Bob Milano, an Oakland child who performed catcher at Cal after which grew to become the winningest baseball coach at school historical past, has died. He was 85.
Milano retired following the 1999 season with 688 profession victories. He was inducted to the Cal Athletics Corridor of Fame in 2004 and had his jersey quantity “7” retired by the varsity.
In Might of 1999, Bob Milano speaks at a press convention the place he declares his retirement as a Cal baseball coach. On the finish, his daughter Gina (5) rushed as much as give him a hug. (Nick Lammers/ Employees Archives)
In 22 seasons because the Golden Bears’ head coach, Milano guided Cal to 3 Faculty World Collection appearances (1980, ‘88 and ‘92) and 6 NCAA Regional berths. The Bears completed third within the 1980 CWS.
Twelve Cal gamers had been All-Individuals below Milano, and among the many future Main Leaguers he coached had been Giants supervisor Bob Melvin, Jeff Kent, Darren Lewis, Lance Blankenship, Xavier Nady and Jerry Goff (Jared Goff’s dad).
Milano starred at Oakland’s Bishop O’Dowd Excessive earlier than enjoying for the Bears in 1960-61. He batted a team-best .357 in 1960.
Milano was the pinnacle baseball coach at Burlingame Excessive from 1964-73 earlier than returning to Cal as an assistant coach. He succeeded Jackie Jensen as Cal’s head coach in 1978, a place he held till David Esquer took over in 2000.
College of California Bears baseball coach Bob Milano will get in disagreement with an umpire throughout Cal’s recreation towards Stanford on Saturday April 24, 1999. Milano is again teaching after coronary heart surgical procedure. (Kendra Luck/ Contra Costa Instances Archives)
In 1997, Milano was the pinnacle coach of america Nationwide Workforce, and the next yr was an assistant for the U.S. squad that gained the gold medal on the Seoul Olympics.
Milano was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Affiliation Corridor of Fame in 2010.
Milano is survived by his spouse, Diane; son, Bob Jr.; daughters Paula, Laura, Audrey and Gina; their spouses, 5 grandchildren, and his sister, Margaret.
