TORONTO — Terry Francona would never, ever say it publicly.
However, it was clear after his Cleveland Indians wrapped up their first American League pennant since 1997 on Wednesday that the moment was very special for the 57-year-old. Dare say even more special than guiding the Boston Red Sox to World Series titles in 2004 and 2007.
“He might get shot the next time he goes back to Boston but I think this is more special for him,” said a Francona confidante. “This is different than Boston. It’s a different atmosphere. Even though he’s become a big name in baseball, Terry is a small-town kind of guy at heart.
“Winning is more personal in Cleveland than it was in Boston.”
When asked after the Indians closed out the Toronto Blue Jays with a 3-0 victory in Game 5 at the Rogers Centre what it means him to have managed two different franchises to the World Series, Francona talked about the close-knit atmosphere that pervades not only the clubhouse but the coaching staff and front office.
“We always said if we could do it with this group it would be so special because this is as close to a family feel as you can get in a professional setting,” Francona said. “So for that part of it, it is beyond feeling good.”
Francona spent part of the 1988 season with the Indians as a player, hitting .311 while playing in 62 games, primarily as a designated hitter. His father, Tito, was an outfielder for the Indians for six seasons from 1959-64.
The relationship Francona has with the Indians dates back to 2001, when he spent the season as a special assistant in their baseball operations department under then general manager Mark Shapiro and current president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti, who was then the assistant GM.
Ironically, Shapiro is now the Toronto Blue Jays’ club president and made it a point to seek out Francona and congratulate him after Game 5.
Francona had just been fired by the Philadelphia Phillies after a four-year run as manager from 1997-2000. Though just 41 years old at the time, he questioned whether he wanted to remain in baseball.
“Mark and Chris made baseball fun for me again,” Francona told Today’s Knuckleball. “I was pretty beat up by the time it ended in Philadelphia but they exposed me to a variety of aspects of the game. It really kind of rekindled my love for the game and we developed friendships that will last a lifetime.”
Francona went on to spend one season each as a bench coach with the Texas Rangers and the Oakland Athletics before his eight-year run as the Red Sox’s manager.
(Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire)
Fired by the Red Sox after the 2011 season, Francona spent 2012 as an analyst on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. Twelve years later, the Indians brought Francona back to their organization to replace the fired Manny Acta.
The Indians have gone on to have four consecutive winning seasons under Francona and are headed to the World Series for the first time since 1997. They will host the champions of the National League, either the Chicago Cubs or Los Angeles Dodgers, in Game 1 next Tuesday night at Progressive Field in Cleveland.
Miller was part of the Red Sox’s World Series-winning team in 2011 under Francona and the two have reunited for another run to the Fall Classic.
“Tito does such a good job of setting the tone in the clubhouse,” Francona said. “It’s loose. That’s his style. I think players, in a sense, run it. There’s card games, there’s cribbage all over the place. The trash talking is kind of going back and forth, but guys are prepared at the same time and we work really hard. And it shows. It pays off. We wouldn’t be here if that wasn’t the case.
“His ability to just put us in good situations and his ability to communicate from maybe the front office or ownership to us or whatever is asked of us, it’s exceptional and he’s special. He wouldn’t be accomplishing the things he has if he weren’t special as a manager.”
Cleveland’s much ballyhooed championship drought ended in June when the Cavaliers won the NBA title, the city’s first for a major pro sport since the Browns won the 1964 NFL Championship Game.
The Indians haven’t been to the World Series since 1997, losing in seven games to the Florida Marlins in heartbreaking fashion as they were unable to hold a ninth-inning lead in Game 7 and lost in 12 innings.
The franchise last won the World Series in 1948, beating the Boston Braves. It was so long ago that Braves have since moved twice, first to Milwaukee then to Atlanta.
“It would be so special to win a World Series,” Francona said. “The people in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio are such good, hard-working people and their loyal fans. I saw how crazy the city went when the Cavs won. It’d be great to see it happen again.”
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