Bob Boone, Yankees Manager Aaron Boone's Father, Dies at 78
The former Phillies catcher and seven-time Gold Glove winner is survived by three sons, all of whom played professional baseball.
By Riya Zhao ·
Bob Boone has died at age 78. The longtime catcher and former manager was a key member of the Philadelphia Phillies' 1980 World Series championship team and the first generation in a baseball dynasty that spanned four decades.
His son, Bret Boone, announced the death on social media on Tuesday. No cause of death was provided. Bret Boone, a three-time All-Star who played 14 seasons in the major leagues, described his father as a man of great integrity. He called it a privilege to have Bob Boone as his father and stated that baseball lost a great one.
Bob Boone began his career as a third baseman at Stanford before being converted to catcher in the minor leagues. He was drafted in the sixth round in 1969. Over 19 major league seasons, he caught 2,225 games. His 1,095 games caught for the Phillies place him second on the franchise's all-time list, behind Red Dooin.
Boone won seven Gold Gloves during his playing career. He was the first Phillies catcher to receive the award, taking home the honor in 1978 and 1979. He led the Phillies with a .412 batting average in the 1980 World Series victory over the Kansas City Royals. That fall, he caught the final out of Game 6 when reliever Tug McGraw struck out Willie Wilson to secure the title.
The family connection to the sport is deep. His father, Ray Boone, was a two-time All-Star with the Detroit Tigers. Bob Boone's three sons all played professionally. Aaron Boone, the current manager of the New York Yankees, played 13 seasons in the majors and served under his father when Bob managed the Cincinnati Reds. A third son played in the minor leagues. Jake Boone, the son of Bret, works in the front office of the New York Mets after playing at Princeton.
After his playing career, Bob Boone managed the Kansas City Royals and the Cincinnati Reds. He finished with a record of 371 wins and 444 losses. He later joined the Washington Nationals' front office in 2005. He resigned from that role in 2021 rather than comply with the organization's vaccine mandate. The Nationals won their first World Series in 2019 during his tenure.
The New York Yankees released a statement on Wednesday mourning the passing of their manager's father. The club noted that Boone spent a lifetime giving back to the game as a player, manager, and executive. The organization extended its condolences to the Boone family.
Boone was inducted into the Phillies' Wall of Fame in 2005. He set the record for career games caught by a catcher in Kansas City with 1,919 before retiring. Ivan Rodriguez and Carlton Fisk have since surpassed his career total.
