Larry Lucchino | Pawtucket Red Sox chairman
When I think of lessons learned, the list is long. On the baseball field, I have learned that chemistry is as valuable as biology. In the ballpark, I have learned that a well-designed, well-located ballpark can reinvigorate a city beyond imagination. And in the community, I have learned that a ballclub can be a powerful philanthropic force.
I entered baseball with the presumption that biology – physical talent – was paramount. Yet winning also requires chemistry – a team of personalities who subjugate their egos. The Red Sox’ championships bear testament to the power of teamwork – and to the blend of biology and chemistry.
When I proposed in Baltimore that we end the cycle of massive, multipurpose, concrete donuts that had invaded baseball, I believed that an old-fashioned, downtown ballpark with modern amenities would strike a chord. I did not realize that these ballparks would spawn redevelopment and revitalize so many downtowns. It has happened in cities large and small throughout the United States. I would love to tell you that I foresaw this phenomenon, but I did not.
When I began my baseball career at the Baltimore Orioles, we created a foundation, making use of a ballclub’s assets, people and attention to raise funds for charity and to highlight important community issues. We did the same in San Diego and Boston.
Now, we are reinvigorating the PawSox Foundation. Through these efforts, I have learned the degree to which baseball can be a philanthropic powerhouse.
I hope I have learned many more lessons, but these are three that still guide us today.
