Former Red Sox All-Star Mike Greenwell dies at 62 months after revealing cancer diagnosis
Mike Greenwell, a two-time All-Star outfielder who appeared in parts of 12 big league seasons, died Thursday, the Boston Red Sox announced. Greenwell, who revealed in August that he had been diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer, was 62 years old.
Greenwell was originally drafted in the third round in 1982 out of North Fort Myers High School in Florida. He then spent his entire American professional career with the Red Sox, including parts of 12 seasons in the majors.
Over those 12 seasons, Greenwell hit .303/.368/.463 (121 OPS+) with 130 home runs, 1,400 hits and an estimated career wins above replacement total of 25.8, according to Baseball Reference calculations. The latter number ranks 28th in Red Sox franchise history among position players. He also earned two All-Star selections and was a finalist in voting for the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 1988.
Greenwell would share that during his first All-Star Game appearance, in 1988, he made a point of following and observing Kansas City Royals legend George Brett. Brett would end up throwing him a can of chewing tobacco as a souvenir.
“I still have the can,” Greenwell said in an interview with Baseball Digest. “I’m just going to save it. No one knows what it is except me.”
After an injury-plagued season in 1996 and a falling out with then-general manager Dan Duquette, Greenwell signed to play in Japan with the Hanshin Tigers. However, ongoing injury issues have limited Greenwell, 33, to just seven games played for Hanshin. At that point he retired as a player.
Greenwell would become a coach. He also enjoyed a stint in the NASCAR Truck Series. According to DriverAverages, he raced twice in 2006.
