Twins in Sport

9/24/2010

By: Frank Gordon(USN)

As I was scanning what is left of my local morning paper, I noticed that today is Paul and Morgan Hamm's birthday. Members of the 2004 silver medal Olympic gymnastics team, Paul won gold in the individual all-around, these twins were key contributors in the resurgence of American Men's gymnastics.

But the notice in the paper made me think. Twins? The Minnesota Twins have the best record in baseball. Ok. There have been successful sets of brothers in sports. Joe, Vince, and Dom DiMaggio. Phil and Joe Niekro. Peyton and Eli Manning. Phil and Tony Esposito. Dominique and Gerald Wilkins. Leon and Michael Spinks. Even Bobby and Al Unser. But twins?

I had to look in to this and try to determine which set of twins have been the most successful in the pantheon of sports. If you disagree please feel free to respond.

Baseball: Jose and Ozzie Canseco. Say what you want about Ozzie's brief career, and more about Jose's bizarre career and post baseball life, but you have to admit Jose put up some numbers.

Football: Ronde and Tiki Barber. Ronde, Super Bowl Champion and #3 on the NFL's all-time list for defensive touchdowns. Tiki, 3-time Pro Bowler and one of three players in NFL history to gain 10,000 yards rushing and 5,000 yards receiving.

Basketball: Harvey and Horace Grant. Harvey, #12 overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft. Career averages of 9.9 points and 4.4 rebounds. Horace, won three NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls and appeared in another with the Los Angeles Lakers. Career averages of 11.2 points and 8.1 rebounds.

A special nod to Dick and Tom Van Arsdale. Schoolboy legends from Indiana who were both on the AP Indiana All-Century high school basketball team, and they both had long and distinguished NBA careers.

Hockey: Daniel and Henrik Sedin. One has to wonder if they would be as effective without the other on the ice, but together they form a lethal scoring combination. Daniel is apt to finish the plays that Henrik creates, but they are both very skilled offensive players.

Tennis:Bob and Mike Bryan. They have a record 65 career Men's doubles titles and rank second to Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde in career grand slam doubles titles with nine.

Olympic Sports: Phil and Steve Mahre. Phil won Gold in the slalom at the 1984 Sarajevo Olympics, while Steve won Silver. Though Phil was the more accomplished skier, it's hard to mention one without the other.