Terry Francona bids farewell at Guardians' final home game
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You will be missed. Photo: Jim Rogash/Getty Images
The Guardians have three games left this season, but last night marked the end of an era.
Driving the news: Terry "Tito" Francona, who plans to retire after this season, managed his final home game at Progressive Field, which saw the Guardians beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-3.
Why it matters: Francona is the winningest manager in Cleveland history with more than 900 victories, including six postseason berths and a World Series appearance in 2016.
Flashback: Francona's MLB career began as a player with the Montreal Expos in 1981.
- He went on to play for several teams, including Cleveland in 1988, the same franchise that his father, Tito, played for in the 1960s.
The intrigue: Francona turned to coaching in 1991 and managed Michael Jordan during his short-lived minor league run with the Birmingham Barons in 1994.
- Francona would go on to manage the Philadelphia Phillies and lead the Boston Red Sox to two World Series titles.
Zoom in: He became manager in Cleveland in 2012, where he won American League Manager of the Year honors in 2013, 2016 and 2022.
Yes, but: The 64-year-old has dealt with major health issues in recent years, scheduling a shoulder replacement surgery and a pair of hernia operations for this offseason.
What they're saying: "It's time," Francona told the MLB radio network earlier this month.
- "My body is telling me that. My head is telling me that. And I don't want to stay on for the wrong reasons. ... I've been pretty clear with the guys I work for, told them to start preparing."
The bottom line: Francona is a future Hall of Famer and one of the most beloved figures in Cleveland sports history.
- His ties to the community include a pair of restaurants and multiple charity organizations.
What's next: The Guardians, who have been eliminated from postseason play, will close out the season with three games in Detroit against the Tigers this weekend.
- It's less than a three-hour drive, in case you want to catch Tito's last game.