Baseball's Hairston Family

While on the subject of Herry Hairston breaking up that perfect game 30 years ago, I suspected that Jerry Hairston Jr, playing for the Dodgers and Scott Hairston playing for the Cubs might be his sons.  They are.  But, I didn't know his father also played in the majors

Sam Hairston spent most of his baseball days in the old Negro League playing for the Birmingham Black Barons and the Indianapolis Clowns before playing for the White Sox in 1951.  Sadly, it was his only year in the majors and he didn't play much, but he broke the color barrier on the White Sox.

This is something I didn't know as I always thought Minnie Minoso was the first black player on the Sox.  This hits home with all the hoopla about that excellent Jackie Robinson movie "42."

The Hairstons three generations of players at the major league level ties them with the Boone and Bell families.

Then, Johnny Hairston, Jerry's brother played three games for the Cubs in that infamous 1969 season at catcher/left field.  Johnny and Jerry were the second generation of black players in the majors.

Quite the Family (And With a SOX CONNECTION).  --RoadDog