Mike Greenwell, Former Red Sox Star and Political Figure, Passes Away

The baseball world mourns the loss of Mike Greenwell, a standout outfielder who shone for 12 seasons with the Boston Red Sox. His wife confirmed his passing last Thursday, at the age of 62. Greenwell, who finished second in the voting for the American League Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1988, was diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer in mid-August, according to reports.

“With great sorrow, I lost my best friend today. It was Mike’s time to become an angel. At 10:30 a.m. at Massachusetts General Hospital. We are eternally grateful for the life he gave us,” wrote Tracy Greenwell, his wife, on social media.

Tracy Greenwell

Lee County Executive Bruce Harner also announced the sad news through the county government’s social media. Greenwell, who resided in Lee County, was appointed to the county commission in 2022 by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and was re-elected in 2024.

“With deep sadness, we announce the passing of Commissioner Mike Greenwell, a lifelong resident of Lee County. He was a staunch advocate for the people and businesses of Lee County and will be remembered for seeking meaningful solutions to the challenges faced by his community. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all who were touched by his leadership,” reads the statement.

Lee County Statement

Known as “The Gator”, Greenwell excelled both in baseball and in his subsequent political career. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, he spent much of his childhood in Florida, where he played baseball and football at North Fort Myers High School. Greenwell spent his entire career in the Major Leagues with Boston, where he was selected for the All-Star team twice, won the Silver Slugger award in 1988, and finished second in the MVP voting that same year, surpassed by Oakland Athletics outfielder José Canseco. His legacy with the Red Sox was recognized with his induction into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2008. He debuted in MLB in 1985 and participated in 31 games for the Red Sox, champions of the American League in 1986, who fell in the World Series to the New York Mets. In 1987, Greenwell established himself as the starting left fielder, a position previously held by figures of the stature of Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski and Jim Rice, all members of the Hall of Fame. Despite not achieving the same fame as these legends, Greenwell, a left-handed hitter, had a solid career, with a batting average of .303, 130 home runs, 726 RBIs, and 80 stolen bases.

“He was a great teammate and an even better person,” said right-handed pitcher Bob Stanley. “He had a big responsibility in left field, and he did a great job. He played hard and never forgot where he came from, from Fort Myers. A great guy. We’ll all miss him.”

Bob StanleyHis best season was in 1988, with a .325 average, 22 home runs, 119 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases, in addition to hitting for the cycle in a September game. Greenwell also drove in an American League record at the time with 23 game-winning RBIs, a statistic no longer recognized by Major League Baseball, and drove in all of Boston’s runs in a late 9-6 victory over Seattle. This put him in the running for the MVP. When Canseco later admitted to using steroids that season, Greenwell asked: “Where’s my MVP?” Greenwell earned his nickname during an incident in spring training, where he captured an alligator, taped its mouth shut, and put it in a teammate’s locker in Florida. His career ended abruptly after a shortened season in Japan, where he suddenly retired after only seven games due to a fracture in his right foot suffered from a foul ball. After his playing career, Greenwell dabbled in auto racing. He competed in late model stock cars in 2000 and made two appearances in the NASCAR Truck Series in 2006, retiring in 2010.

“You always wanted to be around him; I really enjoyed the time I spent with him,” said former Boston outfielder Dwight Evans. “He was a player in every sense of the word, and he will be sorely missed.”

Dwight Evans

A Greenwell is survived by his wife and two sons, Bo and Garrett.