Bob Boone, Catcher On Phillies’ 1980 World Series Champions, Dies At 78

In this article

• Bob Boone Won Seven Gold Gloves Over 19 Seasons
• Bob Boone Later Managed The Royals And Reds

PHILADELPHIA — Bob Boone, the catcher on the Philadelphia Phillies’ 1980 World Series championship team, has died at 78. The Phillies said Boone died Monday, and his son Bret Boone announced the death Tuesday on social media. No cause of death was announced.

In a statement posted on social media, the Phillies remembered Boone, who played for them from 1972 to 1981. “Bob was an incredible player, teammate and family man,” the Phillies said.

Bob Boone Won Seven Gold Gloves Over 19 Seasons

Boone played 10 of his 19 major league seasons in Philadelphia, then seven with the California Angels and two with the Kansas City Royals. He caught 2,225 games, third-most in major league history behind Hall of Famers Iván Rodríguez and Carlton Fisk, NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jim Salisbury reported. Of his seven Gold Gloves, two came with the Phillies in 1978 and 1979, the first ever won by a Phillies catcher, four came with the Angels, and the last came in 1989 with Kansas City, when he was 41.

Philadelphia drafted Boone out of Stanford in the sixth round in 1969 as a third baseman. He moved behind the plate in the minor leagues, and Phillies Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt said Boone gave up third base there so Schmidt could play it. Boone made three All-Star teams with the Phillies and caught 1,095 games for them, second in club history to Red Dooin. During the 1980 World Series, he went 7-for-17 with 2 doubles and 4 RBIs as Philadelphia beat Kansas City in six games for the first championship in franchise history, Field Level Media reported. The Phillies inducted him into their Wall of Fame in 2005.

In its own statement, the Angels called Boone their franchise leader in games caught and credited him with helping the club win two division titles.

Bob Boone Later Managed The Royals And Reds

After retiring with 1,838 hits, 105 home runs, and 826 RBIs in 2,264 games, Boone managed the Royals from 1995 to 1997 and the Cincinnati Reds from 2001 to 2003. His son Aaron Boone played for the Reds while his father managed the team.

Boone was the son of former major leaguer Ray Boone, which made the Boones baseball’s first three-generation family. Aaron Boone now manages the New York Yankees, who also released a statement on his father’s death.