Terry Francona is a former Major League Baseball player and current manager. He was born on April 22, 1959, in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Francona played college baseball at the University of Arizona, where he was a teammate of future MLB players Craig Lefferts and Casey Candaele.
Francona was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the first round of the 1980 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut with the Expos in 1981 and played for them until 1985. Francona then played for the Chicago Cubs in 1986 and the Cincinnati Reds in 1987. He finished his playing career with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1990.
Francona's best season as a player came in 1984 with the Expos. He hit .346 with 4 home runs and 27 RBI in 62 games. Francona was primarily a first baseman and outfielder during his playing career.
After retiring as a player, Francona began his coaching career. He served as a coach for the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, and Philadelphia Phillies before being hired as the manager of the Boston Red Sox in 2004.
Francona led the Red Sox to their first World Series championship in 86 years in 2004. He also led the team to another championship in 2007. Francona was known for his calm demeanor and ability to manage big personalities, such as Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz.
After leaving the Red Sox in 2011, Francona was hired as the manager of the Cleveland Indians. He led the team to the World Series in 2016, but they lost to the Chicago Cubs in 7 games. Francona has been praised for his ability to develop young players and get the most out of his roster.
Francona has won numerous awards during his career, including two Manager of the Year awards (2004, 2013) and the Branch Rickey Award in 2011 for his contributions to the community. He has also been inducted into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame and the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame.
Overall, Terry Francona has had a successful career in baseball as both a player and manager. He is known for his leadership skills and ability to win championships. Francona's legacy in baseball will continue to be felt for years to come.
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