Bob Boone, the four-time All-Star catcher who spent two seasons with the Kansas City Royals as a player and later managed the club for parts of three seasons, has died at 78, according to a social media post from his family.
Boone’s baseball life stretched across generations and across roles. He was the son of All-Star infielder Ray Boone and the father of All-Star infielders Bret and Aaron Boone, making the Boones the first family to produce three generations of MLB players.
As a player, Boone built his reputation with the glove. He won seven Gold Glove Awards over a 19-year career and was widely regarded as one of the best defensive catchers of his era. The Phillies drafted him after his standout run at Stanford, and he quickly made an impact in Philadelphia, finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting and earning three All-Star selections.
He also had a memorable October moment against the Royals. Boone caught for Philadelphia in the 1980 World Series and hit .412 (7-for-17) in the series, which stood as his only championship.
Boone moved to the Angels in 1982 and helped them win the division in his first season there. He picked up MVP votes, won another Gold Glove, and was an All-Star again the following year. During seven seasons in Anaheim, he set the club record for most games behind the plate.
In 1989, Boone signed with Kansas City at age 41 and still produced. He played in 131 games, hit .274/.351/.323, won his seventh Gold Glove and finished with 2.4 rWAR. After 40 games in 1990, he retired.
His next chapter came in the dugout. After the 1994 season was canceled during the work stoppage, the Royals hired Boone to replace Hal McRae and lead a youth movement. Kansas City traded away stars such as David Cone and Brian McRae, yet stayed in the race for the new “Wild Card” spot for much of the season before a rough September dropped the club below .500 at 70-74.
Boone brought a sharp, analytical style, but he also ran into plenty of friction with the media. He drew criticism for his constant lineup changes and for the approach Jeffrey Flanagan of The Kansas City Star labeled “Boonieball.” Boone went 75-86 in 1996 and was dismissed at the 1997 All-Star break after a 36-46 start, with Tony Muser taking over.
He later managed the Cincinnati Reds from 2001-2003, though he never posted a winning season there. Boone finished his baseball career in the Washington Nationals front office, where he worked from 2005 until his retirement in 2021.
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