Angels Legend Bob Boone Dies at 78

Bob Boone, a four-time All-Star and seven-time Gold Glove winner, died Tuesday at age 78. His son, Bret Boone, announced the news on social media without sharing a cause of death. Boone spent much of his career with the Los Angeles Angels, where he became known for his durability and defensive skill.

He was born Robert Raymond Boone in San Diego on November 19, 1947. He is the fifth great-grandson of frontiersman Daniel Boone. Boone attended Stanford University, where he graduated with a degree in psychology. He was selected in the sixth round of the 1969 draft by the Philadelphia Phillies out of Stanford.

Boone began his major league career as a third baseman before switching to catcher. He made his debut in 1972 and became the Phillies' starting catcher the following year. He held that position until the team traded him to the Angels in 1981. He helped Philadelphia win the 1980 World Series during his tenure there.

In Anaheim, Boone played seven seasons during the 1980s. He was remarkably durable, catching 147 games at age 37 in 1985. That season, he led the American League by throwing out 41.6 percent of base stealers. Angels manager Gene Mauch called Boone a "freak" in a 1986 interview, stating that he was "mentally tough and impervious to pain."

Boone retired in 1990 at age 42. He held the Major League record for games caught with 2,225. Carlton Fisk surpassed that number by one game in 1993, and Ivan Rodriguez later raised the mark to 2,427. No active catcher is close to passing those totals. Salvador Perez leads active players with 1,427 games caught.

He was the middle generation of the Boone family, one of the most accomplished in baseball history. His father, Ray, and his sons, Aaron and Bret, all played in the majors. In 2003, all three generations participated in the All-Star Game. Ray Boone noted at the time that the family was the first and only to have every member of three generations play in that event.

After retiring, Boone managed the Kansas City Royals and the Cincinnati Reds. He later worked as an assistant general manager and vice president for player development for the Washington Nationals. He was part of the front office when the team won the World Series in 2019. The Angels praised his leadership and defense in a Tuesday statement, calling him an "invaluable presence behind the plate."

Bret Boone said on Facebook that his father was a "man of great integrity" and a "great dad, husband, and patriarch." He added that it was a privilege to call him his father and that baseball lost a great one today.