Thank You, Tito: Guardians Fans Say Farewell to Francona

By | Niranjan Bhargav 28 Sep, 2023

Cleveland is a fantastic sports town, and we have had the good fortune to host some outstanding personalities in our locker rooms throughout the years.

But there will never be another Terry Francona in Cleveland as long as baseball exists.

In a few days, the winningest manager in Cleveland baseball history will call it a career after 11 unforgettable seasons at the intersection of Carnegie and Ontario.

As the community and organization get ready to honor him on Wednesday night in the home finale, Tito, true to habit, didn’t want any of the limelight.

At this point, the incidents are well-documented: all the ice cream he admitted to consuming at the 2016 World Series, the peanut butter on his glasses after dozing off with a TV remote poking his ribs, and breaking a tooth while eating undercooked spaghetti during spring training. Some of the stories you’ve heard over the years are so unbelievable that you wouldn’t believe them until Tito’s name was mentioned in connection with the story, at which point you were certain it was true.

Additionally, Francona created a culture in the clubhouse that will last far beyond his tenure as the Cleveland manager. He has a kind aura that helps his team members and players feel at ease. He respects his colleagues enough to tell it like it is without apology. One of his finest traits, according to many of them, is communication.

But he has a lightheartedness (and an informal attitude) about him that is difficult to find. He is adept at balancing serious moments with those that involve some lighthearted humor at someone else’s expense. Just ask Kevin Cash, who currently oversees the Rays but frequently saw his subpar Major League statistics shown on the jumbotron when he visited the city.

His demeanor exudes an infectious excitement. He also has a resume, though, and that will get him into Cooperstown.

When LeBron James decided to return to Cleveland after shunning the city a few years prior, it may have been the most significant event in Cleveland’s history. He wanted to be here to pursue championship history because he was the biggest star in the NBA.

The signing of Francona on October 6, 2012, energized the city’s supporters more than any other acquisition in the previous 25 years, with the exception of LeBron’s homecoming.

Let’s be clear about one thing: Clevelanders are at ease with themselves. Being able to call this stunning region of the country home fills one with pride. It is a three-sport community with a long history and heritage.

We didn’t require someone of Tito’s stature to visit us to prove our legitimacy to the rest of the nation.

But I definitely recall having a unique sense when I initially heard the news. Our club was interested in being led by the manager with links to Cleveland, who broke the Great Bambino’s curse in Boston. The teams of the 2000s were mainly thin in the victory column after the late 1990s Indians made their impressive postseason runs, but there were a few solid seasons thrown in.

With Francona’s arrival, a fan base was inspired by the idea that a Major League team from a “small market” could nevertheless draw in elite players who could help them win the World Series.

The Terry Francona era in Cleveland will always be regarded as one of the greatest runs in team history, despite the fact that it eventually never materialized as we would have expected (particularly in 2016).

Thank you, Tito.