Johnny Hairston facts for kids

Johnny Hairston (born August 27, 1944) is an American former baseball player. He played as a catcher and left fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Johnny played for the Chicago Cubs during the 1969 season. He batted and threw with his right hand. His first MLB game was on September 6, 1969. He played his last major league game on October 2, 1969.

During his time in the MLB, Johnny Hairston played in three games. He had one hit out of four tries. This gave him a batting average of .250.

A Family of Baseball Players

Johnny Hairston comes from a very special baseball family. They hold the record for the most members from one family to play in Major League Baseball.

The Hairston Baseball Legacy

Johnny's father was Sammy Hairston. Sammy played in the Negro leagues. He later became the first Black player for the Chicago White Sox. Johnny's brother, Jerry Hairston, Sr., also played in the MLB. Johnny is also the uncle of two more MLB players: Jerry Hairston Jr. and Scott Hairston.

Setting a Record

Five members of the Hairston family have played in the major leagues. This is a record for the most players from one family. Other famous baseball families include:

• The Boone family: Ray, Bob, Bret, and Aaron.
• The Bell family: Gus, Buddy, David, and Mike.

Johnny Hairston was also important for another reason. He was the first second-generation African American player in Major League Baseball. This means his father was also an African American player in professional baseball.

See also

• List of second-generation Major League Baseball players