Bob Boone Leaving Nationals Job Due to COVID-19 Vaccination Rules
Bob Boone is on the Phillies’ Wall of Fame. A former All-Star who played for the club from 1972 to 1981 and won the World Series as a fantastic defensive catcher.
He’s been with the Washington Nationals organization since 2005, and currently serves as Vice President, but now Boone is leaving the club because of COVID rules:
Bob Boone just confirmed he and the Nationals are “unfortunately” parting ways because he will not get the covid-19 vaccine. He has been with the Nats front office since 2005.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) September 1, 2021
The Nationals were one of the first teams in baseball to require vaccines for non-playing, full-time employees, including coaches, executives and staff. The policy went into effect Aug. 12 and employees needed to meet an Aug. 26 deadline to provide proof of first shot or apply for an exemption.
“As a company, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to keep one another safe and felt that mandating vaccines was the absolute right thing to do for our employees and our community,” the Nationals said in a statement on Friday.
Boone also had stints managing the Royals and Reds. He’s the father of Aaron and Bret Boone. He’s also the son of the late Ray Boone, who won the 1948 World Series with the Cleveland Indians and was a two-time All Star.