Three Red Sox Partners Are Bought Out

Edward G. (Buddy) LeRoux, one of three general partners in ownership of the Boston Red Sox, and two business associates were bought out Wednesday.

General partners Haywood Sullivan and the J.R.Y. Corp., owned by Jean Yawkey, acted under court authorization and purchased the 16 majority shares owned by Ball One Inc., Strike One Inc., and Albert Curran of Wellesley, Mass.

Rogers Badgett and LeRoux controlled Ball One and Strike One, while Curran, an attorney, owned two limited partnership shares.

A total of 30 limited partner shares were sold for $500,000 apiece when the Red Sox were acquired from the estate of the Thomas A. Yawkey in 1978. Yawkey died in 1976 after owning the club outright for 43 years. His widow Jean, Sullivan and LeRoux became general partners for $1 million apiece, with Mrs. Yawkey putting Fenway Park and other real estate into the deal.

It was learned that Sullivan and Mrs. Yawkey paid more than $17 million for the 16 shares, with LeRoux, Badgett and Curran more than doubling their original investment as well as collecting returns in the early years of their ownership.