Mike Greenwell, a Boston Red Sox All-Star and the runner-up for the 1988 American League MVP award, has died at 62 following his battle with cancer.

A veteran of 12 major league seasons and seven games in Japan, Greenwell had been serving as the Commissioner of Lee County in his native Florida. 

The Republican was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to finish the term of County Commissioner Franklin B. Mann, who passed away in 2022. 

A married father of two sons, Greenwell also briefly raced cars on the Craftsman Truck Series in 2006. 

His wife, Tracy, told local news station WINK that he died Thursday in Boston. Greenwell previous told the station he’d been undergoing treatment for medullary thyroid cancer.

‘With a heavy heart, I lost my best friend today,’ Tracy wrote online. ‘It was Mike’s time to be an angel. At 10:30 a.m. in Boston’s General Hospital. We are forever grateful for the life he has given us.’

Mike Greenwell, a Boston Red Sox All-Star and the runner-up for the 1987 American League MVP award, has died at 62 following his battle with cancer

Mike Greenwell, a Boston Red Sox All-Star and the runner-up for the 1987 American League MVP award, has died at 62 following his battle with cancer

Don Baylor and rookie Mike Greenwell of the Boston Red Sox pose for a photo prior to a game

Don Baylor and rookie Mike Greenwell of the Boston Red Sox pose for a photo prior to a game

Lee County followed with its own statement.  

‘It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Commissioner Mike Greenwell, a lifelong Lee County resident,’ read a post on the Lee County Government’s Facebook page. 

‘He was a strong advocate for the people and businesses of Lee County and will be remembered for seeking meaningful solutions to the challenges his community faced. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and all who were touched by his leadership.’

Wade Boggs, a long-time teammate of Greenwell’s in Boston who beat prostate cancer earlier this year, shared his grief with a series of ‘heartbroken’ and ‘prayers’ emojis on X.

Greenwell, who was nicknamed ‘the Gator’, played his entire MLB career in Boston, before finishing his career in Japan with the Hanshin Tigers.

Greenwell is seen celebrating the 1995 AL East title with Red Sox fans at Fenway Park

Greenwell is seen celebrating the 1995 AL East title with Red Sox fans at Fenway Park

Greenwell's longtime teammate Wade Boggs reacted to the death of his friend on social media

Greenwell’s longtime teammate Wade Boggs reacted to the death of his friend on social media

Greenwell faced tremendous expectations when he surfaced with the Red Sox in 1985, 1986 and 1987. Tasked with manning left field, where Hall of Famers Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski and Jim Rice had played before him, Greenwell had an auspicious start, hitting a game-winning two-run home run in the 13th inning to beat the Toronto Blue Jays on on September 25, 1985. 

Greenwell’s next two hits were also home runs, but he would shuttle back and forth between a loaded Red Sox lineup in Boston and Triple-A Pawtucket for the rest of that season and 1986. The following year, he’d finish fourth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting, thanks to a .328 average and 19 home runs. 

He was even better in 1988, finishing second in the AL MVP voting behind the Oakland Athletics’ Jose Canseco. Later, when Canseco admitted to using steroids during his career, Greenwell argued the award should have been passed on to him.

‘I understand why guys were doing steroids, and I don’t blame anyone; heck, I even thought about doing them,’ Greenwell told Sports Illustrated in 2008. ‘But I think Jose should give [the award] to me.’

Florida state rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka shared her tribute to Greenwell (second from left)

Florida state rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka shared her tribute to Greenwell (second from left)

Greenwell hit .325 with 22 home runs and 119 RBIs that season, earning himself the Silver Slugger Award and being named an All-Star. It proved to be the height of his career as a power hitter, although his average still hovered around .300 for the next few seasons and he’d retire with a .302 mark.

In 2008, the left-handed swinging slugger known as ‘Gator’ was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame.

Florida state representative Jenna Persons-Mulicka shared her tribute to Greenwell online after working with him in local government.  

‘Today we lost a Lee County legend, Commissioner Mike Greenwell,’ she wrote. ‘Please join us in praying for the Greenwell family during this time of mourning. Rest in Peace, Mike.’