Edward F. Kenney, Sr.
Edward F. Kenney, Sr. (1921–2006) was an American professional baseball executive.
A native of Massachusetts, Kenney was born in Medford and raised in Winchester where he captained the high school baseball team. He later spent three years as the starting shortstop for the Boston College, where he graduated in 1943 and enlisted in the United States Army. At the conclusion of World War II, he was signed by Hugh Duffy, a Boston Red Sox scout and former manager, who converted him to a pitcher. Kenney joined the Boston organization as a prospect in 1946, but his pitching career was curtailed prematurelly by arm problems. During the Red Sox drive to the American League pennant that season, he worked in the club's ticket office.[1]
In 1948, Kenney joined the Red Sox Minor League department. One year later became assistant farm director to Johnny Murphy and later to Neil Mahoney. That department was divided into two sections in 1968, and Kenney became director of minor league operations until 1978, when was promoted to vice president. From 1989 until his 1991 retirement, Kenney served as vice president of baseball development.[2]
In his 43-year tenure with the Red Sox organization, Kenney contributed to develop a significant number of outstanding players such as Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, Dwight Evans, Carlton Fisk, Bruce Hurst, Fred Lynn and Jim Rice.
His father, Thomas Kenney, worked as an assistant for Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey for several years beginning in 1934, while his son, Edward Kenney, Jr., worked in baseball operations for both the Red Sox and Orioles.[3]
Kenney died on October 25, 2006 in Braintree, Massachusetts at the age of 85, due to complications related to diabetes.
In 2008, Kenney was selected for induction into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame.[4]