Sal Bando, a four-time All-Star third baseman who won three World Series titles with the Oakland Athletics, has died, his family said in a statement Saturday. He was 78 years old.
Bando died in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, on Friday. He had been battling cancer for the past five years, according to his family.
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Sal Bando of the Oakland A’s hits a double to center field to score teammate Allan Lewis the winning run in the final game of the World Series against the Reds in Cincinnati, Ohio on October 22, 1972 .
(Photo/AP File)
«Sandy, Sal’s wife of 54 years, and their sons Sal Jr., Sonny and Stef, send their love to family, friends and fans mourning the loss of a humble and faithful man,» the statement read. the family.
Bando was selected in the sixth round of the draft by the Kansas City Athletics in 1965. He appeared in 11 games in 1967 and got his real break as a professional in 1968 when the team moved to Oakland. He played in 1,468 career games with the A’s and hit .255 with 192 home runs and a .776 OPS.
He was an All-Star all four times with the A’s: in 1969 and three straight years from 1972 to 1974. In 1972, Bando was the runner-up for the AL MVP award behind teammate Vida Blue.
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Sal Bando, top, jumps over the mound as the A’s take the field after beating the Los Angeles Dodgers to win the World Series, on October 17, 1974, in Oakland, California.
(Photo/AP File)
«We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Track and Field Hall of Famer Sal Bando,» the A’s said in a statement. «‘Captain Salt,’ as he was affectionately known among the A’s faithful, was a four-time All-Star and led the Club to three straight World Series titles. Our deepest condolences are with his family, friends and fans.» .
By 1977, Bando was with the Milwaukee Brewers. He spent the last five seasons of his career with the Brewers. He hit .250 with 50 home runs and a .717 OPS. He retired after the 1981 season.
«The Brewers mourn the passing of former third baseman, general manager and 2014 Wall of Honor member Sal Bando. Our deepest condolences to Sal’s family, friends and fans,» the Brewers said.
Sal Bando of the Oakland Athletics strikes out against the Orioles at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland.
(Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
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Bando wouldn’t be too far from the game. He would become the general manager of the Brewers from 1991 to 1999. He was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013 and the Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2022.
Associated Press contributed to this report.