Larry Lucchino is very comfortable in Japan and it's no wonder why. Lucchino presided over one of the most successful periods in the history of the Boston Red Sox franchise, as the team's president and CEO from 2002-2015, and many of the Japanese players he helped bring on board played a role during those years.
"I have to say thank you to some of the players from Japanese baseball who helped us win a series of World Series rings with the Boston Red Sox," Lucchino said during a news conference for U.S. sports manufacturer Easton on Tuesday at the Tokyo Yakult Swallows' indoor practice facility. "Daisuke Matsuzaka is, of course, in part responsible for this 2007 ring and we would not have won in 2013, and gotten another ring, without the contributions of Koji Uehara and Junichi Tazawa."
Lucchino has the time to visit Japan more often if he wishes, since he stepped down from his position with the Red Sox after the 2015 season. Lucchino was previously an executive with the Baltimore Orioles (1988-1993) and San Diego Padres (1995-2001) before joining the Red Sox in 2002. His 14-year tenure in Boston came with three World Series championships, including the 2004 triumph that broke the 86-year "Curse of the Bambino," the club's infamous title drought. He was named Red Sox president and CEO emeritus effective Oct. 16, 2015.