By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Whether it was mom chasing fly balls in the outfield, or dad throwing batting practice to their son (“just five more dad?”) The Game has always been a family business.

Like the Alou brothers Felipe, Matty, and Jay, who played the outfield together for a handful of games with the San Francisco Giants. Felipe played right alongside Hall of Famer Willie Mays in centre with the Giants and with the Atlanta Braves he played centre with Hall of Famer Hank Aaron in right. Felipe had two, 200-hit seasons and hit more than 200 homers in his 17 years. Matty won a batting title and had a pair of 200-hit seasons in his 15-year career and Jay carved out a 16-year career as a dependable outfielder. Felipe’s son, Moises, played 17 seasons, including with the Montreal Expos, hitting 332 home runs, and batting .303. Total career hits: 7,228.

Ray Boone made two All-Star teams for the Detroit Tigers. Son, Bob, was one of the best defensive catchers with the Philadelphia Phillies and the California Angels. Bob’s sons are Aaron, who hit a walk-off homer to beat the Red Sox and Bret, who went deep more often. Total career hits: 5,890.

Gus Bell had a 15-year career, nine seasons spent with the Cincinnati Reds. His son, Buddy Bell, played 18 seasons, including eight with the Texas Rangers. Buddy’s son, David, was in the majors for 12 years, spending most of his time with the Phillies, Seattle Mariners and St. Louis Cardinals. David’s brother, Mike, played 19 games with the Reds. Total career hits: 5,582.

Sam Hairston spent five years in the Negro Leagues with the Indianapolis Clowns. His son, Jerry, played parts of 13 seasons with the Chicago White Sox. Jerry’s brother, John, appeared in three games with the Cubs. Jerry Hairston, Jr. earned a big-league check for 16 seasons, mostly with the Baltimore Orioles. And his brother, Scott, played nine seasons, four each with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Diego Padres. Total career hits: 2,287.

And now here come the Ridleys ... one generation passing the baton to another.

OF Jim Ridley (Burlington, Ont.) played two years in the Milwaukee Braves system at class-A West Palm Beach and class-A Greenville. Returning home, he played in the Intercounty Baseball League (IBL) with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Stratford Hillers and Guelph Royals.

Jim and his wife had twin sons INF Shayne (Milton, Ont.), who was selected in the 19th round by the Baltimore Orioles from the Ball State Cardinals, spent time with rookie-class Bluefield, class-A Delmarva and class-A Burlington in the Orioles and Kansas City Royals systems. He then played for the IBL’s Hamilton Cardinals and Toronto Maple Leafs.

And INF Jeremy (Milton, Ont.), who also attended Ball State, was drafted in the 34th round by the Toronto Blue Jays and spent time with rookie-class Medicine Hat. He then played for Hamilton.

Total number of base hits -- we know we are mixing apples, oranges and grapefruits (pro ball, NCAA Division 1 and IBL, but hits are hits): 820. But Ridley lineage is not finished.

And now comes OF-1B Cooper Ridley of Cincinnati, Ohio. Jim Ridley’s oldest grandson has committed to Miami of Ohio. Cooper is Jeremy’s son and Jeremy’s wife used to teach the children of Blue Jays broadcaster Pat Tabler. Small world.

Cooper attended the famed Archbishop Moeller High School and spent summer ball with the elite Midland Redskins.

Jim Ridley was the first scout inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame in St. Marys after working for the Blue Jays and the Minnesota Twins. The Canadian Baseball Network Scout of the Year award was named in memory of him. John Castleberry, now of the San Francisco Giants, was named the 2023 winner. Castleberry, our 30th annual winner, scouted and signed Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) in 2002.

Cooper earned a berth on the all-tournament teams with Midland at the 2023 WWBA Underclass World Championship, the 2023 PG 17U or 2025 grads fall World Series (North) with Alpha Baseball and 2023 Ohio Valley Workout Showcase, according to Perfect Game. He was named to the showcase top prospect list at the 2023 Ohio Valley Workout Showcase.

He was seventh among the top 10 in outfield velocity and with Alpha was a WWBA champion at the 2023 PG 17U or 2025 Grads Fall World Series (North).