Buddy LeRoux

LeRoux died at age 77 on January 7, 2008, in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. He was survived by his wife and three children.

In early June 1984, the legal fight ended with an appeals court ruling against LeRoux. He was removed as the team's executive vice president, administration, and his allies were purged from management. In late 1985, Jean Yawkey bought out Badgett, Curran and LeRoux's own limited partnership (which reportedly fetched $2 million). On March 30, 1987, Mrs. Yawkey acquired LeRoux's general partnership for a reported $7 million to become majority general partner in the team.

Following the failed takeover attempt, LeRoux largely faded from the public eye, although from 1986 to 1989 he did own Boston's Suffolk Downs, a Thoroughbred racetrack. By the late 1980s, he had filed assets of $100 million, "including oil wells, greyhound racing dogs and antique cars."

In 1983, the Red Sox suffered their first losing season since 1966, and the rift among the ownership factions became public. On June 6, prior to a Monday night home game against the Detroit Tigers, the Red Sox planned a special benefit for stricken former star outfielder Tony Conigliaro, who had been incapacitated at age 37 by a heart attack in January 1982. Conigliaro's old teammates from the 1967 "Impossible Dream" Red Sox assembled for a pre-game ceremony, and a crowd of nearly 24,000 gathered, one of the largest gates at Fenway Park since Opening Day. Boston's television stations had crews in place to cover "Tony C Night."

With the backing of Rogers Badgett, a Kentucky-based coal magnate, LeRoux put together a 30-share limited partnership and then recruited Red Sox vice president Haywood Sullivan, one of Mrs. Yawkey's favorites among her husband's employees, as a member of his syndicate. When the American League initially rejected the purchase in 1978, Mrs. Yawkey herself joined the LeRoux-Sullivan bid as a third general partner. The restructured bid was approved by the American League on May 23, 1978. Jean Yawkey became team president, with LeRoux as executive vice president and head of business operations. Sullivan became general manager and head of baseball operations. At one point, LeRoux and Badgett controlled an estimated 42 percent of Red Sox stock.

By 1977, LeRoux was wealthy enough to assemble a group of investors seeking to purchase the Red Sox from the estate of longtime owner Tom Yawkey, who had died in 1976. Yawkey's widow, Jean, had served as owner and president during much of the 1976 season.

A native of Woburn, Massachusetts, LeRoux graduated from Woburn Memorial High School and Northeastern University and was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. He began his sporting career as an athletic trainer for the Boston Celtics (during their championship runs in the 1950s and 1960s), the Boston Bruins, and the Boston Red Sox (1966–1974). During the 1970s, he also began to flourish in the business world, successfully investing in real estate and a series of physical therapy and rehabilitation hospitals.

Edward Guy "Buddy" LeRoux Jr. (August 17, 1930 – January 7, 2008) was an American businessman, best known for his time as a general partner of the Boston Red Sox from May 1978 through March 1987.