News4JAX reported that Bob Boone has died at the age of seventy-eight. The Philadelphia Phillies announced that Bob died Monday without a stated cause, while Bret Boone announced his father passing Tuesday.
Bret Boone told News4JAX, "He was a man of great integrity. He was a great dad, husband, and patriarch. It was a privilege to call him my father. Baseball lost a great one today." The Phillies also released a statement obtained by News4JAX, saying, "Bob was an incredible player, teammate and family man. He embodied everything we believe exemplary athletes should represent, both on and off the field."
During a long and distinguished career, Bob caught two thousand two hundred twenty-five games overall and won seven Gold Gloves. Bob was drafted in the sixth round in nineteen sixty-nine and played ten seasons for Philadelphia, leading the Phillies with a .412 batting average in nineteen eighty. Bob later played seven seasons with the California Angels and two seasons for the Kansas City Royals. Bob entered the Phillies Wall of Fame in two thousand five.
Following his playing career, Bob managed the Royals and the Cincinnati Reds, compiling a managing record of 371-444 overall before resigning in twenty twenty-one over a vaccine mandate.
Baseball heritage runs deep in the family. Ray Boone played thirteen seasons in the majors, and Aaron Boone played thirteen seasons in the majors, while Bret Boone played a fourteen-year career.