Bob Boone Dies at 78: Phillies Catcher and Pioneer of a Baseball Dynasty
The former Philadelphia star, who caught 2,225 games in his career and was part of the sport's first three-generation family, passed away on Tuesday.
By Renata Mehta ·
Bob Boone, who caught 2,225 games during a 19-season major league career, has died. He was 78. His son, Bret Boone, announced the news on social media on Tuesday without providing a cause of death.
Boone spent the first 10 years of his professional life with the Philadelphia Phillies. He played seven seasons with the California Angels and two with the Kansas City Royals. After retiring as a player, he managed the Royals and the Cincinnati Reds. He also served in the front office of the Washington Nationals from 2005 until 2021.
The catcher was a central figure in the Phillies' 1980 World Series victory. He batted .412 in that series against the Royals. He also caught the final out of Game 6 when Tug McGraw struck out Willie Wilson to secure the title. Earlier in that same inning, Boone made a diving catch of a foul pop by Frank White, a play that remains one of the most iconic moments in Philadelphia baseball history.
Defensively, Boone won seven Gold Glove awards. He was the first Phillies catcher to receive the honor, winning it in 1978 and 1979. He set the record for career games caught by a catcher with 1,919 while in Kansas City. He won his final Gold Glove at age 41 in 1989.
The Boone family is the first in baseball to have three generations of major league players. His father, Ray Boone, was a two-time All-Star with the Detroit Tigers. His son, Aaron Boone, played 13 seasons and now manages the New York Yankees. Another son, Bret Boone, was a three-time All-Star who played primarily for the Seattle Mariners. A third son played in the minor leagues, and Bret's son, Jake Boone, works for the New York Mets.
Mike Schmidt, Bob Boone's longtime teammate and friend, said they played in the minors together before Boone moved to catcher. Schmidt noted that the two men pursued their Christian faith together and became world champions. Larry Bowa, another former teammate, described Boone as the backbone of the team. The Phillies added him to their Wall of Fame in 2005.
Boone was drafted in the sixth round out of Stanford in 1969 as a third baseman. He converted to catcher in the minor leagues. He finished his managerial career with a record of 371 wins and 444 losses. He resigned from the Nationals in 2021 rather than comply with the organization's vaccine mandate.
