It’s time again for Baseball Roundtable’s Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye. (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” one-of-a-kind MLB accomplishments or statistics. This week, what started out as a pretty simple idea took me down a statistical rabbit hole that made a short story long (another of those cases when, “With Baseball Roundtable, one thing always seems to lead to another”).
I started out thinking about brothers who have proven to be power brokers – basically brothers that have hit the most total MLB home runs. That, of course, was too easy (and common knowledge); 768 long balls for Henry and Tommie Aaron (755 for Henry and 13 for Tommie). That really didn’t get at what I was looking for – brothers who both showed considerable big-league power. So, I dug deeper, looking for brothers who each hit 100 or more MLB home runs. Turns out there were ten sets of brothers who qualified, led by the 489 of Justin (325) and B.J. Upton (164).
Of course, “one thing led to another”, and I went on to look for brothers who exhibited power and speed – whose career stat lines included at least 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases. Just two sets of qualifiers there: the Uptons again and Emil (Irish) and Bob Meusel.
Getting carried away (What’s new?), I went on to look at father-son combinations with at least 100 home runs and 100 steals each. Found out there were more of those than qualifying brother combos. The father-son/100-100 duos: Felipe and Moises Alou; Bobby Bonds and Barry Bonds; Jose Cruz and Jose Cruz; Ken Griffey and Ken Griffey, Jr.; Hal McRae and Brian McRae. Now, if you are interested, we get into the details. (Also, if this kind of thing interests you, here’s link to an earlier post on pitching brothers who were both 20-game winners. Click here for that one.)
BROTHERS WITH AT LEAST 100 CAREER MLB HOMERS EACH
Justin & B.J. Upton … 489 HRs
Justin and B.J. Upton hit a combined 489 home runs, led by Justin’s 325 long balls. In his 16-season MLB career (2007-2022 … Diamondbacks, Braves, Padres, Tigers, Angels Mariners), outfielder Justin was a four-time All Star and hit 30 or more home runs in four seasons (25 or more in eight). He also drove in 100+ twice and scored 100 or more runs in three campaigns. He also stole 151 bases.
Justin & B.J. Upton are one of just two brother combinations to each have at least 100 career homers and 100 career steals.
B.J., an outfielder/third baseman, hit 164 long balls over 12 MLB seasons (2004, 2006-2016 … Rays, Braves, Padres, Blue Jays). He hit twenty or more homers in four seasons and stole more than 30 bases in five (three times topping 40 steals). Overall, he notched 300 steals.
The Uptons were the “highest” brother draft picks in MLB history, with Justin being the first pick in the 2005 MLB draft (out of Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Virginia) and B.J. (Melvin) being the second overall pick in the 2002 Draft (out of Greenbrier Christian Academy in Chesapeake). They both made a quick tip to the big leagues, Justin at 19 years-342 days of age and B.J. at 19 years-347 days). They played together on the Atlanta Braves (2013-14) and San Diego Padres (2015).
On August 3, 2012, Justin and B. J. Upton each hit their 100th career MLB home runs – B.J, for the Rays and Justin for the Diamondbacks. In 2013-14. When the brothers were both with the Braves, they homered in the same game six times, including back-to-back homers on April 23, 2013.
Joe and Vince DiMaggio … 486 HRs
Joe and Vince DiMaggio combined for 486 long balls, lead by Joe’s 361. Hall of Famer Joe (CF) played in 13 seasons (1936-42, 1946-52, all for the Yankees). He was a 13-time All-star, three-time MVP and two-time batting champion. He hit 30 or more home runs in seven seasons, topped 100 RBI nine times (twice leading the league), and scored 100+ runs eight times (leading the AL with 151 in 1937).
Vince (also a CF) played in 10 MLB seasons (1937-1946 … Bees, Reds, Pirates, Phillies, Giants). While he only reached the 20-home run and 100 RBI marks once each (and lead the NL in strikeouts in six seasons), he made two All Star teams and was known as a superior center fielder with a strong arm.
A third brother, Dom DiMaggio (also a CF) played in 11 MLB seasons (1940-42, 1946-53 … Red Sox). Dom was a seven-time All Star. He hit just 87 home runs, but had a .298 career average and hit .300+ in five seasons (and had no season under .283). Dom scored 100+ runs in six seasons, twice leading the American League. He also ran up 100 career steals.
Kyle & Corey Seager … 463 HRs
Kyle and Corey Seager are the only pair of brothers on this list to each have 200+ career homers.
Kyle (3B) played in 11 MLB seasons (2011-2012 … Mariners) and hit .251-242-807. He was a one-time All Star and one-time Gold Glover. He hit 20 or more home runs in nine seasons (with two seasons of 30 or more) and drove in 100+runs in one season .
