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Terry Francona wanted a while away from baseball. A yr was lengthy sufficient.
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One in every of baseball’s most beloved managers, Francona has been employed by the Cincinnati Reds, returning to a crew he performed for after stepping down in Cleveland following final season due to well being causes.
An individual accustomed to the state of affairs confirmed the transfer to The Related Press on Thursday evening on situation of anonymity as a result of the Reds had not introduced the choice. An announcement may come later this week.
Francona, who received two World Sequence titles with the Boston Purple Sox, is changing David Bell, fired by the Reds final month within the remaining days of his sixth season. Bell went 409-456 throughout his tenure.
Francona, who turns 66 in April, performed for Cincinnati in 1987. He hit .227 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 102 video games.
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It’s simple to see the attraction of the state of affairs for each Francona and Cincinnati. The Reds went 77-85 this yr, however they’ve one of many sport’s most dynamic gamers in Elly De La Cruz and a doubtlessly deep rotation — fronted by Hunter Greene.
Francona helped Jose Ramirez develop into considered one of baseball’s finest all-around gamers in Cleveland, and he should not have any drawback commanding the eye of Cincinnati’s younger roster.
After leaving the Guardians, Francona frolicked at his new residence in Arizona and principally saved a low profile apart from attending basketball video games at his alma mater in Tucson. He returned to Cleveland briefly throughout the summer season to assist launch a brand new restaurant by which he has an possession stake.
Francona has a 1,950-1,672 file in 23 years as an enormous league supervisor with Philadelphia (1997-2000), the Purple Sox (2004-2011) and Guardians (2013-2023).
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He was slowed by critical medical points in his remaining years in Cleveland, however stayed away from calling his departure a retirement.
“I by no means was actual involved in regards to the phrase retire,” he mentioned final yr. “I suppose while you say retire, it’s like, nicely, you’re going residence and never doing something. Don’t really feel that method both. We’ll determine one thing out that is sensible.”
He discovered that one thing on the opposite facet of Ohio.
With 1,950 wins, he’s thirteenth on the profession checklist, sandwiched by Casey Stengel (1,905) and Leo Durocher (2,008), two different colourful managers who like Francona endeared themselves to followers and gamers.
Francona’s rise as one of many sport’s finest managers was considerably sudden.
Issues didn’t go significantly nicely for him in Philadelphia, the place he had 4 straight dropping seasons, received consistently booed in a demanding, sports-crazed metropolis and had the tires on his automobile slashed on fan appreciation day.
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He was an unlikely selection for Boston’s job, however instantly claimed legendary standing by successful the World Sequence in his first season.
The Purple Sox overcame a 3-0 deficit within the AL Championship Sequence and swept St. Louis to finish an 86-year championship drought and exorcise the “Curse of the Bambino,” a perceived hex on the crew after Babe Ruth was bought to the rival New York Yankees.
When his tenure in Boston resulted in 2011 amid some controversy, Francona took a yr off and labored in broadcasting earlier than going to Cleveland, the place his dad, Tito, spent six seasons and he himself performed 62 video games in 1988.
Francona took Cleveland to the playoffs seven occasions in his 11 seasons. The Guardians, then referred to as the Indians, made it to the World Sequence in 2016 solely to lose to the Chicago Cubs in a seven-game collection.
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Often called Tito, Francona turned fashionable in Cleveland along with his fast wit and massive character. He rode a scooter from his downtown residence to the ballpark every day, typically waving to followers alongside his type route.
Francona may have taken jobs elsewhere however felt a deep reference to Cleveland’s group after his dad performed for the Indians within the late Fifties and early 60s.
His hiring by the Reds additionally coincides with the Guardians ending with the AL’s second-best file underneath first-year supervisor Stephen Vogt, who had the troublesome job of attempting to interchange a Cleveland icon.
The Guardians open the AL Division Sequence towards Detroit on Saturday.
— AP Baseball Author Jay Cohen in Chicago contributed to this report.
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