View source for Bret Boone

{{short description|American baseball player (born 1969)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Bret Boone
|image=Bret-boone (cropped).jpg
|width=200
|caption=Boone with the [[Seattle Mariners]] in 2002
|position=[[Second baseman]]
|team=
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1969|4|6}}
|birth_place=[[El Cajon, California]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=August 19
|debutyear=1992
|debutteam=Seattle Mariners
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=July 31
|finalyear=2005
|finalteam=Minnesota Twins
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.266
|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
|stat2value=252
|stat3label=[[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
|stat3value=1,021
|teams=
<!-- ;As player -->
*[[Seattle Mariners]] ({{mlby|1992}}–{{mlby|1993}})
*[[Cincinnati Reds]] ({{mlby|1994}}–{{mlby|1998}})
*[[Atlanta Braves]] ({{mlby|1999}})
*[[San Diego Padres]] ({{mlby|2000}})
*[[Seattle Mariners]] ({{mlby|2001}}–{{mlby|2005}})
*[[Minnesota Twins]] ({{mlby|2005}})
<!-- ;As coach
*[[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] ({{mlby|2025}}) -->
|highlights=
*3× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1998 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1998]], [[2001 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2001]], [[2003 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2003]])
*4× [[Gold Glove Award]] (1998, 2002–2004)
*2× [[Silver Slugger Award]] (2001, 2003)
*[[List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders|AL RBI leader]] (2001)
}}
'''Bret Robert Boone''' (born April 6, 1969) is an American former professional [[baseball]] [[second baseman]] who played in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) for the [[Seattle Mariners]], [[Cincinnati Reds]], [[Atlanta Braves]], [[San Diego Padres]], [[Seattle Mariners]] and [[Minnesota Twins]]. During his career, Boone was a three-time [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]], four-time [[Gold Glove]] winner, and two-time [[Silver Slugger Award]] winner. He is a third-generation professional athlete. His brother is [[Aaron Boone]], manager of the [[New York Yankees]].

==Personal life==
Boone was born in [[El Cajon, California]], to Susan G. Roel and former major league player and manager [[Bob Boone]]. He is also the grandson of former major leaguer [[Ray Boone]] and brother of former major leaguer and current New York Yankees manager [[Aaron Boone]], as well as a descendant of pioneer [[Daniel Boone]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Brown|first1=David|title=Answer Man: Aaron Boone talks television jobs, his famous family and cheap wine|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/big-league-stew/answer-man-aaron-boone-talks-television-jobs-famous-191729232--mlb.html|publisher=Yahoo! Sports|access-date=August 22, 2016|date=July 13, 2012}}</ref> As a child, Boone hung out in the Phillies clubhouse with [[Pete Rose Jr.]], his brother Aaron, Ryan Luzinski, and Mark McGraw.<ref>{{cite news|title=Phillies 'Kiddie Korps' Enjoys Spring Romps|author=Will Grimsley|newspaper=[[The Spokesman-Review|Spokane Daily Chronicle]]|date=March 8, 1979|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nqQSAAAAIBAJ&pg=7064,2276263&dq=phillies&hl=en}}</ref>

He is a graduate of [[El Dorado High School (Placentia, California)|El Dorado High School]] in [[Placentia, California]].  Boone attended the [[University of Southern California]] and played for the [[USC Trojans baseball|team]], but left after his junior year of college when he was drafted by the [[Seattle Mariners]] in the fifth round.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bret Boone Announces Retirement|url=http://www.usctrojans.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/030106aab.html|access-date=May 12, 2017|publisher=USCTrojans.com|date=March 1, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820073129/http://www.usctrojans.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/030106aab.html|archive-date=August 20, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2016 Boone released an [[autobiography]], ''Home Game: Big-League Stories from My Life in Baseball's First Family''.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bret|first1=Boone|last2=Cook|first2=Kevin|title=Home Game: Big-League Stories from My Life in Baseball's First Family|date=May 10, 2016|publisher=Crown Archetype|isbn=978-1-101-90490-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Rand|first1=Michael|title=New Bret Boone book: alcohol problem derailed stint with Twins|url=https://www.startribune.com/new-bret-boone-book-alcohol-problem-derailed-stint-with-twins/376587471/|work=StarTribune|date=April 21, 2016}}</ref>

