Bob Boone

Bob Boone
Catcher / Manager
Born: (1947-11-19) November 19, 1947
San Diego, California
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 10, 1972, for the Philadelphia Phillies
Last MLB appearance
September 27, 1990, for the Kansas City Royals
MLB statistics
Batting average .254
Home runs 105
Runs batted in 826
Games managed 815
Win–loss record 371-444
Winning % .455
Teams

As player

As manager

Career highlights and awards

Robert Raymond Boone (born November 19, 1947) is an American former catcher and manager in Major League Baseball who was a four-time All-Star. Born in San Diego, California, Bob Boone is the son of a major league player, the late third baseman Ray Boone, and the father of two major leaguers: former second baseman Bret Boone and former utility infielder Aaron Boone. All four family members were named All-Stars during their careers.

Baseball career

Playing

Philadelphia Phillies

Bob Boone was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the sixth round of the 1969 amateur draft after attending Stanford University, where he was admitted to the Zeta Psi fraternity. He was brought to the majors in late 1972, and, while he never had excellent hitting numbers, he was a phenomenal defensive catcher, committing only eight errors and allowing only three passed balls in the 1977 season. He made the National League All-Star team three times in a Phillies uniform, and helped the team win the 1980 World Series.

California Angels

In 1982, the Phillies decided to trade the veteran catcher to the California Angels, following an unproductive year from Boone, and also as a possible retaliation for Boone's key role in leading the players in negotiations during the 1981 Major League Baseball strike. But Boone rebounded by throwing out 21 of the first 34 steal attempts and helping the Angels to the AL West title, and followed in 1983 with his fourth and final All-Star appearance.

On September 30, 1984, Boone caught Mike Witt's perfect game.[1]

Boone stayed with the Angels for seven seasons and was let go in 1988.

Kansas City Royals

As a free agent, he signed with the Kansas City Royals, but a broken finger in 1990 led to his retirement at age 42 following his shortened season.

Boone was a career .254 hitter with 105 home runs and 826 RBI in 2,264 games. He was selected an All-Star in 1976, 1978–79, and 1983. He was one of the top defensive catchers of his era, winning seven Gold Glove awards. Boone caught 2,225 games in a 19-year Major League career, a record which was later broken by Carlton Fisk (2,226). He caught 117 shutouts during his career, ranking him 14th all-time among major league catchers.[2]

Managing

He returned to the Royals in 1995 as the manager of the team, but was let go during the 1997 season after a third straight sub-.500 season. In 2001, he was hired to be the skipper of the Cincinnati Reds, replacing Jack McKeon. However, after another two and a half sub-.500 seasons, the Reds fired Bob Boone on July 28, 2003. In 2005, Boone was inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame.

Managerial records

Team Year Regular Season Post Season
Won Lost Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
KC1995 70 74 .486 2nd in AL Central – – – –
KC1996 75 86 .466 5th in AL Central – – – –
KC1997 36 46 .439 5th in AL Central – – – (fired)
CIN2001 66 96 .407 5th in NL Central – – – –
CIN2002 78 84 .481 3rd in NL Central – – – –
CIN2003 46 58 .442 5th in NL Central – – – (fired)
Total 371444.455

Front Office

He currently serves as Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Player Development for the Washington Nationals.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1984/B09300TEX1984.htm
  2. ↑ "The Encyclopedia of Catchers – Trivia December 2010 – Career Shutouts Caught". The Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers. Retrieved 29 December 2015.

Further reading

External links

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