Andre Chiefs

Medford, MA- Local sports legend Tony Lucci, owner of the former Medford Square Sporting Goods, has died at age 88.

Tony was instrumental in the creation of the Chiefs franchise in 1957 and supplied most ICL teams for decades.

The following is quoted from "The History of the Chiefs."

"During the winter of 1957, Medford baseball players Ernie Ardolino and Freddie Knox were hanging out in front of Tony Lucci’s Medford Square Sporting Goods, that was then located on High Street, next to the old Depositor’s Trust Bank. They began to talk about the idea of starting a semi-professional team in Medford. They get some of their local buddies to commit to playing, get a bunch of raffle chances printed up and attempt to raise some money to start a team. The fundraising does not go over well and their dream of a semi-pro team in Medford looks doomed.

As it was to become his custom over the next six decades, Tony Lucci hears about what’s going on and the boys dream of having a semi-pro team in Medford. He surprises the guys and fronts them the uniforms and equipment for the team without having to put up any money. Of course, there was the promise that when their fundraising was complete they could pay the bill. With Medford players like Tommy Cangiano, Freddie Walsh, Jackie Callahan, Frank “Sonny” Sollitto and Richie DiGiacomo, along with other area notables like Everett first basemen George Catieys, Bob Ware and Johnny Mastrangelo of Chelsea, Jerry Cohen from Revere, and Stoneham’s Ellis “Sonny” Lane, the franchise is born and is initially named the Medford City Club.

Nobody sells their raffle tickets and the fundraising effort is a disaster. Ardolino and Knox are stuck with the responsibility of the team’s operating expenses and they owe Lucci a hefty tab for uniforms and equipment. True to the legendary Lucci form, Tony gets the boys off the hook when he picks up the tab himself.

In 1958, the boys landed a full time sponsor in Hosmer Pontiac of Mystic Avenue. Pontiac's trademark symbol was an Indian Chief. The boys start to think about what to call their new Medford based team. While sitting in the showroom, Knox notices a new Pontiac “Star Chief” bearing an Indian Chief as a hood ornament. The “Star-Chief” was Pontiac’s premier sports car in 1957 and later replaced by the Firebird. Knox points it out to the rest of the group and the answer to their question becomes obvious, they call themselves The Chiefs.

Without Tony Lucci the Chiefs franchise would have never begun. Up until his death some 53 years later on Thursday, Tony remained a Chiefs fan. Tony was the Chiefs team outfitter for decades, until Medford Sq. Sporting Goods closed a couple of years ago.

He will be missed!

Below is his complete obituary. 

LUCCI, Anthony “Tony” Of Medford, formerly of Everett, on June 17.

Beloved husband of Camille (Pizzano). Loving father of Stephen Lucci of Medford, Patricia Bagarella and her late husband Ronald of Everett and Debra Ryan and her husband Richard of Medford. Loving brother of Florence Ciardello of Everett and the late Robert and Ralph Lucci, and Eleanor Joyce. He is survived by his three loving grandchildren, April Obremski, Christie Pace and Matthew Ryan, and two loving great grandchildren, Jason and Jaxon Pace, and many loving nieces and nephews.

Funeral from the Salvatore Rocco & Sons Funeral Home, 331 Main St., EVERETT, on Tuesday, June 22, at 8:30 a.m. Funeral Mass at St Francis Church, Medford at 10 a.m. Relatives & friends are kindly invited. Visiting hours are Monday only 4-8 p.m.

Donations in Tony’s memory may be made to the M Club, C/O Medford High School, 489 Winthrop St., Medford, 02155 or the E Club of Everett, PO Box 490135, Everett, MA 02149. Interment Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. Tony was a longtime owner of Medford Square Sporting Goods. Complimentary valet parking at Main St. entrance. Rocco - Carr - Henderson Funeral Home 1-877-71-ROCCO.