Corey (SS), still active in 2025, has played in 11 MLB seasons (2015-2015 … Dodgers, Rangers) and hit .289-221-667. The five-time All Star has recorded six seasons of 20+ home runs (three of 30 or more) and was the 2016 NL Rookie of the Year (.308-26-72).
Ken & Clete Boyer … 444 homers
Just as the DiMaggio brothers were all All Stars in CF, Ken and Clete Boyer were both All Stars at third base. Ken played in 15 MLB seasons (1955-69 … Cardinals, Mets, Dodgers, White Sox). He was an All Star in seven seasons (an All Star 11 times, as two All Star Games were played each season from 1959 through 1962) and hit 282 home runs, topping 20 in eight campaigns. He drove in 100+ runs twice, leading the NL with 119 in 1964, and had 90 or more RBI in eight seasons. He also scored 100 or more runs in three campaigns and hit .300+ in five seasons. Ken was the NL MVP in 1964 and earned five Gold Gloves.
Clete played in 16 MLB season (1955-57, 1959-71 … Athletics, Yankees, Braves). While he appeared in the most games at third base (2,439), he also saw time at SS (186 games) and second base (63 games). Clete hit 20 home runs in just one season (26 in 1967). He won a Gold Glove at third base with the Braves in 1969.
A third Boyer brother, Cloyd, also made it to the major leagues – as a pitcher. Cloyd played in five MLB seasons (1949-52, 1955), going 20-23. 4.73 in 111 games (48 starts).
Bret and Aaron Boone … 378 HRs
The Boone family’s baseball roots (and apparently baseball genes) run deep. Brothers Bret and Aaron were preceded to the big leagues by their father Bob Boone (a catcher for 19 MLB seasons – 1972-90 – and a four-time All Star, with seven Gold Gloves and a .254-105-826 stat line), as well as by their grandfather Ray Boone (an infielder with 13 MLB seasons – 1948-60 – two All Star recognitions and a .275-151-737 stat line.)
Bret built his 14-season MLB career (1992-2005 … Mariners, Reds, Braves, Padres, Twins) as a second baseman – picking up three All Star recognitions and four gold gloves along the way. He hit 30+ home runs in two seasons and drove in 100+ runs three times (including a league-leading 141 for the 2001 Mariners). He also scored 100+ runs in three seasons.
Aaron was a corner infielder for 12 MLB seasons (1997-2003, 2005-2009 … Reds, Yankees, Indians, Marlins, Nationals, Astros). He was an All Star in 2003 and put up a final stat line of .263-126-555, with 519 runs scored and 107 steals. His best season was probably 2002 when he played in all 162 games for the Reds and hit .241, with 26 homers, 87 RBI, 83 runs scored and 32 steals.
Bret and Aaroon Boone played together on the 1997-98 Reds.
When Bret Boone made his MLB debut in 1992, the Boones became the first family with three generations of MLB players. A 201 article on psacard.com noted that “Boone family members can be found on more than 2,800 different (baseball) cards. “
J.D. & Stephen Drew … 365 HRs
J.D. played the outfield in 14 MLB seasons (1998-2011 …Cardinals, Dodgers, Red Sox). The one-time All Star (2008 Red Sox) put up a .278-242-795 stat line. J.D. hit 20 or more home runs in five seasons (a high of 31 in 2004), drove in a career-high 100 runs in 2006 (Dodgers) and topped 100 run scored (118. Braves) in 2004.
Stephen played in 12 MLB seasons (2006-2017 … Diamondbacks, Athletics, Red Sox, Yankees, Nationals), primarily as a SS (1,007 appearances), although he also took then field at 2B (180 games) and 3B (27 games). He hit .252, with 123 home runs, 424 RBI and 565 runs scored. His best season was 2008, when he hit .291-21-67, with 91 runs scored for the Diamondbacks (setting his career highs in HRs, RBI and runs).
A third Drew brother, Tim, made to the big leagues as a pitcher, going 2-4, 7.02 over five seasons (2000-2004), appearing in 35 games (11 starts).
All three Drew brothers – J.D., Stephen and Tim – were signed as MLB Draft first-round picks (the only trio of brothers with that distinction): J.D. with the second overall pick in the 1997 MLB Draft (out of Florida State University); Tim with the 28th pick in the 1997 Draft (out of Lowndes High School); Stephen with the 15th overall pick in 2004 (out of Florida State University).
