Mike Greenwell, a former Boston Red Sox left fielder and current Lee County commissioner, died on Thursday. He was 62.He died at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Boston at Massachusetts General Hospital, according to his wife, Tracy Greer.The Lee County Government announced Greenwell’s death on Facebook.Greenwell had been living with medullary thyroid cancer, which prevented him from physically attending public meetings.Greenwell was a North Fort Myers High School graduate, played for the Boston Red Sox from 1982 to 1996, and was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2008.Boston Red Sox careerIn 1982, the Red Sox selected Greenwell out of North Fort Myers High School in the third round of the Major League Baseball Draft. He spent his whole career in the major leagues with Boston. Greenwell was a two-time All-Star and 1988 Silver Slugger Award winner, and he was then inducted into the team’s hall of fame in 2008.Greenwell’s standout statistics included hitting .303 with 130 home runs and 726 RBIs. He finished fourth in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 1987, and he finished second behind José Canseco for the 1988 AL MVP, according to Baseball Reference. Greenwell was also on the 1986 Red Sox team that reached the World Series against the New York Mets.The organized issued a statement about Greenwell’s death:”We are deeply saddened by the passing of Red Sox Hall of Famer Mike Greenwell.“The Gator” spent his entire career in a Red Sox uniform and was a beloved fixture at Fenway Park and in Fort Myers.He gave so much to this organization, Lee County, and Red Sox Nation.We send our love to the Greenwell family.”From Japan to coaching to NASCARAfter Greenwell’s career in Boston, he signed in 1997 with the Hanshin Tigers baseball team in Japan and briefly played for the team that season before retiring.In 2001, Greenwell was a batting coach for the Cincinnati Reds’ Double-A affiliate in Chattanooga. According to a News-Press article from June 19, 2001, he was also the interim hitting coach for the Reds that season when Ken Griffey Sr., the team’s hitting coach at the time, was on medical leave.Greenwell finished his time in sports after he ran a few NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races in 2006.Photo Gallery: Mike GreenwellDOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
FORT MYERS, Fla. —
Mike Greenwell, a former Boston Red Sox left fielder and current Lee County commissioner, died on Thursday. He was 62.
He died at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Boston at Massachusetts General Hospital, according to his wife, Tracy Greer.
The Lee County Government announced Greenwell’s death on Facebook.
Greenwell had been living with medullary thyroid cancer, which prevented him from physically attending public meetings.
Greenwell was a North Fort Myers High School graduate, played for the Boston Red Sox from 1982 to 1996, and was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2008.
Boston Red Sox career
In 1982, the Red Sox selected Greenwell out of North Fort Myers High School in the third round of the Major League Baseball Draft. He spent his whole career in the major leagues with Boston. Greenwell was a two-time All-Star and 1988 Silver Slugger Award winner, and he was then inducted into the team’s hall of fame in 2008.
Greenwell’s standout statistics included hitting .303 with 130 home runs and 726 RBIs. He finished fourth in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 1987, and he finished second behind José Canseco for the 1988 AL MVP, according to Baseball Reference. Greenwell was also on the 1986 Red Sox team that reached the World Series against the New York Mets.
The organized issued a statement about Greenwell’s death:
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Red Sox Hall of Famer Mike Greenwell.
“The Gator” spent his entire career in a Red Sox uniform and was a beloved fixture at Fenway Park and in Fort Myers.
He gave so much to this organization, Lee County, and Red Sox Nation.
We send our love to the Greenwell family.”
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From Japan to coaching to NASCAR
After Greenwell’s career in Boston, he signed in 1997 with the Hanshin Tigers baseball team in Japan and briefly played for the team that season before retiring.
In 2001, Greenwell was a batting coach for the Cincinnati Reds’ Double-A affiliate in Chattanooga. According to a News-Press article from June 19, 2001, he was also the interim hitting coach for the Reds that season when Ken Griffey Sr., the team’s hitting coach at the time, was on medical leave.
Greenwell finished his time in sports after he ran a few NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races in 2006.
Photo Gallery: Mike Greenwell
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Mike Greenwell #39 of the Boston Red Sox bats during an Major League Baseball game circa 1991 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. Greenwell played for the Red Sox from 1985-96.
PHOTO: Focus On Sport
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Mike Greenwell #39 of the Boston Red Sox looks on during batting practice before a Major League Baseball game circa 1991. Greenwell played for the Red Sox from 1985-96.
PHOTO: Focus On Sport
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Mike Greenwell #39 of the Boston Red Sox poses for his photo prior to the start of a Major League Baseball game circa 1990. Greenwell played for the Red Sox from 1985-96.
PHOTO: Focus On Sport
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Mike Greenwell #39 of the Boston Red Sox poses for this photo by the bat rack before the start of a Major League Baseball game circa 1989 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. Greenwell played for the Red Sox from 1985-96.
PHOTO: Focus On Sport
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Mike Greenwell #39 of the Boston Red Sox looks on from the dugout prior to the start of an Major League Baseball game against the Oakland Athletics circa 1992 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. Greenwell played for the Red Sox from 1985-96.
PHOTO: Focus On Sport
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Mike Greenwell #39 of the Boston Red Sox looks on during batting practice prior to the start of an Major League Baseball game against the New York Yankees circa 1990 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Greenwell played for the Red Sox from 1985-96.
PHOTO: Focus On Sport
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Mike Greenwell #39 of the Boston Red Sox leads off of third base against the Oakland Athletics during an Major League Baseball game circa 1992 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. Greenwell played for the Red Sox from 1985-96.
PHOTO: Focus On Sport
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Mike Greenwell #39 of the Boston Red Sox bats against the Milwaukee Brewers during an Major League Baseball game circa 1994 at Milwaukee County Stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Greenwell played for the Red Sox from 1985-96.
PHOTO: Focus On Sport
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Mike Greenwell #39 of the Boston Red Sox looks on during an Major League Baseball game circa 1988. Greenwell played for the Red Sox from 1985-96.
PHOTO: Focus On Sport
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Mike Greenwell #39 of the Boston Red Sox slides in safe at home plate against the Oakland Athletics during an Major League Baseball game circa 1992 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. Greenwell played for the Red Sox from 1985-96.
PHOTO: Focus on Sport
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Mike Greenwell #39 of the Boston Red Sox down and ready to make a play on the ball in left field during an Major League Baseball game circa 1988 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. Greenwell played for the Red Sox from 1985-96.
PHOTO: Focus On Sport
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Mike Greenwell #39 of the Boston Red Sox runs the bases during an Major League Baseball game circa 1991 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. Greenwell played for the Red Sox from 1985-96.
PHOTO: Focus On Sport
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.