Bob Boone, the 1980 World Series champion catcher and father of New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone, has died at 78.
Boone died Monday, November 9th. His son Bret paid tribute the following morning, and the family did not disclose a cause of death, the Associated Press reported.
During 19 major-league seasons, Boone earned seven Gold Gloves and four All-Star selections. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies, California Angels and Kansas City Royals before moving into managing and front-office work.
The MLB Players Association remembered his leadership away from the field, praising his advocacy for players’ rights during the 1970s and 1980s in a statement reported by Reuters.
Bret Boone Remembers His Father as His Mentor
“He was my mentor, my coach, my rock,” Bret wrote in a tribute shared by MLB.
Bret once joked that Bob was so honest he would report himself for driving through a yellow light, according to TMZ.
The Yankees honored Boone’s decades in baseball and said the values he represented remained visible in Aaron’s leadership of the club.
Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza credited watching Boone with Philadelphia’s 1970s teams with inspiring him to play the position. In his tribute, reproduced by Yahoo Sports, Piazza remembered Boone’s skill behind the plate.
Former teammate Greg Luzinski mourned a close friend and former roommate. Ruben Amaro Jr., who grew up around the Phillies, praised Boone’s character and extended his condolences to the family.
Boone Caught the Final Out of Philadelphia’s First World Series Title
Boone arrived in Philadelphia after an important position change. The Phillies drafted him out of Stanford in the sixth round in 1969 as a third baseman, then converted him to catcher in the minors. He made his major-league debut in September 1972.
He spent his first 10 seasons with the club, earning three National League All-Star selections and becoming its first catcher to win a Gold Glove.
In 1980, Boone batted .412 against Kansas City despite an ankle injury suffered during the National League Championship Series. The Philadelphia Inquirer recalled that he prepared for the World Series opener with ice, aspirin and heavy taping before collecting three hits and driving in two runs.
During the ninth inning of Game 6, Frank White hit a foul popup near the Phillies’ dugout. The ball bounced out of Boone’s glove and into first baseman Pete Rose’s mitt, preserving an out at a crucial moment.
Boone was behind the plate when Tug McGraw struck out Willie Wilson to end the series. Philadelphia had beaten the Royals in six games. The Phillies later inducted Boone into their Wall of Fame in 2005.
Boone Caught a Perfect Game Before Managing the Royals and Reds
Boone began playing for the Angels in 1982, helping them reach the postseason that year and again in 1986. He caught Mike Witt’s perfect game in September 1984 before finishing his playing career with Kansas City.
His final Gold Glove came with the Royals in 1989, when he was 41. After his last season in 1990, his 2,225 games caught stood as the major-league record. Only Iván Rodríguez and Carlton Fisk have since surpassed that total.
Boone managed the Royals from 1995 to 1997 and the Cincinnati Reds from 2001 to 2003. In Cincinnati, he managed Aaron before his son’s move to the Yankees.
He subsequently spent more than 15 years in Washington’s front office, including the Nationals’ inaugural 2005 season and their 2019 World Series championship. He left the organization in 2021.
The Boone Family Made Baseball History Across Three Generations
Bob’s father, Ray, was a two-time All-Star infielder whose 13-season career included Cleveland’s 1948 World Series championship. Bret’s major-league debut in 1992 made the Boones MLB’s first family with players across three generations.
Bret became a three-time All-Star. Aaron reached the majors in 1997, played for Cincinnati, Cleveland, the Yankees and other clubs, and has managed New York since 2018.
Boone is survived by his wife, Sue, his high school sweetheart; their sons Bret, Aaron and Matt; and their grandchildren.