Carlos loaned the New York Times $250 million in January of 2009, which the Times is soon to repay in full. Until the debt is settled, Slim is indirectly connected to Red Sox ownership. The Times still owns 7.3 percent of the Sox, so you might say Carlos has a piece of John Henry’s team.
Slim was the man sitting closest to Terry Francona when Reddick blasted a shot into the left-field corner off Phil Hughes to win the game and the series, and give the Sox sole possession of first place in the American League East. It was the Red Sox’ third walkoff win in their last five games.
But Carlos wasn’t here last night to oversee his investment. He was at Fenway as a guest of Adrian Gonzalez’s father, David.
Adrian’s dad played amateur baseball in Mexico and was a first baseman on the Mexican national team. Joined by a few other friends, David Gonzalez made the rounds at Fenway last night with his billionaire buddy. They took photos in the Sox clubhouse with David Ortiz, then watched batting practice from a spot on the field adjacent to the Red Sox dugout. Slim watched the game from Henry’s corner seat by the dugout (he moved upstairs to hang with Henry and Larry Lucchino, but returned to the lower boxes for the ninth). When Slim was in the lower boxes, David Gonzalez sat in the seat directly behind Slim. Few of the fans and ballplayers in the area were aware that they were in the presence of the richest man in the world.
“He’s walking around like it’s nothing,’’ said Big Papi. “Then you see some rapper guy and he’s got an entire entourage.’’
Cover major league baseball for a living and you are regularly reminded that you have one of the coolest jobs on the planet. Movie stars, kings, and rich guys all love to talk about baseball. Carlos Slim is no exception.
“I couldn’t believe how much he knew about baseball,’’ said Adrian Gonzalez, who had dinner with his father and Slim Saturday night.
Indeed, Slim has a Schwab-like knowledge of our national pastime and he’s decidedly old school. He asked me to name the five best pitchers of all time.
“Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Cy Young … ,’’ I started.
