CLEVELAND -- The last time Terry Francona managed a game at Progressive Field, he was surrounded by a sea of red, as thousands of fans clad in T-shirts reading “Thank you, Tito” gave him a standing ovation to show their gratitude to the longtime Cleveland skipper.
Sept. 27, 2023, was Francona’s farewell to Guardians fans, and vice versa, before he stepped down as manager due to health reasons following 11 seasons at the helm. On Monday the two sides were reacquainted when Francona returned to Progressive for the first time since the Reds named him their manager on Oct. 7 last year and for the second edition of the 2025 Ohio Cup.
“Half of them probably want [to give] their T-shirts back,” Francona joked Monday afternoon before the Reds’ 7-4 win over the Guardians.
Francona, of course, remains a beloved figure in Cleveland, as the organization's longest-tenured manager and its winningest. From 2013-23, he won 921 games -- 193 more than Hall of Famer Lou Boudreau. Under Francona’s watch, Cleveland made six postseason appearances (2013, ‘16-18, ‘20 and ‘22), won four AL Central titles (‘16-18, ‘22); and won one AL pennant (‘16).
His focus, understandably, is on his Cincinnati ballclub these days. That doesn’t change the memories he made or the relationships he established in Cleveland.
“I had 11 really fun years here, and I had some great relationships,” Francona said. “That never changes. But now we're trying to figure out a way to beat 'em tonight. That's why we're here. That'll never take away how I feel about people here [in Cleveland].”
On Monday, just like on that September night nearly two years ago, Guardians fans expressed their appreciation. A tribute video was played for him pregame, and a dugout full of Reds players joined him in their dugout to watch. Fans cheered him when he was shown on the screen afterward, and he doffed his cap in appreciation.
“Oh, that was really touching,” Francona said. “I wish there’d been more about [bench coach Brad Mills] and stuff like that, because that is meaningful to me. I was kind of uncomfortable, but it was very touching.”
“I think we all knew how much he meant to this city,” outfielder TJ Friedl said. “But to see that and to see the tribute video to him and see how loved he was by the city, it’s cool. He’s a great manager, a great person.”
Francona said on Monday that he did not plan on managing again after he stepped down from his post with Cleveland. He did not feel he was doing the job the way he was supposed to, with causes he believed were health-related. The job was getting harder.
He spent last year as a senior advisor for the Guardians but was back home in Arizona. There were times during Spring Training when he wanted to visit the Guardians, but he thought it wouldn’t have been right. He wanted to give new manager Stephen Vogt and his staff space to work without his presence looming.
Around August of last year, Francona started to think about how busy he wanted to be in 2025, but he was not looking at potential managerial openings.
“And then this kind of came out of nowhere,” Francona said. “Believe me. I wasn't looking around at teams that maybe were going to make changes. I wasn't thinking about it, but when [president of baseball operations] Nick [Krall] and [GM] Brad [Meador] came out, and I literally talked to 'em in my rocking chair, it felt a lot like the Cleveland guys.”
Francona did keep up with the Guardians from afar last year, and in some ways, he still does. He sends notes to third baseman José Ramírez about once a month via team interpreter Agustin Rivero and did so “a bunch” last year.
Francona had a front-row seat for Ramírez’s development and ascension into one of the best all-around players in the Major Leagues. He has always appreciated Ramírez’s ability and performance.
“This kid made himself into one of the best players in the game,” Francona said. “And now, when I come over here, that's the first guy everybody asks about because of the way he plays the game. It's not just his numbers; they're spectacular. But it's the way he plays, and he's always done that.
“Sometimes you'll see guys as they accrue veteranship, maybe they slow down a little bit. Hosey, I think, understands that as the game slows down for you, you don't have to slow down. It’s really respectful, and then when you take the talent on top of it, it makes him who he is.”