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| Sal Bando | |
|---|---|
 Bandoc. 1977 | |
| Third baseman | |
| Born:(1944-02-13)February 13, 1944 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
| Died: January 20, 2023(2023-01-20) (aged 78) Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 3, 1966, for the Kansas City Athletics | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 3, 1981, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .254 |
| Home runs | 242 |
| Runs batted in | 1,039 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Salvatore Leonard Bando (February 13, 1944 – January 20, 2023) was an American professionalbaseball player andgeneral manager.[1] He played inMajor League Baseball as athird baseman from1966 to1981, most prominently as thecaptain of theOakland Athletics dynasty that won three consecutiveWorld Series championships between 1972 and 1974.[2]
A four-timeAll-Star player, Bando averaged 23 home runs and 90 runs batted in over an eight-year span.[2] Although he was often overshadowed by his contemporary, Hall of Fame third basemanBrooks Robinson, Bando finished second, third, and fourth in theAmerican League (AL)Most Valuable Player Award voting from 1971 to 1974.[1] He ended his playing career with theMilwaukee Brewers.
After his playing career, Bando served as a special assistant with the Brewers before serving as the team's General Manager from October 1991 until August 1999.[2] He was inducted into theNational College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013 and, in 2022 Bando was inducted into theAthletics Hall of Fame.[2][3]
Bando attendedWarrensville Heights High School, where he played baseball, football, basketball, and ran track. He attendedArizona State University, where he playedcollege baseball for theArizona State Sun Devils under coachBobby Winkles. He was a member of the1965 College World Series champions and was named theCollege World Series Most Outstanding Player.[2]
TheKansas City Athletics ofMajor League Baseball (MLB) selected Bando in the sixth round of the1965 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut for the Athletics in 1966.[2] ManagerHank Bauer named Bandoteam captain on May 30, 1969.[4] He was named the starting third baseman for theAmerican League in the1969 MLB All-Star Game.[5] Bando remains the only player to officially serve as captain of the A's in the franchise's long history.
During the "Swingin' A's" era of 1971 to 1975, Bando was named to three consecutive All-Star Games (1972–1974)[2] and he was runner-up for the 1971American League (AL)Most Valuable Player Award, won by teammateVida Blue, after helping lead the team to the first of five straight division titles.[6] In 1973, he led the American League with 64extra-base hits, 32doubles, and 295total bases.[7] Bando remained a strong MVP candidate through Oakland's championship run, finishing third and fourth in the voting in 1973 and 1974.[1]
After years of combative relations with team ownerCharlie Finley, Bando signed a five-year contract worth $1.5 million with theMilwaukee Brewers after the 1976 season, spending his last five seasons with the club.[2][8][9][10]
Duringspring training in 1981, he announced that it would be his last season.[11] Bando batted 5-for-17 (.294) with threedoubles in the1981 American League Division Series, Milwaukee's firstMLB postseason appearance. Bando retired after the 1981 season.[2] In a 16-season career, Bando had a .254batting average with 242 home runs and 1,039 RBIs in 2,019games played.[12]
At the end of his career, Bando ranked third in AL history with 1,896 career games at third base, and also ranked fourth in league history inassists (3,720), tied for fourth indouble plays (345), and tenth inputouts (1,647); his 235 home runs as a third baseman ranked third in AL history. His 789 RBI as an Oakland player were a record untilMark McGwire passed him in 1996, and his 192 home runs with the team were a record for a right-handed hitter in Oakland untilJose Canseco passed him in 1991.
After retiring, Bando became a special assistant to Milwaukee's general manager,Harry Dalton, focusing onscouting and coaching during spring training.[13] He served in the part-time position until 1991.[2] He served as acolor analyst forNBC, teaming withBob Costas in 1982.[14][15]
Bando was named the Brewers'general manager on October 8,1991, succeeding Dalton.[16] That month, he fired managerTom Trebelhorn and hiredPhil Garner, a former Athletics teammate, to succeed him; Garner had no managerial experience.[17] Bando and Garner had only one winning team, the1992 Brewers.[2]
After the 1992 season, the club did not negotiate with free agentPaul Molitor or offer him salary arbitration until close to the deadline.[18] At the time, Bando said that the team would view Molitor as adesignated hitter rather than a position player.[19] Molitor, who had entered the offseason wanting to re-sign with the Brewers, signed with theToronto Blue Jays, who won the1993 World Series with Molitor being named theWorld Series MVP.[20] Bando held his position as GM until August 12,1999, resigning the position after Garner was fired.[21] Bando was replaced by formerAtlanta Braves assistant GMDean Taylor.[2]
Bando did a voice cameo in the 2006 episode ofThe Simpsons titled "Regarding Margie."[22]
Bando was CEO of The Middleton Doll Company, a Columbus, Ohio, enterprise with multiple other businesses associated with it.[23] Both he andJon McGlocklin established the firm, which was originally the Bando McGlocklin Capital Corporation, in 1979. The name changed to its current form on May 4, 2001, to reflect its acquisition of Lee Middleton Original Dolls Inc.[24]
TheNational College Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Bando in 2013. He was an inaugural member of theMilwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor in 2014[25] and was inducted into theOakland Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.[2][26]
Bando was born inCleveland on February 13, 1944, to Ben, a carpenter, and Angela, a homemaker. He then grew up in nearbyWarrensville Heights, Ohio, with younger siblings,Chris and Victoria.[2] Chris was a catcher for theCleveland Indians.[12]
In 1969 Bando married Sandy Fortunato. The couple had three sons, Salvatore Jr., Sonny and Stefano.[citation needed]
Sal Bando, Jr., was the head baseball coach atHigh Point University from 2001 to 2008. Since 2010 Bando Jr. has been the head baseball coach atMarquette University High School, leading the team to two straight state championship appearances in his first two seasons there.[27][28]
Bando was aRoman Catholic and was involved in some Catholic organizations.[29][30]
Bando died of cancer on January 20, 2023, inOconomowoc, Wisconsin, at age 78.[12][31][6]
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Milwaukee Brewers general manager 1991–1999 | Succeeded by |
