By Bill Center.
Larry Lucchino’s term as Padres President and CEO was brief.
However, over the course of six years (1995-2021), Lucchino helped shift the trajectory of Padres history and played a significant role in the rebuilding of San Diego’s downtown cityscape.
Early in his tenure, Lucchino appointed Kevin Towers as general manager and collaborated with Towers and manager Bruce Bochy to help the Padres win National League West titles in 1996 and 1998. The 1998 squad advanced to the World Series after defeating Houston and Atlanta in the National League playoffs.
The Padres’ on-field success in 1998 fueled Lucchino’s primary ambition of building a new downtown ballpark. Lucchino’s vision, determination, and ability to form relationships with legislators, civic leaders, and people led to the creation of Petco Park.
The concept of constructing a baseball-only stadium for the Padres was the primary reason why new owner John Moores lured Lucchino to San Diego in 1995 with the promise of a 10% minority stake.
Lucchino already had one ballpark triumph on his record. Lucchino, the Baltimore Orioles’ president from 1988 to 1993, oversaw the construction of Oriole Park at Camden Yards in the Maryland city’s warehouse district.
Lucchino’s idea for Camden Yards was to create a modern facility with a smaller seating capacity—a “ballpark rather than a stadium.” He also intended the ballpark to serve as a historic link between supporters and the city.
Moores introduced Lucchino to the Padres with the intention of replicating that in San Diego. “Without Larry Lucchino, there would be no Petco Park,” Moores said years later.
Like in Baltimore, Lucchino chose a neglected region on the outskirts of downtown San Diego for his project. His team devised a design that included a historic structure in the East Village, the Western Metal Supply Co. Building, as a project cornerstone and a link to the area’s history.
The Padres’ victory in 1998 aided the passing of the bond issue that resulted in the construction of Petco Park a month later, albeit a series of failed legal challenges delayed construction for two years.
“The size, shape, and location of Qualcomm Stadium in Mission Valley didn’t work for baseball,” Lucchino admitted years later. “I just needed everyone to agree on that point.”
In addition to being a visionary in ballpark design and construction, Lucchino partnered with Towers and Bochy in baseball operations.
“Larry and I didn’t always agree, but he made me a better general manager,” the late Towers stated. “We ran stuff past each other. When we disagreed, he always offered me an explanation.
Lucchino eventually became President and CEO of the Boston Red Sox from December 2001 to 2015. With the Red Sox, he hired former Padres intern Theo Epstein as General Manager. Lucchino led a series of enhancements to Boston’s historic Fenway Park, and the Red Sox won three World Series during his tenure.
After leaving Boston, Lucchino joined the ownership group that relocated the Red Sox’ Triple-A Pawtucket (Mass.) franchise to neighboring Worcester, sparking the development of a new ballpark. “It’s part of my DNA,” Lucchino explained.
Lucchino was inducted into the Padres Hall of Fame in 2022. He’s also a member of the Red Sox Hall of Fame, the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, and the National Italian-American Hall of Fame.
After learning of Lucchino’s passing, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred stated, “Larry Lucchino was one of the most accomplished executives our industry has ever had.”
Lucchino, a native of Pittsburgh, PA, played basketball at Princeton and studied law at Yale alongside Hillary Rodham Clinton. Lucchino had overcome cancer three times.
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