generations

It is appropriate on this day when fathers are feted that recognition be given to the Hairston clan, the first and to date only black three-generation major league family. The tree started with Sam Hairston, who was born in Crawford, the same Mississippi town that gave us Jerry Rice and Clarence Weatherspoon, stars of other sports. Sam Hairston was a Negro Leagues star of the 1940s who made a brief yet significant appearance with the Chicago White Sox in 1951. He was the second black Mississippian to play in the big leagues (arriving behind only Luke Easter). Sam had two sons who played in the majors, Jerry and John. Jerry also had two sons make the big leagues, Jerry Jr. and Scott. That’s a truly remarkable story.