{{short description|American business entity that owned the Boston Red Sox}} The '''JRY Trust''' (originally '''JRY Corporation''') was an American trust that owned the Boston Red Sox franchise within Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1992 through 2001. JRY were the initials of Jean R. Yawkey, who had ownership of the team, in part or in whole, from the July 1976 death of her husband, Tom Yawkey, until her own death in February 1992.
Following the death of Mr. Yawkey, the team was legally owned by his estate, and Mrs. Yawkey succeeded him as team president.<ref name=Execs/> A purchase of the team from the estate was approved by the American League in May 1978, resulting in each of Mrs. Yawkey, Haywood Sullivan, and Buddy LeRoux having a one-third controlling interest in the team as general partners.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111962960/sox-owners-eye-6000-new-seats/ |title=Sox owners eye 6000 new seats |first=Peter |last=Gammons |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=47 |date=May 24, 1978 |accessdate=October 25, 2022 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> JRY Corporation was created to hold legal ownership of the team.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111922068/contradiction-in-sox-sale/ |title=Contradiction in Sox sale? |first=Joesph |last=Harvey |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=30 |date=June 6, 1978 |access-date=October 24, 2022 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Following a failed attempt by LeRoux to take control of the team during the 1983 season,<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=June 28, 1984 |title=JRY Corporation, et al., v. Edward G. LeRoux Jr. et al. |url=https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/jry-corp-v-leroux-895624304 |website=case-law.vlex.com |location= |publisher=Appeals Court of Massachusetts |access-date=May 21, 2025}}</ref> LeRoux sold his interest to Mrs. Yawkey in March 1987.<ref name=SFE/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111927702/leroux-sells-his-share-of-red-sox/ |title=LeRoux sells his share of Red Sox |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=1 |date=March 31, 1987 |access-date=October 24, 2022 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Upon Mrs. Yawkey's death in February 1992, her holdings passed into the trust.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111922808/jean-yawkeys-will-wont-mean-changes-fo/ |title=Jean Yawkey's will won't mean changes for Sox' organization |first=Ed |last=Golden |newspaper=The Berkshire Eagle |location=Pittsfield, Massachusetts |page=C5 |date=March 22, 1992 |access-date=October 24, 2022 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Sullivan retained his interest until being bought out by the trust in November 1993.<ref name=SFE>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111925441/red-sox-to-have-one-owner/ |title=Red Sox to have one owner |agency=AP |newspaper=San Francisco Examiner |page=D-5 |date=November 24, 1993 |access-date=October 24, 2022 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>
The trust was headed by John Harrington, who also served as president of the Red Sox from 1987 to 2001.<ref name=Execs>{{cite magazine |magazine=Boston Red Sox Media Guide |date=2020 |publisher=Boston Red Sox |title=Club Executives |url=https://pressbox.athletics.com/Publications/MLB%20Media%20Guides/2020%20Boston%20Red%20Sox%20Media%20Guide.pdf |pages=23–24 |access-date=September 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622004623/https://pressbox.athletics.com/Publications/MLB%20Media%20Guides/2020%20Boston%20Red%20Sox%20Media%20Guide.pdf |archive-date=June 22, 2020 |via=Wayback Machine}}</ref> In December 2001, the trust sold the Red Sox to John W. Henry and his group of investors, New England Sports Ventures (later known as Fenway Sports Group), with the sale becoming official in February 2002.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/17/sports/baseball-owners-give-approval-to-sale-of-the-red-sox.html|title=BASEBALL; Owners Give Approval To Sale of the Red Sox|last=Chass|first=Murray|date=2002-01-17|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-10-15|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
{{s-start}} {{succession box | before=Jean Yawkey<br>(with Haywood Sullivan) | title=Owner of the Boston Red Sox | years=February 26, 1992 – December 20, 2001<br>(with Haywood Sullivan, February 26, 1992 – November 23, 1993) | after=John W. Henry<br>(via Fenway Sports Group) }} {{s-end}}
{{Boston Red Sox}} {{Boston Red Sox owners}}
Category:Major League Baseball owners Category:Boston Red Sox owners Category:1992 establishments in Massachusetts