Ed Augustus named to inaugural class of WooSox Hall of Fame

A man in a baseball jersey stands at a podium in front of a crowd on a stage.

Image | Courtesy of Dean College Edward Augustus, seen here at a 2018 rally for the Worcester Red Sox, has been named to the team's hall of fame.

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By Colin A. Young | State House News Service

Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus has held a lot of titles over the years, including state senator, Worcester city manager, chief of staff and more. Now, he can add Worcester Red Sox hall of famer to the list.

Augustus, who helped to entice and clear the way for the Boston Red Sox AAA affiliate team to move from Pawtucket, R.I., to Worcester during his time as city manager, was announced Monday as one of three members of the inaugural Worcester Red Sox Hall of Fame class. Augustus will be enshrined in a Polar Park ceremony later this season alongside the other two inductees: former WooSox owner and current Chairman Larry Lucchino and WooSox hitting coach (and former Red Sox catcher) Rich Gedman.

"An experienced, results-driven executive, Augustus has spent more than 35 years in public service, building effective teams and bringing people together to have a positive impact on communities," the team said in a press release. "As City Manager, Augustus also spearheaded the $240 million landmark redevelopment of Worcester’s Canal District and Kelley Square, including leading negotiations to relocate the Boston Red Sox Triple-A affiliate (now the WooSox) to the city and construction of multi-use Polar Park that has drawn rave reviews and attracted nearly two million visitors in its three years of existence."

Augustus, who served as Worcester's city manager from 2014 until 2022, was tapped last summer by Gov. Maura Healey to work as the head of the executive office focused on addressing what she's called "the number-one issue facing this state," the dearth of housing options and the sky-high prices for housing that is available. The Worcester native has also been at the center of the Healey administration's efforts to manage an over-capacity emergency shelter system.

The three initial members of the WooSox Hall of Fame will join others who were elected to the PawSox Hall of Fame from its 2016 inception through 2020 including team owner Ben Mondor, Wade Boggs, Jim Rice, Fred Lynn, Joe Morgan, Carlton Fisk, Mo Vaughn, Roger Clemens, Nomar Garciaparra and Jason Varitek.