With more child sex abuse allegations coming out today, this time against late Boston Red Sox clubhouse manager Donald Fitzpatrick, the reputation of northeast sports takes yet another hit.
Between, Penn State, Syracuse and now Boston’s MLB team, by this next time year most people are going to have some serious assumptions about men working in positions of authority over boys in the sports industry in our nation’s northeast corridor.
I doubt any coaches are patting anyone on the butt these days.
Fitzpatrick, who died in 2005, has two accusers right now (Bernie Fine has four, Jerry Sandusky has double digits) Charles Crawford, and a second man who choose to keep his identity private are accusing Fitzpatrick of abusing them in the early 1990s. The statute of limitations has expired for filing suit; but the two men seek $5 million in settlements from the organization.
From the AP:
Crawford said Fitzpatrick assaulted him twice inside the clubhouse at Fenway Park – once in an equipment room and once in a restroom. He was 16 at the time.
“People need to know what happened,” said Crawford, who agreed to have his name used. “It’s still mind-boggling to me.”
Fitzpatrick had been accused of sexually abusing children earlier. In 2002, he pleaded guilty in Florida to attempted sexual battery on a child under 12. The team also settled a lawsuit with seven Florida men who said Fitzpatrick molested them during spring training beginning in the 1970s.
So obviously the BoSox knew who they were dealing with. And they continued on with this man a part of their organization.
Crawford’s lawyer, Mitchell Garabedian, said these are the first allegations against Fitzpatrick which are said to have occurred at Fenway. He also claimed to have sent the Red Sox a letter last month informing them of the new allegations and asking for the settlements.
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