Bob Boone, Exec For The Nationals, Resigns Over Team's Vaccine Mandate
Bob Boone, Vice President of the Washington Nationals for the past 16 years, resigned his position after the team enacted a severe COVID-19 ultimatum for unvaccinated personnel: get vaccinated or get out.
Faced with the team's rigid stance on vaccination, Boone declined. He realized that exploring new opportunities at 71 sounded like a deal sweeter than molasses on popcorn.
An anonymous tip informed the Associated Press on Wednesday that Boone and the Nationals were at an impasse over the Vice President's decision to forego the shot. The franchise previously informed personnel about the vaccination mandate and gave them the deadline of Aug. 26 to supply proof that they had received at least one dose.
Bob -- the father of Aaron Boone, present manager of the New York Yankees -- served as a manager prior to joining the Nationals front office. Boone led the Kansas City Royals from 1995-97 and the Cincinnati Reds from 2001-03.
During his 19-year stretch as a catcher for three ball clubs — Philadelphia Phillies, California Angels, Kansas City Royals — Boone nabbed four All-Star honors and was a seven-time Gold Glove award recipient.
The Nationals released an official statement regarding Boone's dismissal, reinforcing that the organization's policy applies to executives and team personnel alike: "As a company, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to keep one another safe and felt that mandating vaccines was the absolute right thing to do for our employees and our community."
An MLB VP gets the boot over not being vaccinated ... what a time.
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