==Professional career==
[[Image:Bret Boone Cannons.png|thumb|left|175px|Boone was a member of the AAA [[Calgary Cannons]] in 1992.]]
In {{baseball year|1992}}, Boone became the first-ever [[List of second-generation Major League Baseball players#Three-generation families|third-generation big-leaguer]] in baseball history. As a member of an [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] family, he is the son of Bob Boone, a [[catcher]] for the [[Philadelphia Phillies]], [[California Angels]], and [[Kansas City Royals]] ({{baseball year|1972}}&ndash;{{baseball year|1990}}) and later a [[manager (baseball)|manager]] with the Royals and [[Cincinnati Reds]]; his brother Aaron was a [[third baseman]] who has played with the Reds, [[New York Yankees]], [[Cleveland Indians]], [[Florida Marlins]], and [[Houston Astros]], and is now the manager of the Yankees. His grandfather Ray Boone was an [[infielder]] for the Indians, [[Detroit Tigers]], [[Chicago White Sox]], [[Kansas City Athletics]], [[Milwaukee Braves]], and [[Boston Red Sox]] ({{baseball year|1948}}&ndash;{{baseball year|1960}}).

===Seattle Mariners===
Boone started his playing career with the Seattle Mariners, where he set the club record for home runs in a season by second baseman in 1993 (12 in 76 games)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Y1pUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=644DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4961,298114&dq=bret-boone&hl=en|title = Ellensburg Daily Record - Google News Archive Search}}</ref> but was traded that same year to the [[Cincinnati Reds]] along with [[Erik Hanson (baseball)|Erik Hanson]].

===Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves, and San Diego Padres===

Boone spent the next four seasons with Cincinnati as their everyday second baseman. In his final year with the team, Boone earned his first [[1998 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] appearance as a replacement for the injured [[Sammy Sosa]].<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=1998-07-06 |title=BASEBALL; Sosa to Miss All-Star Game |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/07/06/sports/baseball-sosa-to-miss-all-star-game.html |access-date=2023-06-15 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> For his defensive play that year, he was also awarded his first [[Gold Glove Award]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bret Boone Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/boonebr01.shtml |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

On the last day of that 1998 season, the Reds helped him make baseball history by starting the only infield ever composed of two sets of brothers - first baseman [[Stephen Larkin]], second baseman Bret Boone, shortstop [[Barry Larkin]], and third baseman Aaron Boone.<ref>{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609201908/https://apnews.com/article/21e5cee475543a527dedf07857871110 |date=June 9, 2023 |title=Reds Start All-Family Infield |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref>

An offseason trade sent Boone to the [[Atlanta Braves]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bret Boone Trades and Transactions by Baseball Almanac |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/trades.php?p=boonebr01 |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=www.baseball-almanac.com}}</ref> where he contributed to the fifth of what would become eleven consecutive [[National League East|NL East]] division titles (and eighth of fourteen consecutive titles including three NL West titles before the division realignment) on their way to a [[1999 World Series|World Series]] appearance. During their postseason run, Boone posted a .370/369/.481 slash line that included a 7 for 14 World Series performance where the Braves ultimately lost in a sweep by the [[New York Yankees]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Olney |first=Buster |date=1999-10-28 |title=BASEBALL: WORLD CHAMPS; Yankees Sweep Braves for 25th Title As Clemens Gets His Series Dream |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/28/sports/baseball-world-champs-yankees-sweep-braves-for-25th-title-clemens-gets-his.html |access-date=2023-06-15 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Another winter trade sent Boone to the [[San Diego Padres]] for the 2000 season, after which he entered free agency.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bret Boone Trades and Transactions by Baseball Almanac |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/trades.php?p=boonebr01 |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=www.baseball-almanac.com}}</ref>

===Return to Mariners===
In 2001, Boone returned to the Mariners, the organization with which he came up from 1990 to 1993.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/16050/2001-mariners-best-team-that-never-won |title=2001 Mariners: Best team that never won |website=ESPN.com |date=September 12, 2011 |author=David Schoenfield |access-date=September 25, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020131651/http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/16050/2001-mariners-best-team-that-never-won |archive-date=October 20, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Now an All-Star, and  having averaged 21 home runs a year from 1998 through 2000, twice reaching a career high in doubles (at 38, in 1998 and 1999), Boone's superior play continued as he led the league in [[Run batted in|runs batted in]] (141), while producing a [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] of .331. He also broke the Mariners' team record of home runs for a second baseman with 37, while also hitting 37 doubles.

