Larry Lucchino died on April 2nd of this month, leaving behind quite the resume. He started out in Washington, DC working as a staffer on the Congressional Committee investigating the Watergate conspiracy.
Soon though, he found a job working for the Baltimore Orioles. Before long, he had risen through the ranks to become President of the O’s in 1988 (he won a World Series ring along the way in ‘83), and then headed West, holding the same title at the Padres from 1995-2001, before ending up in Boston where he became something of a local legend as President and CEO of the Red Sox. With the BoSox, he helped the franchise end the 86-year old Curse of the Bambino with a World Series championship in 2004; the team would add a couple more rings in ’07 and ’13 for good measure (he left the organization in ‘14, though he still received a World Series ring in ’18 when the Sox won another title).
Five World Series rings is pretty peerless, but Lucchino’s lasting legacy may end up being his unwavering belief that baseball should be played in beautiful ballparks that reflect their cities -- not the characterless sports complexes/monstrosities that were being built in the ‘60s, ’70s and ‘80s, like the Astrodome in Houston, the Metrodome in Minneapolis, or Olympic Stadium in Montreal (and continued to be built in some cases, like Tropicana Field, the current bane of baseball)
CAMDEN YARDS
As President of the O’s, Lucchino - along with Janet Marie Smith, the Orioles’ VP of Planning and Development - became the champion and mastermind behind Camden Yards, which opened its gates in 1992 to universal acclaim. Fans, players, and media members were equally impressed.
People marveled at the warmth of the place. Instead of teflon, plastic, and astroturf, the park was built out of brick and steel, and the game was played on natural grass, the same materials used when baseball was first invented in the 19th century.
The park was also integrated into the city. Much like modernist architects, Lucchino believed that the ballpark should be one with its surroundings, and embody its home city’s unique character. Camden Yards is located right in the heart of Baltimore harbor, where the ballpark’s brick facade blends seamlessly with the industrial warehouse abutting it.
PETCO PARK
Much has been written about how Camden Yards revolutionized the Ballpark Biz - the Orioles even refer to it as “The Ballpark That Forever Changed Baseball.” And rightfully so. But Lucchino’s direct impact on stadiums goes even further, as he was instrumental as president of the Padres in the construction of San Diego’s Petco Park - another stadium nestled right into the center of the city.
And just as Camden reflects Baltimore’s East Coast industrial roots, Petco embraces San Diego’s SoCal vibes. This “San Diego Style” park features palm trees around the entrance, and is made not of brick like East Coast stadiums, but of stucco and sandstone, specifically to replicate the bluffs of nearby Torrey Pines. And in a nod to the stadium’s location by the sea, the seats are a deep ocean blue.
FENWAY PARK
But Lucchino’s crowning achievement was his role in saving Fenway Park. It’s easy to forget how close the stadium was to being razed at the turn of new millennium before Fenway Sports Group bought the Red Sox and brought Larry Lucchino aboard.
Why build a new stadium, when you already have the most storied ballpark in the entire country? In fact, Lucchino thought of Fenway almost like the Platonic Ideal of ballparks, something that inspired him when he was coming up with Camden Yards. So Lucchino and FSG went to work, modernizing the facilities while maintaining the park’s old-fashioned charm. They also added the right field porch deck, and the wildly popular seats atop the Green Monster.
The Red Sox went on to sell out 820 consecutive games from 2003-2013 - a streak that can be attributed to great Red Sox teams that won multiple World Series titles, but also to Fenway’s return to glory as “America’s Most Beloved Ballpark.”
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POLAR PARK
Lucchino’s last act came in the minor leagues, when he, as part-owner of the Worcester Red Sox (the Red Sox’s AAA affiliate), spearheaded the construction of Polar Park. Polar Park would, of course, be situated in the heart of Worcester - a once bustling industrial city in Massachusetts that, like so many other manufacturing hubs in the Northeast, fell on hard times in the 2nd half of the 20th Century - and the ballpark’s presence would help the city as much as the city would help the park.
This symbiotic relationship was a core tenant of Lucchino’s ballpark philosophy - similar to Baltimore’s relationship with Camden Yards. Here though, Lucchino was extending his vision to the minor leagues, perhaps to show that ballparks could have a positive impact on their hometown communities on any level, not just in the major leagues.
Last At-Bats
As someone who has regularly attended Red Sox games, even from before the days of FSG, I am eternally grateful for everything Lucchino did. The World Series wins were amazing, but his work in preserving Fenway Park is his most lasting contribution to me. The memories I’ve forged there, with my mom, dad, brother, and friends are some of my most cherished, to go along with the memories of generations of Red Sox fans that are all tied together at Fenway.
In many ways, Lucchino’s approach to baseball is a model that I’d love to see more often in Major League Baseball. An emphasis on the aesthetic appeal of the sport, without sacrificing wins (he had the hardware to back it up, don’t forget). So much of today’s emphasis on analytics comes at the expense of baseball’s emotional core; the part of baseball that connects you to the field, and the players, and the energy around the game.
His philosophy also mirrors what I’m trying to do with this newsletter: marry modern baseball back with the game’s romance and beauty that made it popular in the first place. To forge a better baseball product today and going forward, it’s important that we connect the game with its roots; it is America’s Pastime after all.
So thank you Larry for all you did, you made baseball better.
Thoughts on Lucchino? Or any other modern ballparks that you love?
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