Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
January 09, 2008
Buddy LeRouxPasses

Buddy LeRoux, a former part owner of the Red Sox, died Monday:

He rose from serving as a Red Sox trainer from 1966-1974 to one of its owners. He served as the team's vice president from 1978-1979, then became an owner until 1986.

I don't remember the LeRoux era fondly.

But LeRoux and his limited partners grew restive when the Red Sox fell from contention and attendance dropped at Fenway Park. Part of the club's decline was due to fiscal belt-tightening and refusal to sign free agents, although it was not clear which general partner ordered the policy. In the event, in 1983, the team suffered its first losing campaign since 1966. On June 6, 1983, at a night benefitting former Red Sox star Tony Conigliaro, incapacitated at age 37 by a heart attack, LeRoux took advantage of a crowded press box by announcing that he and his limited partners were exercising an option in their partnership agreement to overthrow Sullivan and Yawkey and take command of the club. Boston called it the Coup LeRoux.

The two ousted general partners immediately filed suit against LeRoux, were granted an injunction, and then battled him in court over the next 12 months. The trial revealed unflattering details about all the principals and how the Red Sox were run, and in the end, LeRoux lost. He was removed as the team's vice president, administration, and his allies were purged from management. Within two years, Mrs. Yawkey had bought him out for a reported $7 million[1] to become majority general partner in the team.

My thoughts go out to his family and friends.


Posted by David Pinto at 09:10 AM | Deaths | TrackBack (0)
Comments
Post a comment









Remember personal info?