Alex Cora on Larry Lucchino’s Impact on the Red Sox Jimmy Fund

The annual Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon began Tuesday, but with two notable absences: pitcher-turned-broadcaster Tim Wakefield and executive Larry Lucchino, two longtime Red Sox members who were deeply devoted to the Jimmy Fund, who have both died. since last summer’s event.

In his storied career, which included four World Series championships with the Orioles and 1983 Red Sox (’04, ’07, ’13), Lucchino supported the design and construction of some of the finest major and minor league ballparks: Orioles. Parks at Camden Yards, San Diego’s PetCo Park, several rounds of renovations at Fenway Park when he and the current owner took over, and most recently Worcester’s Polar Park, home of the WooSox, the Red Sox Triple-A affiliate. He was also renowned for his philanthropy throughout his career.

Before Tuesday night’s game, Alex Cora said what first struck him about Lucchino when he first arrived in Boston as a player in 2005 was how much the executive, then president of the Red Sox, cared about improve the organization at all times. possible way.

“He used to have these roundtable meetings and it would be veterans, young guys, maybe someone from the office and someone new to the organization,” Cora recalled. “And he’d sit there and say, ‘This is to the benefit of the Red Sox, what we need to do (to be better).’

In one of these meetings, the group talked about upgrading the clubhouse and the new room for the players’ families.

“He talked about the family room. It was just the beginning, and TVs for the family room, carpet, pizza for the husbands,” Cora said. “He really cared about the Red Sox. He wanted this organization to be the best and have all the competitive advantages and it was fun. He was a joy to be around.”

Despite resigning from the Red Sox in October 2015, Lucchino remained with their Triple-A affiliate as president and co-owner and moved them from Pawtucket, Rhode Island to Worcester in 2021. He remained a part of the WooSox until his death. on April 2.

“The last time I saw, talked for a long time, was at one of the restaurants in Newton,” Cora said. “He was there with his family and I saw him, we talked a little bit. Just talking about how proud he was of what we do here.

“But that part always caught my eye,” Cora said of first seeing Lucchino’s interest and dedication to every aspect of the Red Sox nearly two decades ago. “I was like man, this guy gets it.”