Career WAR
- 10 Gold Glove selections
- 7 Silver Slugger Awards
- 1 Hall of Fame inductee
Bonds family:
- 7 MVPs
- 17 All-Star Game appearances
- 1 All-Star Game MVP
- 220.6 Career WAR
- 11 Gold Glove selections
- 12 Silver Slugger Awards
- 2 Batting Titles
While Bobby and Barry Bonds combined for better statistical numbers in their career, both fathers were All-Stars and both sons would be on any list of the greatest players ever to swing a bat.
The Griffeys earn the nod on this list though because they played as teammates for two seasons in Seattle, and we were blessed with iconic moments, like when Senior told Junior he was grounded for stealing a fly ball or when they hit back-to-back home runs in 1990.
Muhammad Ali and Laila Ali
There isn’t a more iconic parent-child combination in fighting history of any kind.
Considering his nickname was “The Greatest,” many consider Muhammad Ali to be the best boxer in history, and you’d struggle to find anyone who doesn’t think he’s the most iconic. Those who followed in his footsteps sure thought so.
And his daughter was just as dominant, posting a career 24-0 record with 21 knockouts. Laila Ali became champion in two divisions and made history in 2001, when she defeated Jacqui Frazier-Lyde (daughter of Joe Frazier) in the first main-event, pay-per-view fight between two women.
The Alis were as historic as trailblazers as they were boxers, and both are largely considered to be the best ever in the latter.
Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
There is zero doubt the Earnhardts are the most popular and successful parent-child combo in auto racing.
Earnhardt Sr. is arguably the greatest NASCAR driver in history, winning seven Cup Series Championships, tied for the most in history.
Earnhardt Jr. wasn’t quite as successful as his dad, never winning the Cup Series Championship, but he was still named to NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers list. His popularity, though, was undeniable, as he was named the sport’s most popular driver every year from 2003-2017.
Dennis Rodman and Trinity Rodman
An Olympic gold medal and a spot in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame would be enough for this list, but when you add in Dennis Rodman being perhaps the most eccentric athlete in history, there’s a clear spot.
In 14 NBA seasons, Rodman was a five-time NBA champion, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, seven-time rebounding champion and now he’s an "ambassador" to North Korea.
Trinity is as dominant, minus the eccentric behavior. She was the youngest player drafted in NWSL history and later became the Rookie of the Year.
Since then she has helped lead the USWNT to an Olympic gold and is on her way to becoming one of the best soccer players in the world.
Man o’ War and War Admiral
This one ... well it’s a little different than the others. Different as in these athletes have hooves not hands.
Man o’ War and War Admiral are two of the most decorated horses of all time, and they happen to be father and son.
Man o’ War (born 1917) won the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in 1920 — he did not race in the Kentucky Derby — before being named the American Horse of the Year that season.
War Admiral (1934) was one of his offspring after he was sent to stud following the 1920 race calendar.
The young stallion then went on to become the fourth Triple Crown winner in the history of horse racing, capturing the three victories in 1937.
Man o’War was 20 when War Admiral won the Triple Crown, and would actually live another 10 years beyond that, reaching age 30.
Both stallions are now recognized as two of the best in history, and if we could get a dual auto with prints of their hooves, well, that’d be something.
Matt Liberman is a video producer and reporter for cllct.