Bob Boone, the catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies’ first World Series championship team who won seven Gold Gloves and anchored baseball’s first three-generation family, died at age 78.
Bret Boone Announces Death
Bret Boone announced his father’s death Tuesday on social media, writing that no cause of death was made public. The Philadelphia Phillies stated that Boone died on Monday.
“He was a man of great integrity. He was a great dad, husband, and patriarch. It was a privilege to call him my father. Baseball lost a great one today,” Bret Boone wrote.
The Phillies released a statement remembering Boone as an incredible player, teammate, and family man. The franchise noted that he embodied everything exemplary athletes should represent on and off the field.
A Historic Phillies Career
Boone was selected by the Phillies in the sixth round of the 1969 draft out of Stanford as a third baseman. He converted to catcher in the minor leagues and spent his first 10 seasons in Philadelphia.
He caught 1,095 games for the Phillies, ranking second on the franchise’s all-time list behind Red Dooin. Boone earned NL All-Star nods in 1976, 1978, and 1979, and became the first catcher in franchise history to win a Gold Glove in 1978 and 1979.
During the 1980 World Series against the Kansas City Royals, Boone led the Phillies with a .412 batting average. In Game 6, he caught the final out when Tug McGraw struck out Willie Wilson to secure the championship.
Earlier in that same inning, Boone chased a foul pop near the home dugout at Veterans Stadium. The ball deflected off his mitt directly into Pete Rose’s glove for an out, creating one of the most replayed highlights in franchise history.
Phillies Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt reflected on their time together in the minors and majors. Schmidt noted that Boone gave up third base in the minors so Schmidt could play it, paving the way for Boone to become one of the game’s premier catchers.
Shortstop Larry Bowa called Boone a quiet leader and the backbone of the 1980 team. Boone was inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame in 2005.
Boone Played for California and Kansas City
Following his decade in Philadelphia, Boone played seven seasons with the California Angels and two with the Kansas City Royals. He won four more Gold Gloves, made another All-Star team, and guided the Angels to the playoffs twice.
In the 1986 American League Championship Series against Boston, Boone batted .455 with a home run and two RBIs. He was 41 years old when he collected his final Gold Glove award with Kansas City in 1989.
Across 19 major league seasons, Boone caught 2,225 games. He held the career record for games caught at 1,919 before Ivan Rodriguez and Carlton Fisk surpassed his mark.
Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza posted on social media that watching Boone during the 1970s inspired him to master the catching position.
Three-Generation Baseball Dynasty
Bob Boone sat at the center of baseball’s first three-generation family. His father, Ray Boone, played 13 seasons in the majors and earned two All-Star selections with the Detroit Tigers.
Bob’s sons both forged long professional baseball careers. Bret Boone played 14 years as a three-time All-Star, spending most of his career with the Seattle Mariners. Aaron Boone played 13 seasons in the majors, played under his father in Cincinnati, and now manages the New York Yankees.
The Yankees stated that Bob Boone’s profound legacy carries forward through Aaron’s leadership in New York. A third son played in the minor leagues, and Bret’s son, Jake Boone, works in the New York Mets front office after playing at Princeton and briefly in the minors.
Boone Managed Teams and Joined the Nationals Front Office
Boone managed the Kansas City Royals and Cincinnati Reds, compiling a 371-444 overall managerial record across six seasons.
He later joined the Washington Nationals front office in 2005. Boone resigned from the organization in 2021 rather than comply with the organization’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, two years after the franchise captured its first World Series title in 2019.
Worth a look