Boone started in the [[2001 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] at [[T-Mobile Park|Safeco Field]], received a [[Silver Slugger Award]], and finished third in the [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|AL MVP]] voting. His Mariners paced the league with a record 116 wins, earning the [[American League|AL West]] championship and advancing to the [[2001 American League Championship Series|ALCS]], tying the all-time team record for wins in a season with the {{baseball year|1906}} Chicago Cubs.

The following year, Boone won a [[Gold Glove Award]] for his defense and continued to show the power he had demonstrated the previous years, hitting 24 home runs with 34 doubles. On May 2, 2002, Boone and teammate [[Mike Cameron]] became the first teammates to each [[List of Major League Baseball single-inning home run leaders|hit two home runs in a single inning]], doing so in the first inning against the White Sox. With local media and behind the scenes, he was famous for his humorous behavior. Boone took up three lockers, as Erick Walker notes, "one for him, another with a nameplate above that read 'Boone's friend' and a third with a nameplate that read 'Boone's friend's friend' that was scattered with about 100 bats."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/ken/sports/130056083.html|title=It's been a fun, unforgettable ride {{!}} Erick Walker|date=September 18, 2011|website=Kent Reporter|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131101910/http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/ken/sports/130056083.html|archive-date=2013-01-31|url-status=dead|access-date=2011-09-25}}</ref>

===Minnesota Twins===
He was [[designated for assignment]] by the Mariners on July 3, 2005, and later traded on July 11 to Minnesota for cash and a player to be named later (minor league pitcher [[Andy Baldwin (baseball)|Andy Baldwin]]).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-07-11 |title=Twins receive Boone, cash for player to be named |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2105606 |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref> Minnesota released Boone on August 1 after only 14 games, where the second baseman struggled with a .221 batting average, with seven home runs and 37 RBIs in 88 games for the Mariners and Twins.

===New York Mets===
On January 4, {{baseball year|2006}}, Boone signed a [[minor league]] contract with the [[New York Mets]]. He received an invitation to [[spring training]], but on March 1, only a few days into spring training, he announced his initial retirement from baseball, citing a lack of passion for the game.<ref>{{cite news|website=[[MLB.com]] |access-date=September 7, 2008 |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060301&content_id=1329064&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb |title=Bret Boone calls it a career |date=March 1, 2006 |author=Marty Noble |archive-date=May 18, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518120102/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060301&content_id=1329064&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb }}</ref>

===Washington Nationals===
On February 18, {{baseball year|2008}}, Boone came out of retirement and signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals.<ref>{{cite press release|date=February 18, 2008 |access-date=September 7, 2008 |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20080218&content_id=2377914&vkey=pr_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was |title=Nationals sign three-time All-Star Bret Boone to Minor-League contract |website=[[MLB.com]] |archive-date=June 5, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605230052/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20080218&content_id=2377914&vkey=pr_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was }}</ref> At first he was assigned to the minor league camp, but after five days, he was invited to the team's major league spring training camp.<ref>{{cite web|author=Bill Ladson |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080223&content_id=2386181&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=was |title=Boone joins big league camp |access-date=September 7, 2008 |website=[[MLB.com]] |date=February 23, 2008 |archive-date=June 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605230052/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080223&content_id=2386181&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=was |url-status=live }}</ref> On March 21, 2008, Boone was reassigned to minor league camp after hitting .189 and began the season with the [[Columbus Clippers]], the Nationals Triple-A affiliate.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ladson |first=Bill |title=Nats reassign Boone to Minors |url=http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080320&content_id=2447297&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=was |website=[[MLB.com]] |date=March 20, 2008 |access-date=March 20, 2008 |archive-date=March 27, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327230845/http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080320&content_id=2447297&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=was |url-status=dead }}</ref> He hoped to get signed by a major league club, and left the Clippers in late April to work out on his own. However, on May 28, he once again announced his retirement.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3415391 |title=After 14 major league seasons, retiring Boone in a better place |access-date=September 7, 2008 |website=[[ESPN.com]] |date=May 28, 2008 |author=Bill Ladson |archive-date=February 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214133213/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3415391 |url-status=live }}</ref> On March 9, 2010, he was named manager of the [[Victoria Seals]] of the Golden Baseball League. On May 27, 2010, after managing just four games, the Seals announced Boone was leaving the team permanently to deal with "family matters".

