An Old Friend Comes Home

A cool breeze was in the air as the sun tried to break through the Boston overcast on Thursday night as we welcomed back an old friend.   Welcome him back with open arms.  Our old friend had played such an intimate part in our lives for 8 years, through good and bad and everything in between.  But mostly, we remember the part he played in delivering us from our long emotional suffering, how he helped us to finally achieve nirvana.  We remember his calm leadership that always made us feel like things were on the right path, that things would turn out ok.

He’d been back once before and we greeted him from afar as he strode across the outfield grass back in April 2012 for the 100^th Anniversary celebration of Fenway Park.   But now, he was returning for a 4 day visit, an intimate visit and we’d get the chance to greet him and thank him for all he did for us, for our city, for Red Sox Nation.  Yes, Terry Francona, the man who led two Red Sox teams to World Series victories was returning as an opposing Manager for the first time since exiting after the 2011 season.  And now, Red Sox Nation had the chance to thank him intimately over a 4 game series against his Cleveland Indians; the surprising, first place Cleveland Indians.   He may be a foe now, but forever a friend.

The Red Sox had failed for 86 years, dramatically at times, for 86 years, to win a World Series Championship prior to 2004.  And the season before was a microcosm of the kind of pain that Red Sox Nation had endured over that span.  The 2003 team had taken the vaunted New York Yankees to Game 7 of the ALCS and all but had a spot in the 2003 World Series wrapped up as they led 5-2 late in Game 7.  Sox ace, Pedro Martinez was on the hill and it all seemed fait accompli.  That was, until Pedro reached the 100 pitch plateau in the 8^th inning.  100 pitches, a number that was a sort of magic number, a barrier with him that season, where batting averages and his ERA soared from that point on all season.  Yet, then Red Sox Manager left Pedro in the game, pitch after pitch, hit after hit, until finally the Yankees had tied the game at 5-5.  Grady Little had sealed his fate at that moment, long before Aaron “Beeping” Boone launched a Tim Wakefield pitch deep into the left field stands in the 11^th inning.

(ED: It’s amazing that Wakefield gets absolutely no hate for this.)

Fast forward to 2004 and the even keel, positive-natured Terry Francona was hired to try to mend those deep, deep wounds from not only 2003, but the past 86 years of heartache.  And Francona cherished his role at the helm, leading the Red Sox to a playoff birth before falling behind the Yankees 3 games to none in the ALCS.  But this band of self-proclaimed “Idiots” had taken on the calm, positive aura of their leader, Terry Francona, and never panicked.  They ripped off 4 straight wins on their way to an improbable and historic comeback to defeat the Bronx Bombers in 7 games earning the right to play the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 World Series.

(ED: Video Not Found)

The Red Sox rode that momentum, winning 4 more games in a row to sweep the Cardinals and earn their first World Series since 1918.  But for Red Sox Nation, it was more than just a championship; it was redemption for the epic heartaches suffered over the past 86 years.  Heartaches that we endured after the 2003 ALCS collapse, Game 6 of the 1986 World Series or the 1978 collapse and eventual 5-4 loss to the Yankees in what amounted to a one game playoff to decide the American League East (after blowing a 14.5 game August lead), to name a few.

(ED: I Could Watch This All Day, Every Day)

The heartache stretched generations.  Parents and Grandparents had gone a lifetime and never saw their beloved Red Sox win it all and many had since passed on, having never witnessed and enjoyed that baseball nirvana!  Until 2004!  And Terry Francona was the leader of that team that exorcised 86 years of pain, ending the so-called “Curse of the Bambino!”

Francona had already endeared himself to the Nation through his calm, nurturing nature and positive attitude.  He was that friend that you went to for advice because you always knew he was going to say the right things, tell us like it was, but yet give us solid, positive feedback that brightened our outlook, no matter what the situation.  And if Francona had not already immortalized himself to all of Red Sox Nation after 2004, he did so after 2007 when he led the team to a 2^nd World Series Championship. Terry Francona was no fluke, he was a winner, our winner, our friend!  Even after another epic Red Sox collapse in September of 2011, Red Sox Nation could never place the blame at Francona’s feet or find bitterness towards him for failing to thwart that collapse. He’d earned a lifetime “pass” with Sox fans for the success he brought to us during his 8 years as the leader of Red Sox Nation.

Now it was time to honor his friendship and thank him for all that he did for Red Sox Nation and the fans and the Red Sox organization did just that.  After the end of the first inning, a video montage that the Red Sox had put together was played on the center field scoreboard.  The video featured many emotional clips from Francona’s tenure with the Red Sox and was accompanied by the tune, “My Old Friend” by Tim McGraw, the son of a former baseball great, Tug McGraw.  Very fitting!

Francona’s Indians went on to roll over the Red Sox, 12-3, but the night belonged to Francona and his return to Boston, and to a family of friends who will always welcome him with open arms.  Welcome back Tito!

Tell Jimmy what you think about Tito coming home! Tweet to @jimderochea

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