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« November 26, 2007
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Steinberg leaving Red Sox to take job with Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers today named Dr. Charles Steinberg as their Executive Vice President/Marketing & Public Relations and made him their Chief Marketing Officer. The Red Sox’ Executive Vice President/Public Affairs had spent six seasons in Boston.

“Charles Steinberg’s contributions to the Red Sox have been important, innovative, and enormous, and his legacy will be enduring,” said Red Sox President/CEO Larry Lucchino. “He has been in many ways the team’s heart, conscience, imagination, and artistic soul. Given his prodigious productivity, many of us believe “Charles Steinberg” is a “nom de plume” for at least four different people!

“John Henry and Tom Werner join me and our entire organization in gratefully wishing Charles good luck and great success in his latest West Coast adventure. He will be missed immensely, both professionally and personally.”

“The swirl of emotions I feel befits the November winds of Boston,” Steinberg said. “I leave a front office so full of accomplished people, some of whom I believe will be someday enshrined in Cooperstown—and that’s not an easy achievement for front office officials.

“Although miles will test the friendships I have made here, so many are so deep that diminution seems incomprehensible.

“I leave a staff so capable, so learned, and so dedicated. I have no doubt that the Red Sox are poised to continue their ascent to the stratosphere of sports and entertainment organizations.

“I’m in awe to have had a front row seat to watch this ensemble that has saved Fenway Park, achieved this string of consecutive sell outs, won the 2004 World Series after an 86-year wait, and won the 2007 World Series with a blend of young and established players that give promise for continued success..

“But ever since Opening Day, 2005, when the fans reacted so warmly and so emotionally to the ceremonial conclusion of that 2004 season, I have wondered whether it’s time to move on to another club that may benefit from my love of baseball. The easy part has been to stay in Boston, a city I dearly love, and whose love I have felt in return. The hard part is to address the human spirit deep within that says to keep trying, keep pursuing, and keep challenging one’s self. Boston is in such good shape, I don’t think it will skip a beat. The challenge is to apply this love and passion to another city, another franchise, and that opportunity is afforded to me by Bostonians Frank and Jamie McCourt, who are so eager to take the Dodgers franchise to the heights where it belongs. I am grateful for the opportunity to help.

“So with indescribable gratitude to my fiercely loyal brilliant friend and mentor of 28 years, Larry Lucchino, continued admiration and affection for my friend of 16 years, Theo Epstein, and with everlasting appreciation to John Henry, Tom Werner, the partners, my amazing staff, and the rest of the front office for giving me the opportunity to give the people of Boston and New England all the love in my heart, I hope to go out West and bring the passion of Red Sox Nation to a fan base that too deserves to enjoy, again, the splendor of love between a baseball organization and its fans.

“May we meet again in a World Series, with Neil Diamond singing in person to Honey Fitz’s great granddaughter, ‘Sweet Caroline.’”

Steinberg will begin his new position with the Dodgers in January.

Posted by Art Martone  at 1:33 PM | Permalink