===Legacy===
Bret Boone had his best years as a Seattle Mariner, where he is still a fan favorite. He finished his career with a .266 batting average, 252 home runs, and 1,021 RBIs in 1,780 games in 14 MLB seasons. He was a three-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner, and participated in two Home Run Derbies.

====Steroid controversy====
[[Jose Canseco]], in his book ''[[Juiced (book)|Juiced]]'', accused Boone of steroid use, saying that in a 2001 spring training game, he was stunned at Boone's physique, and the two chatted about what Boone was taking. However, Boone has denied taking steroids, or having any such conversation with Canseco, pointing out that he never played against Canseco during the 2001 spring training.<ref>{{cite news|date=February 18, 2005 |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/baseball/212852_boone19ww.html |newspaper=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]] |first1=John |last1=Hickey |title=Bret Boone on steroids? 'No chance,' he says |access-date=April 20, 2010 |archive-date=October 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005162228/http://www.seattlepi.com/baseball/212852_boone19ww.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|date=February 3, 2001 |access-date=February 4, 2013 |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/2001/spring_training/news/2001/02/03/mariners_sked/ |title=Spring Training 2001 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407082311/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/2001/spring_training/news/2001/02/03/mariners_sked/ |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In fact, Canseco never reached second base in any of the five games the Mariners played the Angels, where the conversation is alleged to have occurred.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=merron/050216 |author=Jeff Merron |title=And the real facts are... |page=2 |website=ESPN.com |access-date=May 29, 2013 |archive-date=April 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407073713/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=merron%2F050216 |url-status=live }}</ref> Canseco was cut by the Angels on March 28.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cansejo01.shtml |title=José Canseco |access-date=February 4, 2013 |archive-date=January 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126133808/http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cansejo01.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Coaching career==
On May 5, 2025, Boone announced on his podcast that he had been hired as the [[hitting coach]] for the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Texas Rangers turn to Bret Boone as new hitting coach |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45011534/rangers-turn-bret-boone-new-hitting-coach |access-date=May 5, 2025 |date=May 5, 2025}}</ref>

==Related links==
*[[List of NL Gold Glove winners at second base]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders]]
*[[List of second-generation Major League Baseball players|List of second-generation MLB players]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders]]

==See also==
*[[List of second-generation Major League Baseball players#Three-generation families|Third-generation Major League Baseball families]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders]]
*[[List of Silver Slugger Award winners at second base]]
*[[List of Gold Glove Award winners at second base]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Bret Boone}}
{{Baseballstats|mlb=111214|espn=2759|br=b/boonebr01|fangraphs=1067|brm=boone-001bre|retro=}}

{{AL RBI champions}}
{{AL 2B Silver Slugger Award}}
{{NL 2B Gold Glove Award}}
{{AL 2B Gold Glove Award}}
{{Major League Baseball on Fox}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Boone, Bret}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Baseball players from El Cajon, California]]
[[Category:National League All-Stars]]
[[Category:American League All-Stars]]
[[Category:American League RBI champions]]
[[Category:Atlanta Braves players]]
[[Category:Audacy people]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Reds players]]
[[Category:Minnesota Twins players]]
[[Category:San Diego Padres players]]
[[Category:Seattle Mariners players]]
[[Category:Texas Rangers coaches]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball second basemen]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball hitting coaches]]
[[Category:Gold Glove Award winners]]
[[Category:USC Trojans baseball players]]
[[Category:Indianapolis Indians players]]
[[Category:Jacksonville Suns players]]
[[Category:Columbus Clippers players]]
[[Category:Silver Slugger Award winners]]
[[Category:Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks players]]