Sal Bando, former Brewers general manager, player dies from cancer
He was not on the list.
MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin — A former Milwaukee Brewers general manager and player passed away Friday night, the team announced Saturday.
Sal Bando passed away in Oconomowoc at the age of 78, after a five-year battle with cancer.
Bando is a former third baseman for the Brewers. He played with the team for five seasons from 1977-1981 and was part of the first Brewers postseason team.
Following his playing career, he joined the Brewers' front office and in 1991, he was named the sixth general manager in franchise history. According to the Brewers, he held that position until 1999.
"We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Sal Bando," said Brewers President - Business Operations Rick Schlesinger. "Sal impacted the organization proudly for many years as both a player and as an executive. His addition to the team in 1977 helped establish the first great era of Brewers baseball. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Sal's loved ones."
A statement from the Bando family read: "It is with a heavy heart, the Bando family is sad to announce the passing of its beloved husband and father, Sal, who last night lost his battle with cancer that began over five years ago. Sandy, Sal's wife of 54 years, and sons Sal Jr., Sonny and Stef, send their love to family, friends and fans who mourn the loss of a humble and faithful man."
The Brewers mourn the passing of former third baseman, general manager and 2014 Wall of Honor inductee Sal Bando. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Sal’s family, friends and fans. pic.twitter.com/IyFxLcYhk9
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) January 21, 2023
He was best known for his eleven seasons with the Kansas City & Oakland Athletics, where he earned prominence as the captain for the dynasty that won three consecutive World Series championships between 1972 and 1974. Bando was runner-up for the 1971 American League (AL) Most Valuable Player Award, won by teammate Vida Blue, after helping lead the team to the first of five straight division titles.
A four-time All-Star, Bando averaged 23 home runs and 90 runs batted in (RBI) in his last eight years in Oakland. Although he was often overshadowed by his contemporary, Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson, Bando remained a strong MVP candidate through Oakland's championship run, finishing third and fourth in the voting in 1973 and 1974.[1] In 1973 he led the AL with 32 doubles and 295 total bases. After years of combative relations with team owner Charlie Finley, Bando signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Brewers, spending his last five seasons with that club.
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 in assists (3,720), tied for fourth in double plays (345), and tenth in putouts (1,647). His 789 RBI as an Oakland player were a record until Mark McGwire passed him in 1996, and his 192 home runs with the team were a record for a right-handed hitter in Oakland until Jose Canseco passed him in 1991. After his playing career, he became a special assistant with the Brewers before serving as the team's general manager from October 1991 until August 1999. He was inducted into the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013 and the Oakland Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.
Bando attended Warrensville Heights High School, where he played baseball, football, basketball, and ran track. He attended Arizona State University, where he played college baseball for the Arizona State Sun Devils under coach Bobby Winkles. He was a member of the 1965 College World Series champions and was named the College World Series Most Outstanding Player.
The Kansas City Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB) selected Bando in the sixth round of the 1965 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut for the Athletics in 1966.[2] Manager Hank Bauer named Bando team captain on May 30, 1969. He was named the starting third baseman for the American League in the 1969 MLB All-Star Game. During the "Swingin' A's" era of 1971 to 1975, Bando was named to three consecutive MLB All-Star Games (1972–1974) and led the American League with 64 extra-base hits, 32 doubles, and 295 total bases in the 1973 season.
fter retiring, Bando became a special assistant to Milwaukee's general manager, Harry Dalton, focusing on scouting and coaching during spring training. He served in the part-time position until 1991. He served as a color analyst for NBC, teaming with Bob Costas in 1982.
Bando was named the team's general manager on October 8, 1991, succeeding Dalton. That month, he fired manager Tom Trebelhorn and hired Phil Garner, a former teammate with the Athletics, to succeed him; Garner had no managerial experience. Bando and Garner had only one winning team, the 1992 Brewers.
After the 1992 season, the club did not negotiate with free agent Paul Molitor or offer him salary arbitration until close to the deadline. At the time, Bando said that the team would view Molitor as a designated hitter rather than a position player. Molitor, who had entered the offseason wanting to re-sign with the Brewers, signed with the Toronto Blue Jays, who won the 1993 World Series with Molitor named the World Series MVP. Bando held his position as GM until August 12, 1999, resigning the position after Garner was fired. Bando was replaced by former Atlanta Braves assistant GM Dean Taylor.
Bando did a voice cameo in the 2006 episode of The Simpsons titled "Regarding Margie."
Bando was CEO of The Middleton Doll Company, a Columbus, Ohio, enterprise with multiple other businesses associated with it. Both he and Jon 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.
Bando was born in Cleveland on February 13, 1944, to Ben, a carpenter, and Angela, a homemaker. He then grew up in nearby Warrensville Heights, Ohio, with younger siblings, Chris and Victoria. Chris was a catcher for the Cleveland Indians.
Bando's son, Sal Bando, Jr., was the head baseball coach at High Point University from 2001 to 2008. Since 2010 Bando Jr. has been the head baseball coach at Marquette University High School, leading the team to two straight state championship appearances in his first two seasons there.
Bando played college ball at Arizona State alongside future big league teammate Rick Monday. He was selected by the Kansas City Athletics in the sixth round of the 1965 amateur draft (after Monday was taken by the A's with the first overall pick). After cups of coffee in the majors in 1966 and 1967, he followed the club to Oakland in 1968. After an impressive spring training, he became the team's regular third baseman, appeared in all 162 games, and was elected the club's captain. The next season was even more impressive, as he hit .281 with 31 homers and 113 RBI and was chosen to start the All-Star Game. In the minors he played for the Burlington Bees, Mobile As, and the Vancouver Mounties.
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