By Jordan Long
The Cleveland Guardians finished the season at 76-86, missing the postseason. Manager Terry Francona stepped down following 11 years with the franchise. This may be his final managerial stop. Even so, he should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame at some point.
Francona started his MLB managerial career with Philadelphia, lasting from 1997 to 2000. He didn’t have much success with Philadelphia, going 285-363. Francona was let go following the 2000 season when Philadelphia ended at 65-97.
Francona’s next job was successful. He was hired as the Boston Red Sox manager holding that position from 2004 to 2011. Francona guided Boston to 5 playoff appearances. In 2004, Boston became the only team in baseball history to overcome a 3-0 series deficit as they knocked the New York Yankees off in the American League Championship series. They won the World Series that year. They would also win another World Series in 2007.
Boston fired Francona after the 2011 season. Boston ended with a record of 90-72 and missed the postseason for the 2nd year in a row. Boston thought it was time for a new manager. Francona wasn’t out of work long, Cleveland hired him before the 2013 season.
Francona spent 2013 to the end of this year as a manager of Cleveland. Cleveland saw 6 playoff appearances. The furthest they advanced under Francona was the World Series in 2016. They held a 3-1 series lead over the Chicago Cubs but managed to lose that series as the Cubs won the World Series for the first time since 1908.
Francona knew he was going to step down once the season was over. This may be his last time ever managing at the MLB level but he hasn’t said he will retire. According to cbsnews.com, Francona said, “I need to go home and get healthy and see what I miss about the game. I don’t foresee managing again.”
If Francona is done managing his next stop should be the Baseball Hall of Fame. His overall record is 1,950-1,672 or a winning percentage of .538. His teams earned a playoff spot 11 times while advancing to the World Series 3 times. He has two World Series rings. This body of work shows how good of a manager he was. Hopefully, he will be enshrined in Cooperstown.
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