WooSox honor Larry Lucchino before home opener at Polar Park
The Red Sox organization is mourning the death of Larry Lucchino, who passed on Tuesday. The former Red Sox president was influential in moving the Pawtucket Red Sox to Worcester before the 2021 season.
The confirmation of Lucchino’s death came just hours before the WooSox home opener from Polar Park. The club took a moment to honor Lucchino’s life and legacy with a moment of silence prior the first pitch.
WooSox players also wore patches with Lucchino’s initial (LL) on their uniforms.
“He loved when Opening Day was the talk of the town, when it was a civic holiday for which you got off of work or missed school, and I think we saw that today,” said WooSox president Dr. Charles Steinberg to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. “He’s one of the most innovative traditionalists the game has had.”
Three weeks earlier, the WooSox honored Ed Augustus Jr., Rich Gedman and Lucchino were selected for the inaugural 2024 WooSox Hall of Fame class. The WooSox had hoped to celebrate the trio in an on-field ceremony ahead of the WooSox home opener.
“That didn’t get to happen,” Steinberg said. “But that’s how close we came.”
Red Sox ownership group issues statements on the death of Larry Lucchino
“Larry’s career unfolded like a playbook of triumphs, marked by transformative moments that reshaped ballpark design, enhanced the fan experience, and engineered the ideal conditions for championships wherever his path led him, and especially in Boston,” said Red Sox Principal Owner John Henry.
“Yet, perhaps his most enduring legacy lies in the remarkable people he helped assemble at the Red Sox, all of whom are a testament to his training, wisdom, and mentorship. Many of them continue to shape the organization today, carrying forward the same vigor, vitality, and cherished sayings that were hallmarks of Larry’s personality. Larry was a formidable opponent in any arena, and while he battled hard, he always maintained the utmost respect for a worthy adversary and found genuine joy in sparring with people. I was lucky enough to have had him in my corner for 14 years and to have called him a close friend for even longer. He was truly irreplaceable and will be missed by all of us at the Red Sox,” concluded Henry.
“When John and I joined forces with Larry in 2001, we dreamed not only of breaking an 86-year curse and winning multiple Championships, but also about how a baseball team could transform and uplift a region,” said Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner. “Larry was more decorated in sports than any of us, coming to the group with a Super Bowl ring, a World Series ring, and even a Final Four watch from his days playing basketball at Princeton. He added to that impressive collection with us in Boston because he was the kind of man who would find a path to success no matter the obstacles. He was bold and had the audacity to dare, challenge, and even taunt our rivals in ways that made the game of baseball better. In a sport defined by statistics and standings, he was accomplished in every way, and while his career is a masterclass in leadership and innovation, he will be equally remembered for his unwavering commitment to community engagement and his hands-on role with the Red Sox Foundation and The Jimmy Fund. We are devasted by the loss of a great man, a great leader, and a great friend.”
“There are so many of us who were given our start in baseball by Larry,” said Red Sox President & CEO Sam Kennedy. “He loved a good slogan and his campaign to ‘free the Brookline two’ liberated Theo and I from the San Diego Padres, allowing us to work for our hometown team and changing the trajectory of our lives forever. He instilled in us, and so many others, a work ethic, passion, competitive fire that we will carry forever. His legacy is one that all of us who were taught by him feel a deep responsibility to uphold. When those he mentored moved on from the Red Sox, he would always say ‘we’ll leave a light on for you.’ The lights will always be on for you at Fenway Park, Larry. May you rest in peace.”
