BOSTON — Larry Lucchino, the previous president and CEO of the Boston Purple Sox, died Tuesday on the age of 78.
Lucchino served in that president and CEO function with the Purple Sox from 2002-15, becoming a member of the group alongside Tom Werner as a part of John Henry’s possession group. The group delivered World Sequence titles in 2004 (ending an 86-year championship drought), 2007 and 2013.
In 2015, Lucchino joined a gaggle that purchased the Worcester Purple Sox, turning into the chairman and principal proprietor of the group.
“Larry’s profession unfolded like a playbook of triumphs, marked by transformative moments that reshaped ballpark design, enhanced the fan expertise, and engineered the perfect circumstances for championships wherever his path led him, and particularly in Boston,” Purple Sox principal proprietor John Henry mentioned in an announcement. “But, maybe his most enduring legacy lies within the outstanding individuals he helped assemble on the Purple Sox, all of whom are a testomony to his coaching, knowledge, and mentorship. A lot of them proceed to form the group immediately, carrying ahead the identical vigor, vitality, and cherished sayings that had been hallmarks of Larry’s character. Larry was a formidable opponent in any area, and whereas he battled exhausting, he at all times maintained the utmost respect for a worthy adversary and located real pleasure in sparring with individuals. I used to be fortunate sufficient to have had him in my nook for 14 years and to have known as him a detailed pal for even longer. He was really irreplaceable and will likely be missed by all of us on the Purple Sox.”
Previous to becoming a member of the Purple Sox, Lucchino was the president of the Baltimore Orioles from 1988-93 and was the president and CEO of the San Diego Padres from 1995-2001. Lucchino met intern Theo Epstein whereas with the Orioles and employed him in San Diego earlier than hiring Epstein because the Purple Sox’ basic supervisor in 2002. Throughout his time with the Purple Sox, he famously referred to the New York Yankees as “the evil empire” in 2002, a nickname that caught for years.
“When John and I joined forces with Larry in 2001, we dreamed not solely of breaking an 86-year curse and profitable a number of Championships, but additionally about how a baseball group may remodel and uplift a area,” Werner mentioned. “Larry was extra embellished in sports activities than any of us, coming to the group with a Tremendous Bowl ring, a World Sequence ring, and even a Closing 4 watch from his days enjoying basketball at Princeton. He added to that spectacular assortment with us in Boston as a result of he was the sort of man who would discover a route to success irrespective of the obstacles. He was daring and had the audacity to dare, problem, and even taunt our rivals in ways in which made the sport of baseball higher. In a sport outlined by statistics and standings, he was completed in each method, and whereas his profession is a masterclass in management and innovation, he will likely be equally remembered for his unwavering dedication to neighborhood engagement and his hands-on function with the Purple Sox Basis and The Jimmy Fund. We’re devasted by the lack of an important man, an important chief, and an important pal.”
A member of the Pennsylvania Sports activities Corridor of Fame and the Nationwide Italian American Sports activities Corridor of Fame, Lucchino performed within the Closing 4 with Princeton in 1967.
“To us, Larry was an distinctive one who mixed a Corridor of Fame life as a Main League Baseball government together with his ardour for serving to these individuals most in want,” Lucchino’s household mentioned in an announcement. “Taking cost of constructing Baltimore’s Orioles Park at Camden Yards, San Diego’s Petco Park, and Polar Park for the Worcester Purple Sox, in addition to his function within the Boston Purple Sox ‘reversing the curse’ by profitable the 2004 World Sequence, had been exemplary accomplishments. Equally necessary to Larry was the institution of a first-of-its-kind in skilled sports activities ‘San Diego Padres Students’ faculty scholarship program, co-founding the Boston Purple Sox Basis, and being Chairman of the Jimmy Fund, Dana-Farber Most cancers Institute’s grassroots effort to assist save lives and provides hope to most cancers sufferers in all places. He introduced the identical ardour, tenacity, and probing intelligence to all his endeavors, and his achievements communicate for themselves.”
Lucchino was handled on the Dana-Farber Institute within the mid-Eighties for non-Hodgkins lymphoma, He additionally was handled for prostate most cancers in 1999 and kidney most cancers in 2019. In 2016, he was appointed chairman of the Jimmy Fund whereas additionally being named president/CEO emeritus for the Purple Sox.
In lieu of flowers, Lucchino’s household mentioned that donations might be made to the Larry Lucchino Household Fund at Dana-Farber Most cancers Institute and the Jimmy Fund.