Larry Lucchino remembered at WooSox home opener
WORCESTER, Mass. (WLNE) — Larry Lucchino passed away Tuesday morning at the age of 78.
In an odd twist of fate, the WooSox chairman’s death took place on the team’s 2024 home opener.
During pregame ceremonies, there was a long moment of silence for Lucchino, honoring his life as a baseball executive.
Lucchino served as the Red Sox president under the current ownership group, before taking over the Triple-A club in 2015.
All of the flags at Polar Park stood at half-staff Tuesday, as fans mourned the loss of one of the most recognizable faces in Boston baseball.
“It is definitely going to be different without him around. He brought a gift to the city of Worcester, and that is the Worcester WooSox,” said Worcester resident Robert Cantwell. “We can’t replace him but we can keep his legacy going. I’m going to have a cold beer for him tonight.”
The Lucchino family shared a statement that said in part, “To us, Larry was an exceptional person who combined a hall-of-fame life as a Major League Baseball executive with his passion for helping those people most in need.”
A similar warm feeling was shared by those who worked with him.
“As far as his legacy, anybody that can put a ballpark together, you would be remembered for that, but he did it five times,” said Bob Pepin, an usher at Polar Park. “It is a great tribute to him.”
“I just think he was so personable. He walked around and knew the ushers by name, he acknowledged everybody,” said Laurie Rains, another usher at Polar Park. “He really made it feel like it was a family and it was part of the legacy that brought the organization here. He loved Worcester and made sure that we all wanted to let the city of Worcester know that.”
Lucchino was battling illness before is passing and was a major supporter of the Jimmy Fund, as a cancer survivor himself.
Locals may remember his role in negotiations to build a new ballpark in Rhode Island, either in Providence or Pawtucket, but the team decided to move to Worcester when those plans fell through.
