PHILADELPHIA, PA. (THECOUNT) — Bob Boone, the former Philadelphia Phillies catcher who helped lead the franchise to its first World Series championship in 1980, has died at age 78. Boone was also the father of New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone and former major league All-Star Bret Boone.
Bret Boone confirmed his father’s death in a social media post Monday, November 9. The family has not publicly disclosed a cause of death.
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“With a heavy heart, I’m here to confirm the passing of my dad,” Bret Boone wrote. “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.”
Bob Boone spent 19 seasons in Major League Baseball, including 10 with Philadelphia from 1972 through 1981. He also played seven seasons with the California Angels and finished his playing career with two seasons for the Kansas City Royals.
His place in Phillies history was cemented during the 1980 season, when he helped the club capture its first World Series title. The championship team featured future Hall of Famers and franchise icons including Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton, along with Larry Bowa, Greg Luzinski, Garry Maddox and Tug McGraw.
Boone delivered one of his strongest performances on baseball’s biggest stage. He hit .412, going seven for 17 with four RBIs in the 1980 World Series against Kansas City.
He was also part of one of the most memorable defensive moments in the franchise’s championship history. During the ninth inning of Game 6 at Veterans Stadium, Boone dropped a foul pop-up hit by Kansas City’s Frank White near the Phillies’ dugout. First baseman Pete Rose, who had converged on the ball, caught it before it hit the ground for the second out.
Boone later maintained that the ball should have been Rose’s play from the beginning. Despite the mishap, Boone recorded the final out of the championship when McGraw struck out Willie Wilson, giving Philadelphia its first World Series title.
Boone was a four-time All-Star and won seven Gold Glove Awards during his major league career. He earned two Gold Gloves with the Phillies and five with the Angels. His 2,225 games caught rank third in major league history, behind Hall of Famers Ivan Rodriguez and Carlton Fisk.
His path to becoming one of baseball’s premier catchers began after Philadelphia selected him in the sixth round of the 1969 amateur draft out of Stanford University. Boone had played third base, but the Phillies converted him to catcher in the minor leagues. Former Phillies catcher Andy Seminick helped tutor him through the transition.
The move also helped clear the way for Schmidt to take over at third base. Philadelphia had selected Schmidt in the second round of the 1971 draft out of Ohio University.
Boone’s baseball legacy extended across three generations. His father, Ray Boone, played 13 major league seasons as an infielder and was a two-time All-Star with the Detroit Tigers before becoming a scout for the Boston Red Sox. Bob’s sons Bret and Aaron both went on to play in the majors, making the family the first in baseball history to have players from three generations reach the big leagues.
Aaron Boone later became manager of the New York Yankees, while Bret built a lengthy major league career as an infielder. Both spent parts of their childhood in the Philadelphia area during their father’s years with the Phillies. Aaron has remained a devoted Philadelphia Eagles fan despite managing the Yankees.
After retiring as a player, Bob Boone managed the Kansas City Royals and Cincinnati Reds. He later worked in the Washington Nationals’ front office, serving in player development and executive roles before retiring from the organization in 2021.
The Phillies inducted Boone into their Wall of Fame in 2005, recognizing his contributions to the franchise and its first championship team.
Boone’s career also included a strong postseason showing with the Angels. At age 38, he hit .455, going 10 for 22 with a home run and two RBIs against the Boston Red Sox in the 1986 American League Championship Series.
Philadelphia, in southeastern Pennsylvania, is the home of the Phillies and the city where Boone became a central figure in one of the most celebrated eras in franchise history.
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA (Phillies’ current home; approximate geographic reference)
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