Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will make MLB history when he takes the field Friday night for Game 1 of the World Series (8 p.m. EST on Fox & Fox Deportes). He and his father, Vladimir Guerrero, Sr., will become only the fourth father-son duo to play in the Fall Classic.
There have been several great families in baseball’s long history: the Alomars (Sandy, Sandy Jr. and Roberto), the Griffeys (Ken and Ken Jr.), the Bonds (Bobby and Barry), along with many others.
The group has had a career – sometimes of Hall of Fame caliber. However, few of them reached baseball’s biggest stage.
Felipe Alou and Moises Alou
Felipe Alou played 17 seasons in the major leagues with six different franchises. His teams made the postseason only twice. The San Francisco Giants reached the World Series in 1962, with Alou going 7-for-26 with a walk. The Giants lost the series to the New York Yankees in seven games.
Like his father, Moises Alou spent 17 years in the major leagues. He appeared in the postseason with three different clubs, but it was with the 1997 Florida Marlins that he reached the World Series. Alou went 9-for-28 with three home runs, nine RBI and three walks. The Marlins won the series against the Cleveland Indians in seven games.
The Alou family was already part of the baseball kingdom. Felipe’s brothers, Jesus and Matty, also had long careers, both earning World Series rings: Matty in 1972 with the Oakland Athletics and Jesus in 1973 and 1974 with the A’s.
Felipe’s cousin, Jose Sosa, and cousin, Mel Rojas, also reached the sport’s top levels.
Ray Boone, Bob Boone, Bret Boone and Aaron Boone
It’s hard to top three generations of family success in sport at the highest level. Every member of the Boone family has played in the World Series.
Ray Boone started it all while playing for six franchises during a 13-year career from 1948 to 1960. The Indians won the World Series in Boone’s first season, when the rookie infielder struck out in a lone appearance.
Bob Boone followed in his father’s footsteps, playing for three teams during a 19-year career behind the plate. He would win the 1980 World Series with the Philadelphia Phillies, going 7-for-17 with four walks.
Bob’s two sons, Bret and Aaron, each also reached the World Series. Bret went 7-for-13 with the 1999 Atlanta Braves when the Yankees defeated them, while Aaron went 3-for-21 with the Yankees in 2003 when they lost to the Marlins.
Clay Bellinger and Cody Bellinger
Clay Bellinger’s career was short-lived, spanning parts of four seasons, but he was lucky. The Yankees reached the postseason in three of those four years, winning two American League pennants and World Series titles. Bellinger went 0-for-2 with a pair of strikeouts.
Cody Bellinger has already surpassed his father’s career by a significant margin. He has played in the league for nine years and will be one of the biggest draws on the free agent market this season. Cody has reached the World Series three times (winning once with the 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers). He is 8-for-66 with a pair of home runs in those games.
Vladimir Guerrero and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Vladimir Guerrero was one of the toughest players in baseball during his 16-year career. His teams would reach the postseason several times, but his only trip to the World Series came in the penultimate season of his career. Guerrero went just 1-for-14 with a walk in 2010, when the Texas Rangers lost to the Giants in five games.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has taken a different route to help the Blue Jays capture an American League crown. He was one of the hottest hitters this postseason. Guerrero Jr. is 19-for-43 in the playoffs so far, with six home runs and six walks. After 51 plate appearances, he has posted an OPS of 1.440.
The highest OPS in a single postseason (minimum 60 PA) while winning the World Series was the 1.308 that Alex Rodriguez achieved in 2009 with the Yankees.
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