Larry Lucchetti, Jr.

Athlete: Football – Basketball - Baseball

Larry Lucchetti, Jr. attended Linden High School from 1983 to 1987. He earned six varsity
letters in Football, Basketball and Baseball. In Football, Larry earned two varsity letters his
junior and senior seasons and helped the Lions to the Mother Lode League championship
both years. During his senior season, he was a starting defensive end on a stingy Lion
defense. In Basketball, Larry also earned two varsity letters and was part of an MLL
championship team his junior year. As a senior, he played a key role as a swing man,
helping lead the Lions to a playoff berth in the CIF playoffs.

It was on the baseball diamond, however, that Larry made a lasting impact at Linden High
School. Once again earning two varsity letters during his junior and senior seasons, he
would develop into one of the most dominating pitchers in the MLL. As a junior, he helped
lead the Lions to a CIF playoff berth. As his senior season began, Larry was primed for a big
season as the leading pitcher on hard hitting Lions team. During that season, he was almost
unbeatable, going 9-1 as the Lions won the MLL championship. Larry opened the CIF
playoffs that year with a complete game victory over Hughson High. The Lions lost a close
second round game to Orestimba High to end their CIF championship hopes. At the
completion of that season, Larry was chosen to the All-MLL first team and was chosen
league MVP. He was also selected to The Record’s All-Area first team and was recognized by
the Linden Lions Club as the Linden High Senior Male Athlete of the Year.

Larry continued his baseball career at San Joaquin Delta College for the next two years.
During his sophomore season at Delta, Larry played with fellow Linden High teammates and
Linden Athletic Hall of Fame inductees Brent Simonich and David Miller. Also on that team
was future Major League pitcher Eddie Guardado. At Delta, longtime Head Coach Pat Doyle
coached Larry. Coach Doyle recalled, “Larry had a great arm and threw hard with great
movement. He was a fearless competitor who loved to be on the mound in critical
situations. 

After that sophomore season, Larry was drafted by the Minnesota Twins. He was also
offered a baseball scholarship to University of Nevada – Las Vegas and decided to continue
his baseball career with the Rebels. After an outstanding junior season at UNLV, Larry was
once again drafted, this time by the St. Louis Cardinals. This time around, he decided it was
the best time to pursue his lifelong dream of playing professional baseball and signed with
the Cardinals.

Larry spent 4 years in the Cardinals minor league system, comprising a record of 20-16 with
234 strikeouts. He enjoyed his best season in 1993 with the Springfield Cardinals in the
Midwestern League, starting 20 games and compiling a record of 10-5 with an ERA of 3.16
and 88 strikeouts in 111 innings.

Larry and his wife Karen have been married for 20 years and have two children, Gianna and
Nicholas. Larry is self-employed and is still actively involved in baseball helping coach a
travel baseball team.

The Linden Athletic Hall of Fame is proud and honored to induct Larry Lucchetti, Jr. into its
Athletic Hall of Fame for his outstanding athletic careers at Linden High School, San Joaquin
Delta College, University of Nevada- Las Vegas and in professional baseball.