Home
It was a little under eight years ago that the Red Sox hired Terry Francona to replace Grady Little at the helm of the perennially underachieving franchise. Below is the take from former Journal sports editor Art Martone from the day Francona was hired:
BOSTON -- Terry Francona and the Red Sox went through a long courtship, considering he first interviewed for the team's managerial position exactly a month ago today.
But don't kid yourself. It was love at first sight.
"I admit, there were others I was looking forward to interviewing a bit more at the beginning of the process," general manager Theo Epstein said yesterday at Fenway Park, where the team introduced Francona as its new manager. "But Terry came in and bowled us over."
The feeling was mutual.
"When my first interview was over, I went home and said, 'Oh my God, this place is for me,' " said Francona. "I knew right then and there, this is where I wanted to be."
The Sox were committed to a thorough search, so having first interviewed Dodgers coach Glenn Hoffman they forged ahead with plans to talk to Angels coach Joe Maddon and Rangers coach DeMarlo Hale. Then the Curt Schilling trade came along and put everything on the back burner for a week. During that time period, Epstein and team president Larry Lucchino also conducted second interviews with Francona and Maddon.
Finally, on Tuesday night, they tied the knot. Francona and the Sox agreed to a three-year contract, with a club option for a fourth year.
"I've been in professional baseball for 25 years," said Francona, "but I admit, I tingled when I got the call. It was the most exciting day of my baseball life."
Exciting because, in Boston, Francona who managed the Phillies from 1997-2000 and served as bench coach for the Rangers in 2002 and the A's in 2003 seems to have found the perfect organizational fit for his philosophies of baseball . . . and vice versa.
"We wanted someone who shared our principles," said Epstein. "We were looking for someone who would excel in both the clubhouse and the dugout."
In the clubhouse, Francona believes in leadership.
"Players enjoy direction, as long as it's consistent," he said. "I want our team to play the game correctly, and with respect. That's something I take very seriously. I want everybody on the same page and to care about each other fiercely on the field."
