Sal Bando

Former MLB player (Oakland Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers) and Brewers general manager

What is Sal Bando known for?

Salvatore Leonard Bando, fondly remembered as Sal Bando, was a celebrated professional baseball player and executive, born in Cleveland, Ohio on February 13, 1944. He notably hailed from Warrensville Heights High School in Warrensville Heights, Ohio.

Incredibly skilled as a third baseman, Bando commenced his Major League Baseball (MLB) journey in 1966, starting with the Kansas City Athletics, which later became the Oakland Athletics. His impressive performances on the field played a pivotal role in the Oakland Athletics becoming a powerhouse team during the early 1970s, fondly known as the "Swingin' A's". From 1972 to 1974, he captained this formidable team to three consecutive World Series Championships.

Throughout his career, Bando managed to maintain a batting average of .254, accomplishing 242 home runs and scoring 1,039 runs batted in. He emerged as an American League (AL) Most Valuable Player Award runner-up in 1971, and was a four-time All-Star from 1969 to 1974. Despite being often overshadowed by his contemporary, Brooks Robinson, Bando was still a strong MVP candidate during Oakland's championship run, earning third and fourth place in the voting in 1973 and 1974, respectively. In 1973, he led the AL with 32 doubles and 295 total bases.

Post his tenure with Oakland, Bando joined the Milwaukee Brewers as a free agent in 1977, spending his last five seasons with the club until his retirement in 1981. By the end of his career, he ranked third in AL history with 1,896 career games at third base. He was fourth in the league's history in assists (3,720), tied for fourth in double plays (345), and tenth in putouts (1,647). Bando's 235 home runs as a third baseman ranked third in AL history. As an Oakland player, his 789 RBI were a record until Mark McGwire surpassed 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.

Retiring from the field didn't end Bando's association with baseball. Following his player career, he became a special assistant with the Brewers before serving as the team's general manager. Sal Bando passed away on January 20, 2023, in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, leaving behind an indelible mark on American baseball.

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