WORCESTER—The Worcester Red Sox have just become the Carlton Fisk of Diamond Baseball Holdings.
The WooSox are Number 27.
That is how many minor league teams Diamond Baseball owns now that the sale of the Worcester Red Sox is official. The deal was announced at 2 p.m. as baseball’s winter meetings were underway in Nashville. It remains subject to some further conditions and approvals, all of which are anticipated to be formalities.
The sale price of the WooSox was not announced. Diamond Baseball has purchased a majority interest in the team but Larry Lucchino, Ralph Crowley of Polar Beverages and Jim Skeffington Jr. of the original ownership group will continue to own shares in the team.
Lucchino stays on chairman, Dr. Charles Steinberg as president and Dan Rea as general manager. The current front office staff will also be retained according to a news release announcing the sale. The team remains Boston’s Triple A affiliate and will stay at Polar Park as part of a 35-year lease negotiated when the team relocated from Pawtucket.
“At 78, and after 44 years in baseball, I believe it’s time to have a succession plan, one that assures a commitment to baseball and a commitment to Worcester,” said Lucchino, the WooSox Chairman and Principal Owner.
“There is no organization more committed to Minor League Baseball than Diamond Baseball Holdings, and we welcome Pat Battle, Peter Freund, and this organization to our city. There is no local business leader more invested in Worcester and in Polar Park than Ralph Crowley, and we are pleased that he is part of the ownership group.
“Jim Skeffington’s late father and I set out to keep the Boston Red Sox’ Triple-A club in New England, and in good hands, and I trust that Pat and Peter will be excellent stewards.”
Bill Ballou covered the Red Sox for the Worcester Telegram from 1997 through 2018. He has covered pro hockey in Worcester since 1994 and currently does a weekly column for the Worcester Red Sox. Ballou can be reached at vetgoalie@aol.com
