Former Boston Red Sox CEO John L. Harrington has been elected a Class 1 trustee of Newton-based real estate investment funds RMR Real Estate Income Fund (RIF) and RMR Asia Pacific Real Estate Fund (RAP).

Harrington will serve a three-year term until the annual meeting of shareholders in 2014. According to Forbes.com, he currently serves as an independent trustee for Hospitality Properties Trust, Government Properties Income Trust and Senior Housing Properties Trust – all based in Newton and publicly traded REITS operated by Reit Management & Research LLC (RMR), the parent company to RIF and RAP.

According to a statement, 80 percent of RIF shareholders voted in favor of Harrington. A further 91 percent of RAP shareholders voted for Harrington.

As Red Sox CEO from 1986 to 2002, Harrington was instrumental in building the foundation for the team’s current run of success under new owners John Henry, Larry Lucchino and Tom Werner.

Along with former general manager Dan Duquette, he brought a number of All-Stars and fan favorites into the Red Sox family, including Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez, Johnny Damon, Derek Lowe, Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield. He was also responsible for bringing the All-Star game to Fenway Park in 1999, and helped the club win the American League pennant in 1986; the American League East division title in 1988, 1990 and 1995; and American League Wild Card berths in 1998 and 1999.

Harrington was the lead negotiator for baseball owners during the strike of 1994, and led the development of both interleague play and the creation of the Wild Card playoff format.

After Henry’s group bought the Sox before the 2003 season, Harrington served as chairman of the Yawkey Foundation, a charitable organization named in honor of the Yawkey family, which once owned the Red Sox.