On This Date in Sports August 19, 1992: Generational

In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com

Bret Boone of the Seattle Mariners makes his Major League debut. Boone collects one hit in four at-bats, with two runs scored and an RBI in a 10-8 win over the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. The debut is notable, as the Boone Family becomes the first three-generation family in MLB history. Bret's grandfather played 13 seasons with six teams, while his father, Bob Boone, played 19 seasons with three teams retiring in 1990. Bret Boone would be joined by brother Aaron, who made his debut in 1997.  The Boone family were direct descendants of Pioneer Daniel Boone. All four members of the Boone played in at least one All-Star Game, with Bob and Aaron Boone later becoming one of a few father-son manager tandems in MLB. 

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There have been four three-generation families in MLB history. The second group to join the Boones was the Bell family. Gus Bell had a 15-season career that included playing right field for the New York Mets in their first game in 1962.  His son Buddy Bell had a distinguished career that lasted 18 years. Grandsons David Bell made his debut in 1995, followed by Mike Bell, who had a cup of coffee in the majors in 2000.

Sam Hariston's career began in the Negro Leagues; he played one season with the Chicago White Sox in 1951 and was the first American-born player of color. His sons Jerry Sr. and Johnny both played in the majors. Johnny appeared in just one season with the Cubs, while Jerry Hairston Sr. had a 14-year career spent mostly with the White Sox. Jerry had two sons play in the majors, Jerry Jr. and Scott. 

The fourth three-generation family is the Colemans. Joe Sr. played 11 seasons in the majors, while Joe Jr. had 15 years in the majors, appearing in the 1972 All-Star Game with the Detroit Tigers. Grandson Casey Coleman played parts of three seasons with the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals from 2010-2012. 

There have five three-generation families in the NFL, most notably the Matthews family, which has seven members, including Clay Matthews Sr, Bruce Matthews, Clay Matthews Jr., Jake Matthews, and Clay Matthews III.  There have been three three-generation families in the NHL, including the Patrick family, with Lester, a Hockey Hall of Famer, appearing in one Stanley Cup Finals game with the New York Rangers, his son Lynn and Craig Patrick. They all later had long careers as NHL executives. The Hextall family, Bryan, Bryan Jr, and Ron Hextall. The Geoffrion family is the first four-generation family in the NHL, with maternal great-grandfather Howie Morenz and Hall of Famer Grandfather Boom-Boom Geoffrion leading the way for Danny Geoffrion. Blake Geoffrion made his NHL debut in 2011. All four members played with the Montreal Canadiens. 

There are no three-generation families in the NBA to date.