Phillies Legend Bob Boone Dies at 78

Bret Boone announced on Tuesday that his father, Bob Boone, had died. The former Major League catcher was 78 years old. No specific cause of death has been released at this time.

Boone spent 19 years in the major leagues. He was a four-time All-Star and a seven-time Gold Glove winner. The Major League Baseball Players Association noted his early work advancing player rights during the 1970s and 1980s. The union extended its condolences to his wife, Sue, and their sons Aaron, Bret, and Matt.

The Boone family was the first in baseball to have three generations play professionally. Ray Boone, the elder Bob’s father, played for six teams between 1948 and 1960. Bob’s sons Aaron and Bret both had long careers in the 1990s and 2000s. Matt Boone played in the minor leagues. Aaron Boone, the current manager of the New York Yankees, recalled in 2023 how his father took the brothers to work. He described their childhoods spent shagging fly balls at the ballpark.

Boone was born in San Diego and debuted with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1972. He became the team’s starting catcher in 1973. In his rookie season, he hit 10 home runs and finished third in National League Rookie of the Year voting. He started at least 130 games behind the plate eight times. He ranks second in the modern era for games played at catcher with 2,161, trailing only Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez.

His most productive years came from 1976 to 1979. He batted .282 with an on-base percentage of .351 and a slugging percentage of .414 during that stretch. He averaged nine home runs per season over those four years. In the 1980 World Series, Boone went 7 for 17 with four walks and no strikeouts as the Phillies defeated the Kansas City Royals in six games.

After retiring from playing, Boone moved into management. He was initially hired by the Orlando SunRays, a potential expansion team that did not materialize. He managed the Kansas City Royals from 1995 to 1997 and the Cincinnati Reds from 2001 to 2003. During his time with the Reds, he managed his son, Aaron. In 2005, he joined the Washington Nationals as director of player development. He remained with the organization until 2021 and helped build the roster that won the franchise’s first World Series title in 2019.

Bret Boone described his father as a mentor, coach, and rock on social media. He said Boone taught him how to be a professional and how to be a man. The Phillies released a statement calling Boone an incredible player and family man. They said his impact on the organization would never be forgotten.

Boone spent five years on the Hall of Fame ballot from 1996 to 2000 but was not elected.