As you know, the ballplayers of old held off-season jobs to make ends meet for their families.  Typically these were labor jobs - truck driving, farming, etc.  As late as the early 1970s, players like Richie Hebner (grave-digger) of the Pirates worked in the family business when not playing baseball.

I've often wondered about the long-term effects of players (and the next several generations) becoming so wealthy.  We know that each player handles his wealth differently but we also know that  even the John Mabrys and Aaron Miles of the world - and their kids - are set for life barring ignorance or theft.  Let's face it - no one in the family HAS to work anymore and they live a life of luxury.  So, good for them.

But what does that mean for the next generation?  Certainly the sons of ballplayers have genetic advantage and connections but now they have financial and time advantage.  Ozzie Smith may have grown up on the wrong side of the tracks but his kid hasn't.  I'd bet Ozzie Jr has every baseball tool, technique and hired trainer he wants not to mention attendance at the camp of his choice, batting cage in the basement and mock stadium in the backyard.

But we also know human nature and the generational tendency for the sons of wealth to under-achieve if not down-right blow it.  I suppose it comes down to parenting but I wonder what we'll know in a few years.

We've seen a few sons (Gwynn, Griffey, et al) come on strong but we don't know about the others.  Will we have generations of super-athletes or alot of lazy couch potatoes?