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15 Sons in Sports Who Outshined Their Father’s Legacy

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There are huge expectations to live up to when you’re the son of a professional athlete. For these 15, it didn’t seem like that big of a challenge as they shattered expectations and made names for themselves independent of their fathers’ successes on the field.

15. Joakim Noah over Yannick Noah

Joakim Noah over Yannick Noah Getty Images
Both of these guys were on the top of their sport at one time or another, but Joakim projects to have the better overall career. Yannick was one of the top tennis players in his day for a few years and Joakim has already proven to be among the top centers in basketball. As long as he can stay healthy, he will be remembered as one of the best defensive players of his generation.

Both of these guys were on the top of their sport at one time or another, but Joakim projects to have the better overall career. Yannick was one of the top tennis players in his day for a few years and Joakim has already proven to be among the top centers in basketball. As long as he can stay healthy, he will be remembered as one of the best defensive players of his generation.

14. Moises Alou over Felipe Alou

Moises Alou over Felipe Alou Getty Images
This is virtually a toss up, but Moises was more prominent for longer and he was also at the center of one of the most famous plays in baseball history. He was the outfielder who reached into the crowd and couldn't bring in the foul ball that Steve Bartman and other fans interfered with in Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS. His reaction didn't help matters, and his Cubs team eventually blew their series lead and shattered the dreams of fans everywhere.

This is virtually a toss up, but Moises was more prominent for longer and he was also at the center of one of the most famous plays in baseball history. He was the outfielder who reached into the crowd and couldn't bring in the foul ball that Steve Bartman and other fans interfered with in Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS. His reaction didn't help matters, and his Cubs team eventually blew their series lead and shattered the dreams of fans everywhere.

13. Grant Hill over Calvin Hill

Grant Hill over Calvin Hill Getty Images
Without his numerous injuries, Grant Hill could have been an even more dominant player, but as it was, he was a great player for a short amount of time and a very good player for an extended period of time after that. Calvin wasn't nearly the same player, but he certainly raised himself quite the hoops star.

Without his numerous injuries, Grant Hill could have been an even more dominant player, but as it was, he was a great player for a short amount of time and a very good player for an extended period of time after that. Calvin wasn't nearly the same player, but he certainly raised himself quite the hoops star.

12. Eli Manning over Archie Manning

Eli Manning over Archie Manning Getty Images
Archie Manning was a great quarterback during his playing days, but he raised two sons that are even better than he was. Eli has been wildly inconsistent over the course of his career so far, but he also has two Super Bowl rings. That's a result of him being clutch late in seasons, and that has propelled him past his father.

Archie Manning was a great quarterback during his playing days, but he raised two sons that are even better than he was. Eli has been wildly inconsistent over the course of his career so far, but he also has two Super Bowl rings. That's a result of him being clutch late in seasons, and that has propelled him past his father.

11. Sandy Alomar Jr. over Sandy Alomar

Sandy Alomar Jr. over Sandy Alomar Getty Images
Neither of these players was a total legend, but Sandy Alomar Jr. outshined his father during his playing days. He was very good defensively and also added a little bit with the bat. He finished his career with over 100 home runs, more than 500 RBI and a .273 batting average. Most players would love to have a career like that.

Neither of these players was a total legend, but Sandy Alomar Jr. outshined his father during his playing days. He was very good defensively and also added a little bit with the bat. He finished his career with over 100 home runs, more than 500 RBI and a .273 batting average. Most players would love to have a career like that.

10. Clay Matthews III over Clay Matthews Jr.

Clay Matthews III over Clay Matthews Jr. Getty Images
The Matthews family knows how to produce football players. Clay's father and grandfather also played in the league, but he's been the best player to come from the family so far. The feared outside pass rusher wreaks havoc on opposing offenses and instills fear into opposing quarterbacks like nobody in the family ever has.

The Matthews family knows how to produce football players. Clay's father and grandfather also played in the league, but he's been the best player to come from the family so far. The feared outside pass rusher wreaks havoc on opposing offenses and instills fear into opposing quarterbacks like nobody in the family ever has.

9. Richard Petty over Lee Petty

Richard Petty over Lee Petty Getty Images
Both of these men are legends, but Richard Petty is the one who will be remembered forever. Lee helped start NASCAR and was one of its first star drivers, but Richard is perhaps the greatest drivers to ever get onto the racetrack. Richard ended his career with an incredible 200 racing wins and 712 top 10 finishes, good enough to cement himself as the top driver of all time.

Both of these men are legends, but Richard Petty is the one who will be remembered forever. Lee helped start NASCAR and was one of its first star drivers, but Richard is perhaps the greatest drivers to ever get onto the racetrack. Richard ended his career with an incredible 200 racing wins and 712 top 10 finishes, good enough to cement himself as the top driver of all time.

8. Kobe Bryant over Joe Bryant

Kobe Bryant over Joe Bryant Twitter
Not many people realize that Kobe's dad played in the NBA, and that may have something to do with the fact that Kobe has established himself as one of the best players to ever play the game. Joe was a decent player with great athleticism, but he's nowhere near Kobe's level. He's probably happy to have raised one of the best players of all time nonetheless.

