H. Sullivan, 72; Baseball Executive for Red Sox

Haywood Sullivan, a former co-owner and general manager of the Boston Red Sox, died Wednesday in Fort Myers, Fla., the team said. He was 72.

Sullivan, the team’s general manager from 1978 to 1983, died after having a stroke, spokesman Kevin Shea said. He had been living in Naples, Fla.

As general manager, he was best known for neglecting to mail a contract offer to catcher Carlton Fisk, allowing the future Hall of Famer to become a free agent and leave Boston for the Chicago White Sox.

Born in Donalsonville, Ga., Sullivan had a brief major league career, catching for the Red Sox and the Athletics. He managed the A’s most of the 1965 season to a last-place finish.

He ended his career with a .226 batting average, 13 homers and 87 RBIs in 312 games. As a manager, he posted a win-loss record of 54-82.

After his playing career, Sullivan became Boston’s director of player personnel in 1965.

In 1978, he, Buddy LeRoux and Jean Yawkey, the widow of owner Thomas Yawkey, took possession of the Red Sox.

Sullivan was involved in one of the more bizarre events in Red Sox history.

In 1983, LeRoux announced that he had taken control of the Sox from Sullivan and Jean Yawkey.

His first act was to try to fire Sullivan and replace him with Dick O’Connell, a move that landed them in court. Sullivan finished the season as general manager.

After leaving the Red Sox, Sullivan ran a marina.