Mike Greenwell, Former Red Sox Player and Commissioner, Dies at 62

Mike Greenwell, who was a two-time All-Star with the Boston Red Sox and had a 12-year Major League Baseball career, passed away after battling thyroid cancer, as announced by Florida officials on Thursday. He was 62.

The Lee County announcement was made through a Facebook post, highlighting that Greenwell had served as a county commissioner since 2022.

“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Commissioner Mike Greenwell, a lifelong Lee County resident. He was a strong advocate for the community and is remembered for his efforts in tackling the challenges our region faced,” the post stated. “We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all who were touched by his leadership.”

Selected by the Red Sox in the third round of the 1982 draft, Greenwell made his MLB debut in the 1985 season. Remarkably, he spent his whole professional career with the Red Sox.

The Red Sox organization expressed its sorrow regarding his death. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Red Sox Hall of Famer Mike Greenwell. ‘Gator’ spent his entire career in a Red Sox uniform and was a beloved player at Fenway and Fort Myers.”

Greenwell was a part of the team that clinched the American League pennant in 1986, though they ultimately lost the World Series to the New York Mets in seven games.

His achievements included being selected as an All-Star in 1988 and again in 1989. In 1988, he boasted 22 home runs, a career-high 119 RBIs, and a .325 batting average, finishing second in the American League MVP voting behind Jose Canseco. The following year, he had a .308 batting average with 14 home runs and 95 RBIs.

Throughout his career, Greenwell played in 1,269 games, hitting a total of 130 home runs and accumulating 726 RBIs.

Ellis Burks, a former teammate, shared his grief: “Mike was an incredible teammate and an incredible friend. This is a huge loss, not only for his family but for me as well. It’s tough when a friend battles an illness like that for a while. My condolences go out to his family.”