WORCESTER—Larry Lucchino, who brought old-school ballparks back to Major League Baseball and the best ballpark in Triple-A baseball, has died at age 78 according to multiple reports that were confirmed by Worcester Red Sox officials.
Lucchino died on Polar Park’s fourth Opening Day.
He created the Worcester Red Sox by moving the Pawtucket Red Sox to the city after lengthy negotiations with both the state of Rhode Island and Worcester officials. The Rhode Island talks eventually failed. The Worcester ones succeeded and the team began play in May of 2021.
Lucchino served as the WooSox’s principal owner, then sold the franchise to Diamond Baseball Holdings late last year. He remained as the WooSox chairman.
He was a three-time cancer survivor and had dealt with increasing health problems in recent months. One of his last official acts as WooSox chairman was to be named to the inaugural Worcester Red Sox Hall of Fame along with Ed Augustus and Rich Gedman.
“I am saddened to learn that my friend Larry Lucchino has passed away,” said Augustus, secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, in a statement. “I had the privilege to work closely with Larry to bring the Sox to Worcester and build Polar Park. Larry was a tough negotiator with a big heart and he had an amazing vision for how a ballpark could transform a community, create memories and become a civic space. I’m honored to have worked with Larry to bring that vision to reality in Worcester. My thoughts and prayers are with Larry’s family and friends.”
Lucchino served as an executive with several major league teams before leading a group that bought the Pawtucket Red Sox in 2015. He was involved with ownership in the Orioles, Padres and Red Sox and was the driving force in the construction of Camden Yards, the Padres’ new downtown ballpark in San Diego and the Red Sox new spring training ballpark in Fort Myers.
Lucchino presided over the club during a historic 14-year period (2002-2015) in which the team won three World Series, saved and enhanced Fenway Park, established a Major League Baseball record for consecutive sellouts, and created innovations in fan services and hospitality. The Pittsburgh native also helped establish the Red Sox Foundation and further elevated the club’s commitment to The Jimmy Fund and myriad New England philanthropies.
In a statement released by the Red Sox, his family said:
“We are heartbroken to share that our beloved brother and uncle, Lawrence Lucchino, passed away on April 2 surrounded by his family. The Lucchino family wishes to thank his friends and caregivers who, over the past few months, have surrounded him with love, laughter, and happy memories.”
John Henry, principal owner of the Red Sox, said in a statement: “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.
“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.”
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
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