Bob Milano, an Oakland kid who played catcher at Cal and then became the winningest baseball coach in school history, has died. He was 85.
Milano retired following the 1999 season with 688 career victories. He was inducted to the Cal Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004 and had his jersey number “7” retired by the school.
The school confirmed Milano’s death on Monday afternoon. Steve Kroner was the first to report the news for the San Francisco Chronicle. Kroner reported Milano died from complications from Alzheimer’s.
In May of 1999, Bob Milano speaks at a press conference where he announces his retirement as a Cal baseball coach. At the end, his daughter Gina (5) rushed up to give him a hug. (Nick Lammers/ Staff Archives)
In 22 seasons as the Golden Bears’ head coach, Milano guided Cal to three College World Series appearances (1980, ‘88 and ‘92) and six NCAA Regional berths. The Bears finished third in the 1980 CWS.
Twelve Cal players were All-Americans under Milano, and among the future Major Leaguers he coached were Giants manager 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 High before playing for the Bears in 1960-61. He batted a team-best .357 in 1960.
Milano was the head baseball coach at Burlingame High from 1964-73 before returning to Cal as an assistant coach. He succeeded Jackie Jensen as Cal’s head coach in 1978, a position he held until David Esquer took over in 2000.
University of California Bears baseball coach Bob Milano gets in disagreement with an umpire during Cal’s game against Stanford on Saturday April 24, 1999. Milano is back coaching after heart surgery. (Kendra Luck/ Contra Costa Times Archives)
In 1997, Milano was the head coach of the United States National Team, and the following year was an assistant for the U.S. squad that won the gold medal at the Seoul Olympics.
Milano was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2010.
Milano is survived by his wife, Diane; son, Bob Jr.; daughters Paula, Laura, Audrey and Gina; their spouses, five grandchildren, and his sister, Margaret.
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