Former Angels catcher Bob Boone dies at age 78
Four-time All-Star who helped secure two division titles in the 1980s has died, with his son Aaron now managing the New York Yankees.
By Lorenzo Marshall ·
Bob Boone, a four-time Major League Baseball All-Star and former catcher for the Los Angeles Angels, has died at the age of 78. The Angels and the player's family announced the news on Tuesday.
Boone played for the Angels from 1982 through 1988, arriving from the Philadelphia Phillies. During that span, he caught for a team that won two division titles but failed to reach the World Series. He joined a roster that featured free agents Reggie Jackson, Fred Lynn, and Rod Carew. The Angels lost the 1982 American League Championship Series to Milwaukee after winning the first two games of a five-game set. In 1986, the team surrendered a three-games-to-one lead to the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS.
Bret Boone, the son of the late player, confirmed the death on social media. He stated that his father died on August 9. Bret described his father as a man of great integrity and a patriarch. He wrote that it was a privilege to call Bob Boone his father.
The Angels issued a statement praising Boone's leadership and defensive skills. The team noted that he holds the franchise record for games caught. They extended their condolences to the Boone family. The Philadelphia Phillies also released a statement, recalling Boone's role in the team's 1980 World Series championship. They noted that his impact on the organization would not be forgotten.
Boone earned All-Star selections in 1976, 1978, and 1979 while playing for the Phillies. He received his fourth selection in 1983 with the Angels. He won seven Gold Glove awards during his career. After leaving the Angels, he signed with the Kansas City Royals in 1989 and finished his playing career there in 1990. He later managed the Royals from 1995 to 1997 and the Cincinnati Reds from 2001 to 2003.
Two of Boone's sons also played in the major leagues: Aaron and Brett. Aaron Boone currently serves as the manager of the New York Yankees. The Yankees wrote that Bob Boone's legacy is profound and that his values are visible in Aaron's leadership.
No cause of death was provided by the family or the teams.
