As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, we are reminded (for better or worse) that many of us will be seeing an awful lot of our families in the coming weeks. Sure, we can’t wait for Aunt Jenny to make her cheesy jalapeño potato casserole, but we might not be so thrilled about talking with Uncle Karl about how “screwed” we all are because of the election.

Alas, “The 15” is all about family this month. Who are Baltimore’s greatest sports families? (No word on whether any of them understand why Michelle keeps coming to family gatherings despite being divorced from your cousin for five years now.)

1. The Ripkens: Cal Jr., Cal Sr. and Billy

There was really no other option for the top spot. In addition to Cal Jr., Cal Sr. and Billy, the bowling accomplishments of Cal and Billy’s sister, Elly, are the stuff of legend in Harford County.

2. The Stanwicks: Sheehan, Coco, Wick, Tad, Steele, Wells, Covie and Shack

The subjects of the February 2014 PressBox cover story, the octet of siblings has combined to score more than 1,000 NCAA Division I lacrosse goals. Their on-field accomplishments are overshadowed only by the excellence of their lacrosse names.

3. The Fullers: Vincent II, Corey, Kyle and Kendall

When youngest brother Kendall debuted with the Washington Redskins this season, the family from Woodlawn, Md., became just the second in history to have four brothers play in the NFL. But it’s still really cool you and your brothers once ate 144 wings in one sitting back when you were in college, too.

4. The Ayanbadejos: Obafemi and Brendon

While there are far fewer Ayanbadejos than Fullers or Stanwicks, these two former Ravens each remarkably won separate Super Bowls with the franchise. Oddly enough, two other Baltimore football players (former Colt Bubba Smith and former Raven Jamie Sharper) and a former Ravens assistant (Rex Ryan) are all parts of brother duos that each have Super Bowl rings. However, their brothers never played (or coached) in Baltimore, so they weren’t considered for the list.

5. The Harbaughs: John and Jim

To the best of my research, the Harbaugh brothers are the only set to have been the head coach and starting quarterback at some point for the same franchise. And if somehow I missed some random 1920s combination, I feel confident in saying they’re definitely the only set of brothers to have done it whose father (Jack) was also an unofficial coaching consultant for the same franchise.

6. The Shulas: Don, Dave and Mike

The Hall of Famer (Don) coached the Colts from 1963-69, leading them to the 1964 NFL Championship Game and Super Bowl III. He also played for the Colts from 1953-56. His older son, Dave, played for the Colts in 1981 before his own coaching career took off. His younger son Mike was born in Baltimore before going on to his own career as a player and coach, and he’s still the offensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers.

7. The Hendersons: E.J. and Erin

The NFL linebackers are two of the greatest athletes in the history of either Maryland prep ball or the University of Maryland, but sadly they can’t be considered the most accomplished duo of brothers from their own high school, as Aberdeen was also the home of the Ripkens.

8. The Kellys: Frank, John, David and Bryan and their sons Frankie, Stephen, Johnny, David, Patrick, Timmy and Jacob

Baltimoreans Patrick, Timmy and Stephen (their cousin) were all part of the 2016 national championship lacrosse team at North Carolina. Patrick and Timmy’s father, David, was a national champion there in 1986. The trio’s uncle, Bryan (now the coach at Calvert Hall), was a member of UNC’s 1991 national championship team. All Kellys except John played Division I lacrosse (John played at Washington College), with Jacob set to join the Tar Heels in 2018. It’s hard to imagine there won’t be more in the future.

9. The Johnsons: Dave and Steve

The Johnsons are one of the more popular sports families in Baltimore history because they were contributors to two of the more unlikely good teams in Orioles history. Father Dave was a part of the magical 1989 “Why Not?” season, while his Baltimore native son, Steve, made his debut with the 2012 team, whose run to the postseason may have been even more improbable.

10. The Bartons: Will and Antonio and cousin Josh Selby

All three Baltimore natives played for Lake Clifton at some point during their prep careers, with the older Barton (Will) and Selby going on to careers in the NBA. Will Barton’s career continues today after averaging a career-best 14.4 points per game with the Nuggets last season.

11. The Harrisons: Dr. Miles and Kyle

Not only was Dr. Harrison the quarterback at Forest Park in the late 1960s, he’s far more well known for being part of the legendary “Ten Bears” lacrosse team at Morgan State in the 1970s. His son (Kyle) led Friends School to two MIAA “B” conference championships (as well as two more in basketball and one in soccer) in the late 1990s before being named an All-American three times at Johns Hopkins, winning the Tewaaraton Trophy as the national player of the year and helping the Blue Jays to the 2005 NCAA championship.

12. The Martinezes: Tippy and Courtney

Father Tippy recorded 105 saves during 11 seasons with the Orioles and was named an All-Star during their 1983 World Series championship season. Daughter Courtney led Loch Raven to three state lacrosse championships in the 1990s and, thanks to a redshirt season, was a member of five NCAA championship teams at Maryland. She is now the lacrosse coach at Arizona State.

13. The Healeys: Kevin and Pat

The elder Healey (Kevin) was part of the 1976 NCAA Division II national championship soccer team at Loyola before his own career in coaching that continues now as the president and general manager of the Blast. His son Pat was the 2007 CAA Player of the Year at Towson before going on to win three championships in his own career with the Blast.

14. The Radebaughs: Doug, Ned, Dan, Sean, Tucker and J.D.

Lacrosse just seems to be a family sport. Here’s the rundown on the Radebaughs: Doug is a lacrosse Hall of Famer who won two national championships at Maryland in the 1970s. Ned won three NCAA titles during his career at Johns Hopkins. Sean won two Division III titles during his career at Salisbury. Dan was a first-team All-American at Maryland. Tucker was part of the 1999 NCAA championship team at Virginia and J.D. was an All-American at Washington College.

15. The Poes: Samuel Johnson, Edgar Allan, John Prentiss Jr., Neilson, Arthur and Gresham

So this one was a bit of a doozy. My friend Tom Marr IV put me on to this group of six brothers and Baltimore natives who were highly accomplished football players at Princeton in the late 19th century. Arthur is recognized in the College Football Hall of Fame. Edgar Allan was an All-American. Samuel Johnson was a lacrosse All-American. The group of brothers are cousins of fellow Baltimorean (and poet) Edgar Allen Poe. It is not known exactly what level of cousins or how many times removed, but that’s in part because their family tree was so twisted due to the author of “The Raven” actually marrying his own first cousin (Virginia Clemm). And you thought your family Thanksgiving dinner was awkward.

Issue 227: November 2016

Glenn Clark

See all posts by Glenn Clark. Follow Glenn Clark on Twitter at @glennclarkradio