BOSTON -- Larry Lucchino, who served as team president and CEO from 2002 until last season, was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame on Thursday, alongside former memorable players Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek.
"It was a great honor and great privilege to be the president of this team, and the honor has been a little more special by going in with Varitek and Wakefield," Lucchino said. "They were two guys that were enormously important to the legacy of this franchise. They're not just great players, but real leaders and guys with hearts as big as Fenway Park. I'm honored to be inducted into the Class of 2016 with giants like that."
• Battery of Wakefield, 'Tek joins Red Sox Hall of Fame
Lucchino listed various accomplishments that stood out to him in his time with the Red Sox, such as winning the title in 2013 months after the Boston Marathon tragedy.
Along with championships and deep connections to the city, Lucchino said his work toward keeping the character of Fenway Park through renovations is a key part of his career.
"The preservation of Fenway Park is an important note of pride," Lucchino said. "When we got here, we were the only ownership group that were committed to saving Fenway Park."
The 2004 World Series championship title -- the Red Sox's first after 86 years -- resonates not only with Wakefield and Varitek, but for Lucchino as well.
"I was having lunch with Pedro Martinez yesterday and he said, 'You know what's cool? For the rest of our lives, our names will be forever linked to the 2004 championship team.'"