Roberto and Sandy Alomar, Jr. … 320 HRs
Roberto and Sandy Alomar were preceded in the major leagues by their father Sandy Alomar (more on Dad later). Roberto, a second baseman, had the most illustrious career – making it to the National Baseball Hall of fame. He played in 17 MLB seasons (1988-2004 … Padres, Blue Jays, Orioles, Indians, Mets, White Sox, Diamondbacks), going .300-210-1,134, with 1,508 runs scored and 474 stolen baes. Roberto was a twelve-time All-Star and ten-time Gold Glover. He hit over .300 in nine seasons, drove in 100 or more runs twice, scored 100+ runs six times (including a league-leading 138 runs for the 1999 Indians) and hit 20 or more home runs in three seasons.
In the eleven seasons from 1991 through 2001, Roberto Alomar won ten Gold Gloves, while hitting .313-168-861.
Sandy Alomar, Jr. donned the catcher’s gear for 20 MLB seasons (1988-2007 … Padres, Indians, White Sox, Rockies, Rangers, Dodgers, Mets), going .273-112-588, with 520 runs scored. He was the 1990 AL Rookie of the Year and a six-time All Star. His best season was 1997 (Indians), when he hit .324-21-83, with 63 runs scored (in 125 games) – setting his career highs in all four categories.
Like his sons after him, the elder Sandy Alomar had a long MLB career (1964-78 … Braves, Mets, White Sox, Angels, Yankees, Rangers.) Over those 15 seasons as a middle infielder, he hit .245-13-282, with 558 runs scored and 227 steals.
Brothers Roberto and Sandy Alomar were teammates on the 1988-89 Padres, 1999-2000 Indians and 2003-04 White Sox.
Yadier & Benjie Molina … 320 HRs
Yadier and Benjie Molina were both primarily catchers during their MLB careers. Yadier played in the majors for 19 seasons (2004-2022), all for the Cardinals. He hit .277-176-1,022, with 777 runs scored. Yadier twice hit 20 or more home runs in a season He was a ten-time All Star, nine-time Gold Glove winner and four-time Platinum Glove winner.
In his first six MLB seasons Yadier Molina was a six-time All Star and four-time Gold Glover.
Benjie played in 13 MLB seasons (1998-2010 … Angels, Blue Jays, Giants and Rangers), hitting .274-144-711, with 457 runs scored. The two-time Gold Glover’s best season was 2008 (Giants), when he hit .292-16-95, with 46 runs scored.
A third Molina brother, Jose, made it to the big leagues (also as a catcher). Jose played in 15 MLB seasons (1999, 2001-2014 … Cubs, Angels, Yankees, Blue Jays, Rays). Jose hit .233-39-223 in 947 games.
Dmitri & Delmon Young … 280 HRs
Dmitri and Delmon Young were both first-round MLB Draft picks: Dmitri fourth overall in 1991 (out of Rio Mesa High School) and Delmon first overall in 2002 (out of Adolfo Camarillo High School).
Dmitri (OF/1B/3B) played in 13 MLB seasons (1996-2008 … Cardinals, Cardinals, Tigers, Nationals) and hit .292-171-683, with 648 runs scored. Ther two-time All Star topped twenty home runs in three seasons and hit .300+ in five. His best season may have been 2003 (Tigers) when he hit .297-29-85.
Delmon (OF) played in ten MLB seasons (2006-15 … Rays, Twins, Tigers, Phillies, Orioles), hitting .283-109-566, with 473 runs scored. His best season was 2010 (Twins), when he hit .298-21-112, with 77 runs scored, reaching his career high in HR and RBI. He hit .300+ in two seasons, although he did not have the number of at bats necessary to qualify for the batting title in either one – 2010 marked his highest qualifying average.
Irish and Bob Meusel … 262 HRs
Emil “Irish” and Bob Meusel established their credential as power-broking brothers back when it was a bit rarer to launch 100 career long balls.
Irish played in 11 MLB seasons (1914, 1918-27 … Nationals, Phillies, Giants, Robins), going .310-106-819, with 701 runs scored and 113 stolen bases. Irish only reached 20 home runs in one season (21 for the 1925 Giants). He drove in 100+ runs four times (a high of 132 in 1922). He was however, considered a consistent source of power at the time, hitting between 14 and 19 homes in five seasons. He also twice scored 100 or more runs.
In the four seasons from 1922-25. Irish Meusel average .316 -16-118 per campaign.
Bob (OF/3B) player in 11 MLB seasons, 1920-30 …. Yankees, Reds), hitting .309-156-1,071, with 826 runs scored and 143 stolen bases. He hit 20+ home runs in just two seasons, although he did lead the AL with 33 homers and 134 RBI for the 1925 Yankees. Bob drove in 100+ runs in five campaigns, hit .300+ in seven, scored 100+ runs twice and stole 20+ bases twice.
Irish and Bob Meusel are one of only two sets of brothers to each record at least 100 MLB home runs and 100 MLB stolen bases.
Primary Resource: Stathead.com
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