Jerry Jr. and Scott Hairston: Brotherly Bond in Baseball

Last year I had the pleasure of getting a history lesson from Scott Hairston. Not only is he knowledgeable about his family background, but he truly has taken it to heart. When Jerry was signed this year and Scott traded back to the Padres, it was a perfect combination and opportunity to revisit the Hairston story for the baseball players they are, as well as their lineage. By the way, the One on One from 2009 has been nominated for an Emmy for the Historical/Cultural category. We'll find out in June if it receives the award, but I'm proud that peers judging the work recognized not only the production, but the content and I thank Scott, his father Jerry and the Negro Leagues Museum in Kansas City in part for helping tell and illustrate the most interesting baseball and historically significant slice of history.

This time around, we met Jerry and his family while we were in Arizona for spring training. Here is the show summary. It debuts May 21st after the Padres game and Postgame.

Family trees are important in many professions, but in baseball, there’s something intriguing when those roots set a record. Jerry Junior and Scott Hairston are among the five Hairstons who have played in the majors including their grandfather who began his career in the Negro Leagues. The Hairstons constitute the largest Major League family in history to date.

We explore Jerry and Scott’s story and discover how their lineage is a source of pride and a challenge. They grew up learning about their grandfather’s struggles during the time of segregation before being signed by the Chicago White Sox. Scott also was impressed by the challenges of his father Jerry who grew up in the south in the 60s before his 14-year major league career. Jerry has a picture when his grandfather predicted they’d be the first black three generation family in the majors, and he was right.

The family name also meant having a lot to live up to, and Scott is candid about how he had much to prove in school and in the game. Jerry has had to come back from injuries and has a World Series ring to show for his tenacity. Time at home with the Hairstons is all about baseball as they play in the backyard with their boys who could be 4th generation ballplayers.