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Terry Francona glad 'to be back with family' in Cleveland Indians after passing of his father, Tito

Manager Terry Francona says it's nice to be back with the Cleveland Indians after the passing of his father, Tito, last week.
Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona is introduced prior to Game 1 of the 2017 American League Division Series against the New York Yankees at Progressive Field on October 5, 2017.

CLEVELAND -- Due to medical issues that resulted in a cardiac ablation procedure ahead of the break for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona leaned on his baseball family quite a few times during the 2017 season.

Francona leaned on that family a little bit more in recent days after the passing of his father, Tito, last week, and he was glad to be back with that baseball clan on Sunday, as the Indians continue the early stages of spring training at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Arizona.

“It’s so nice to be back,” Francona said. “I went back for two days to be with my family, and then, I came back here to be with my family. This is about as close as you could feel to people that aren’t your family, and it’s not just baseball. It’s Cleveland. It’s the people here, and I know that.”

Francona had a special bond with his father, Tito, and that was evident anytime the two shared time together around the baseball diamond.

Whether it was the elder Tito throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at Progressive Field, the two Franconas sharing laughs during batting practice or father and son combining forces to create and distribute a line of pasta sauce to benefit Cleveland Indians Charities, there was a uniqueness and purity to the relationship.

“It was special anyway because it’s my dad, but Cleveland’s as close to family, a familial feeling you can get in a professional setting for him and myself,” Francona said.

“The fact that he was an hour-and-a-half away and could come up whenever, the picture of him throwing out the first pitch and the way he was treated when he would come back, not just for me getting to see him, but the way he was treated…my son did kind of a eulogy, and he mentioned that, what a fitting way to wind down your life, being that happy.”

Former Major League Baseball player Tito Francona throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Game 1 of the 2016 American League Divison Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.

Francona grew up around the sport of baseball, as his dad played for nine Major League teams in his 15-year career, and over the last week, memories were relived and well wishes were sent from all over the country.

“You cry, you laugh, but I think the good part for me was I felt the same way about my dad two months ago,” Francona said. “A lot of times, when people pass away, you hear all these good things. I felt that before.

“I felt like the luckiest kid ever. I had the best parents ever, and that feeling has never changed. All the stories, they were the same ones I was telling. At Christmas, when I stayed with him for a few days, I was really fortunate, and I knew it.”

Former Major League Baseball player Tito Francona shares a laugh with his son, manager Terry Francona, after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Game 1 of the 2016 ALDS between the Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians.

As the 2018 regular season approaches, Francona plans to honor his father the best way he knows how, by treating the game of baseball and his players with respect as the Indians go in pursuit of their third consecutive American League Central Division Championship.

“The majority of what I do know or care about came from him, but once the game starts, that might get a little deep because we’re just trying to win,” Francona said. “I care about the game, I respect the game, I love the game because of my dad. I guarantee you that. He taught me to care about baseball so deeply. I got that right from him.”

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