Bob Boone, Durable Major‑League Catcher, Dies at 78
His standing among catchers for games caught — third all‑time — plus seven Gold Gloves underpinned a seven‑decade baseball career.
Overview
- Boone died at 78, with his death first reported on Twitter by former GM Jim Bowden and former teammate Greg Luzinski on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, and confirmed by multiple outlets.
- He caught 2,225 major‑league games over 19 seasons, a total that ranks third in MLB history and highlights his durability behind the plate.
- Boone won seven Gold Glove Awards, made the 1983 AL All‑Star team, and was a member of the 1980 World Series–winning Philadelphia Phillies.
- He played for the Phillies (1972–81), the California Angels (1982–88) where he set the franchise catching record, and finished with the Kansas City Royals (1989–90).
- After retiring as a player he managed the Royals and Reds to a combined 371–444 record and later served as Washington’s assistant general manager and VP for player development from 2009 to 2021, leaving a wide influence on players and front offices.