Not many people realize that Kobe's dad played in the NBA, and that may have something to do with the fact that Kobe has established himself as one of the best players to ever play the game. Joe was a decent player with great athleticism, but he's nowhere near Kobe's level. He's probably happy to have raised one of the best players of all time nonetheless.

7. Prince Fielder over Cecil Fielder

Prince Fielder over Cecil Fielder Getty Images
Talk about a "power family." This father-son duo really knows how to slug a baseball. Cecil finished his polished career with 319 home runs and over 1,000 RBI while Prince has almost equaled that, with 310 homers in his career. That's over 600 home runs between the two of them. Prince showed how talented he was when he was hitting home runs out of Tiger Stadium at age 10. Now, he has surpassed his dad's career achievements.

Talk about a "power family." This father-son duo really knows how to slug a baseball. Cecil finished his polished career with 319 home runs and over 1,000 RBI while Prince has almost equaled that, with 310 homers in his career. That's over 600 home runs between the two of them. Prince showed how talented he was when he was hitting home runs out of Tiger Stadium at age 10. Now, he has surpassed his dad's career achievements.

6. Steph Curry over Dell Curry

Steph Curry over Dell Curry Getty Images
Dell Curry was a notable NBA player, but he was never the superstar that his MVP son is now. Steph has become more than just a three-point specialist since entering the NBA and already has an NBA title on his resume. As long as he stays healthy, Steph is going to be one of the best players of his generation.

Dell Curry was a notable NBA player, but he was never the superstar that his MVP son is now. Steph has become more than just a three-point specialist since entering the NBA and already has an NBA title on his resume. As long as he stays healthy, Steph is going to be one of the best players of his generation.

5. Cal Ripken Jr. over Cal Ripken

Cal Ripken Jr. over Cal Ripken Getty Images
Cal Ripken can't really compete with his ironman son, who never seemed to miss a game. On top of playing every single day, Ripken Jr. was a great hitter during his prime. While his father certainly helped mold him into who he became on and off the field, he became far better than his old man at the dish.

Cal Ripken can't really compete with his ironman son, who never seemed to miss a game. On top of playing every single day, Ripken Jr. was a great hitter during his prime. While his father certainly helped mold him into who he became on and off the field, he became far better than his old man at the dish.

4. Brett Hull over Bobby Hull

Brett Hull over Bobby Hull Getty Images
It seemed like Brett Hull was facing an impossible task in coming out from behind the shadow of his legendary father, Bobby Hull, but he actually slightly outdid his old man. For his career, he had 741 goals, good enough for third on the all-time list. This duo surely was one of the best father-son sports combos of all time.

It seemed like Brett Hull was facing an impossible task in coming out from behind the shadow of his legendary father, Bobby Hull, but he actually slightly outdid his old man. For his career, he had 741 goals, good enough for third on the all-time list. This duo surely was one of the best father-son sports combos of all time.

3. Barry Bonds over Bobby Bonds

Barry Bonds over Bobby Bonds Getty Images
While there's an asterisk next to most of his stats, Barry Bonds was still clearly the superior baseball player in this father-son sports combination. In terms of power and speed combos, Bonds was one of the best of all time, although he lost his speed toward the end of his career. Bobby was a great player as well, but his son was the much better slugger.

While there's an asterisk next to most of his stats, Barry Bonds was still clearly the superior baseball player in this father-son sports combination. In terms of power and speed combos, Bonds was one of the best of all time, although he lost his speed toward the end of his career. Bobby was a great player as well, but his son was the much better slugger.

2. Ken Griffey Jr. over Ken Griffey

Ken Griffey Jr. over Ken Griffey Getty Images
Ken Griffey was a very good player, but as soon as his son set foot on an MLB field, it was clear he was about to be the inferior of the two. Even as a teenager, Kid Griffey knocked the cover off the ball and took fans by storm. These two actually played on the same team, so Ken Griffey had a front-row seat to see his son's career take off.

Ken Griffey was a very good player, but as soon as his son set foot on an MLB field, it was clear he was about to be the inferior of the two. Even as a teenager, Kid Griffey knocked the cover off the ball and took fans by storm. These two actually played on the same team, so Ken Griffey had a front-row seat to see his son's career take off.

1. Peyton Manning over Archie Manning

Peyton Manning over Archie Manning Getty Images
Archie Manning is a legend, especially in the South, but his two sons have had better careers than he did. Obviously, the better of those two is Peyton, who despite having just one Super Bowl win, is one of the best signal callers of all time. As his career winds to a close, fans need to appreciate just how dominant Peyton has been throughout his career. You better believe Archie will be the first one giving his son a standing ovation when he takes the final snap of his illustrious career.

Archie Manning is a legend, especially in the South, but his two sons have had better careers than he did. Obviously, the better of those two is Peyton, who despite having just one Super Bowl win, is one of the best signal callers of all time. As his career winds to a close, fans need to appreciate just how dominant Peyton has been throughout his career. You better believe Archie will be the first one giving his son a standing ovation when he takes the final snap of his illustrious career.

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