For some, baseball is genetic. Skill at the Grand Old Game has been passed down by several major leaguers. In some families, the son outshined his father, while in others, Dad was the head of the household. There are even some multi-generation MLB broods. Have a look at some of the top baseball dynasties.

Ken Griffey was a two-time World Series champ (1975 and '76 Reds), a three-time All-Star and the MVP of the 1980 All-Star Game during a 19-year career. Griffey is now manager of the Reds Single-A affiliate. His son Ken (aka Junior or The Kid) began his major league career with the Mariners in 1989, and the Griffeys played on the same team. The father-son tandem hit back-to-back home runs on Sept. 14, 1990. Junior, a 13-time All-Star and 1997 AL MVP, retired in 2010 and is a slam-dunk first-ballot Hall of Famer with 630 homers.

Bobby Bonds was a three-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove winner and the 1973 All-Star Game MVP during his career span from 1968 to 1981, the majority of which was with the Giants. He also had a propensity for walks, which apparently was hereditary. Bonds died of complications from lung cancer and a brain tumor at age 57. His son Barry played from 1986 to 2007 and was a 14-time All-Star and seven-time NL MVP who holds the current all-time records for home runs (762) and walks (2,558). Bonds has Hall of Fame numbers but will likely not get the nod because of steroid allegations and the fact that he was found guilty of obstruction.

Cecil Fielder was a power-hitting first baseman and DH with a career spanning 1985 to '98, during which he played for the Blue Jays, Tigers, Yankees, Angels and Indians. His son, power-hitting first baseman Prince Fielder, made his major league debut in June 2005 with the Brewers. Fielder signed a monster nine-year, $214 million contract with the Tigers in January 2012. Father and son have not on speaking terms since 2004. Prince's ill will toward his father goes back to a nasty divorce between his parents. According to the Detroit News, Cecil squandered the family fortune to a gambling addiction and poor business decisions. Prince also accused his dad of taking $200,000 from his signing bonus when he was 18 years old.

Sandy Alomar (center) was a defensively gifted, switch-hitting second baseman whose career spanned 1964–78. After retirement, he managed in the minors and coached in the majors. His son, Sandy Jr. (left), was a major-league catcher for 19 years, a six-time All-Star, 1990 AL Rookie of the Year and 1997 All-Star Game MVP. Sandy Jr. is now the first-base coach for the Indians. Sandy Jr.'s younger brother Roberto (Robbie) had a 16-year MLB career and is widely considered one of the best second basemen ever to play the game. He was a 12-time All-Star, two-time World Series champ, 10-time Gold Glove recipient, 1992 ALCS MVP and 1998 All-Star Game MVP. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in August 2011.

Tony Gwynn played his entire 20-year, Hall-of-Fame career with the San Diego Padres. He's one of the best hitters the game ever has seen and flirted with a .400 batting average in the strike-shortened 1994 season. He was a 15-time All-Star and a seven-time Silver Slugger winner. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 2007. He's now the baseabll coach at San Diego State. His brother, Chris, played 10 seasons in the majors with the Dodgers, Royals and Padres. Tony Gwynn's son, Tony Jr., made his major league debut in 2006 with the Brewers, briefly played for his dad's Padres and is now an outfielder for the Dodgers, displaying some nifty skills with the glove.

Felipe Alou was a major league outfielder, first baseman and manager. He was the first Dominican to play regularly in the majors and is the eldest of a trio of baseball-playing brothers that included Matty and Jesús. During his 17-year playing career, he was a three-time All-Star and was the NL hits leader twice. In his post-playing career, he became the winningest manager in Expos history. Felipe's son Moisés had an 18-year career as an outfielder, during which he was a six-time All-Star and a World Series champion in 1997 with the Florida Marlins. He even played for his dad in Montreal.

Bob Boone had an 18-year playing career with the Phillies, Angels and Royals. He was a four-time All-Star and won the World Series in 1980 with the Phillies. He went on to manage for both the Royals and the Reds. Bob Boone is the son of a major league All-Star, the late Ray Boone, and the father of major leaguers Bret and Aaron Boone. Bret, a second baseman, was a three-time All-Star and a four-time Gold Glove winner. Aaron had a 12-year career and was selected as an All-Star once. He's now a television analyst.

Calvin Ripken Sr., who died in 1999, was a player, coach and manager who spent 36 years in the Baltimore Orioles organization, for which his sons Cal Jr. and Billy played. Cal Jr., of course, is the Hall of Fame shortstop who spent his entire career with the O's and was baseball's "Iron Man," playing 2,632 straight games. He was a 19-time All-Star, two-time AL MVP and AL Rookie of the Year in 1982. Cal Jr.'s younger brother Billy had a 12-year career with the O's, Rangers, Indians and Tigers. He's now a television analyst and radio personality.

Jerry Hairston Sr. was a left fielder for 14 years in the majors. He is now a minor league hitting coach. He is the son of former a major leaguer, Sam Hairston, and the brother of another, Johnny. His sons, Jerry Jr. and Scott, are also major leaguers. Jerry Jr. (left) made his debut with the Orioles and is now a utility man for the Dodgers. He was on the Yankees squad that won the 2009 World Series. His younger brother made his debut with the Diamondbacks and now plays for the Mets. The Hairston family is one of five (along with the Boone, Bell, Coleman and Schofield/Werth families) three-generation baseball clans.

Steve Swisher was a catcher for the Cubs, Cardinals and Padres from 1974 to 1982. He made the All-Star team in 1976 but did not play. His son Nick is the Yankees right fielder. He made his major-league debut with the A's in 2004. Last year he was an All-Star and he won a World Series with the Yankees in 2009.

Mel Stottlemyre was a pitcher who played 11 years in the majors, all of them with the Yankees. He was a five-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion. After his playing days, he was a pitching coach with the Mets, Astros, Yankees and Mariners. Mel Jr. pitched half a season for the Royals in 1990 and is now the pitching coach of the Diamondbacks. Todd Stottlemyre, also a pitcher, played 15 years in the majors and was a two-time World Series champion with the Blue Jays. Mel Sr. had a third son, Jason, who died at age 11 after being in a coma.

Hal McRae was a left fielder for the Reds and Royals in a career spanning 1968 to 1987. He was a three-time All-Star and a World Series champ with the Royals. He went on to manage in Kansas City and Tampa Bay and was a hitting coach for the Cardinals. His son Brian had a nine-year career with five teams in the '90s, including four years in Kansas City, where he was managed by his father. Another son, Cullen, is the Florida Marlins video coordinator.

Doug Drabek pitched for five teams during a 12-year career that began in 1986. He won the 1990 AL Cy Young while with the Pirates and was an All-Star in 1994, while with the Astros. His son Kyle was called up in September 2010 and now pitches for the Blue Jays. Another son, Justin, played in independent baseball.

Joe Niekro piched for seven teams during a 22-year MLB career, mostly with the Astros. He was an All-Star in 1979 and a World Series champion in 1987 with the Yankees. He is the younger brother of Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro and the father of Lance Niekro, who had a four-year major league career with the Giants. Lance is now coaching college baseball.

Eric Young played 14 years for seven teams as a second baseman and left fielder, and was known for his base-stealing ability. He made the All-Star team in 1996 with the Rockies. He is the first-base coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks and has worked as a television analyst. His son Eric Jr., also a talented base-stealer, plays second base and outfield for the Rockies.