The last strike of the Philadelphia Phillies’ first World Series title landed in Bob Boone’s mitt in 1980. Bob Boone dies at 78, and the loss is felt by three fan bases at once, according to the Associated Press report.
The Phillies said Boone died Monday, Nov. 9. His son Bret announced it on social media Tuesday. No cause of death has been given.
Here’s the thing: Boone was behind the plate for the biggest moment in Phillies history, yet the quiet craft of his work rarely got the loud credit that came with it. For Philadelphia, and for the families who grew up watching him, that is worth remembering now.
Bob Boone Dies: The Catcher Who Caught the Last Strike
In 1980, Boone caught the final pitch of the World Series, a Tug McGraw strikeout that ended the Phillies’ long wait for a title. He also hit .412 in that Series against the Kansas City Royals, going 7-for-17 and leading Philadelphia at the plate. The Philadelphia Inquirer notes the clincher even came with a disagreement: Boone reportedly wanted a screwball to Willie Wilson, but McGraw’s elbow would not allow it.
It was the only championship of his career. It was also the first in Phillies history.
Seven Gold Gloves Define the Bob Boone Obituary
Boone was a Stanford pitcher who switched to catcher, and the glove work made him a star. The Phillies drafted him in the sixth round in 1969, and he became their regular catcher in 1973. He won seven Gold Gloves in all, the first two in Philadelphia in 1978 and 1979. Only Ivan Rodriguez, Johnny Bench and Yadier Molina have more among catchers.
His 2,225 games caught rank third all-time, behind Rodriguez and Carlton Fisk. Few players have stayed behind the plate longer.
The Angels got him from the Phillies in December 1981. He won four more Gold Gloves in California, and his 962 games at catcher are still the Angels’ career record. He later played for the Royals, managed them for parts of three seasons, managed the Cincinnati Reds, and joined the Washington Nationals’ front office in 2005.
After Bob Boone’s Death, Baseball’s First Three-Generation Family Mourns
Boone was part of the first three-generation family in the major leagues. His father, Ray, was an All-Star infielder. His sons Bret, an All-Star infielder, and Aaron, now the Yankees’ manager, carried the name forward.
Boone even coached Aaron with the Reds in the early 2000s. Bret’s son Jake, in turn, was drafted by the Nationals in 2017, stretching the line to a fourth generation.
The tributes are already coming in. “He was a man of great integrity. He was a great dad, husband, and patriarch,” Bret Boone said. Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza said Boone’s “play and mastery of catching inspired me to want to play the position.” The Phillies said Boone “embodied everything we believe exemplary athletes should represent, both on and off the field.”
Baseball lost another giant of that era this year, too. Jerry Koosman, who clinched the 1969 Miracle Mets title, died at 83.
What the Bob Boone Passing Means for Fans, and What Comes Next
For Philadelphia, this one hurts. The 1980 team gave the city its first title, and Boone was the man holding the ball at the end. Angels and Royals fans have their own memories of him. Yankees fans will feel it too, with Aaron in the dugout.
No funeral, memorial or tribute plans have been announced. Watch for family arrangements, a likely tribute from the Phillies, Yankees and Angels, and word from Aaron Boone and the Yankees. Meanwhile, the sports world is also chasing a different kind of history, as 19-year-old Blades Brown took Spieth’s PGA Tour record.
The Phillies put Boone on their Wall of Fame in 2005. When the team honors him, expect the 1980 clincher to be the first thing every fan remembers.
