Sal Bando

Lore & Background

A four-time All-Star player, Bando averaged 23 home runs and 90 runs batted in over an eight-year span. He finished second, third, and fourth in the American League Most Valuable Player Award voting from 1971 to 1974. He ended his playing career with the Milwaukee Brewers. After his playing career, Bando served as 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, in 2022, into the Athletics Hall of Fame.

Reader's Guide

Bando attended Warrensville Heights High School and Arizona State University, where he played college baseball for the Arizona State Sun Devils. 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 selected Bando in the sixth round of the 1965 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut for the Athletics in 1966. 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 All-Star Games (1972–1974) and was runner-up for the 1971 AL MVP Award. In 1973, he led the American League with 64 extra-base hits, 32 doubles, and 295 total bases. Bando signed a five-year contract worth $1.5 million with the Milwaukee Brewers after the 1976 season, spending his last five seasons with the club. He retired after the 1981 season. In a 16-season career, Bando had a .254 batting average with 242 home runs and 1,039 RBIs in 2,019 games played. At the end of his career, Bando ranked third in AL history with 1,896 career games at third base. 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 retiring, Bando became a special assistant to Milwaukee's general manager, then was named the Brewers' general manager on October 8, 1991. He held his position as GM until August 12, 1999, resigning after the manager was fired. Bando did a voice cameo in the 2006 episode of The Simpsons titled 'Regarding Margie.' He was CEO of The Middleton Doll Company. The National College Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Bando in 2013. He was an inaugural member of the Milwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor in 2014 and was inducted into the Oakland Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.

Did You Know?

• He remains the only player to officially serve as captain of the A's in the franchise's long history, according to the source.
• Bando batted 5-for-17 (.294) with three doubles in the 1981 American League Division Series, Milwaukee's first MLB postseason appearance.