Guardians fans say goodbye to Tito, and Terry Francona gives them a parting message

CLEVELAND — Terry Francona just wanted to escape to the seclusion and cover of the dugout. Jose Ramirez wasn't having it.

This was Tito's moment, whether he was comfortable in it or not.

Following the final out of Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds, in what will be Francona's final home game after 11 seasons as Guardians manager, he hugged each player as they came off the field and tipped his cap as he began to walk down the steps of the dugout and into the clubhouse.

Ramirez and a few other players helped to push him back onto the field, and the standing ovation continued for a few more moments as Francona acknowledged the crowd and then tried to motion for everyone to go inside. They know Francona doesn't always feel comfortable with such positive attention. But this day was for him, and they wanted him to have it.

"Yeah I mean, that was a lot of fun, especially because you can see he doesn't like that kind of limelight, but I mean, he deserves every kind of accolade and praise that he gets," Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan said. "I think that's what makes him so lovable as well. He's so humble, and he just goes about his day. But I mean, today's the day to celebrate him, and we need to get him out there for sure."

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The players weren't letting him off that easy.

"Yeah, people that do know him, it was kind of nice that he didn't have a choice and he had to accept it," winning pitcher Shane Bieber said. "He deserves everything and more, everything he got tonight and then some."

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Wednesday was Tito's day. The Guardians handed out 20,000 "Thank You Tito" T-shirts. They had "THANK YOU TITO" inscribed on the field. They ran a lengthy tribute video on the scoreboard before the game.

It was 11 years in the making. The Guardians have three games left, as they're off Thursday before traveling to Detroit to close out the 2023 season. But Wednesday was Francona's goodbye to Cleveland.

Everyone who knows Francona is aware he sometimes is a bit uncomfortable with this level of positive attention. He received back-to-back curtain calls before the game and then another afterward. In the ninth inning, the crowd broke out into more "Thank You Tito!" and "Tito! Tito! Tito!" chants.

"It was really touching. Don't ever get me wrong, I mean, my goodness sakes," Francona said. "I was [telling the players on the field] like, 'Come on man, enough!' I think that's why they were doing it just because they knew I was feeling it, but I mean, it's nice. I mean, I was really touched."

"I guess what I'm trying to convey is the 11 years here are what is the best part. It's not [just] the last day. It's everything that I lived through here with the people that I was with, and that's what I care about."

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Wednesday's game offered Guardians fans one last chance to say thank you and goodbye.

For 11 years, Francona has led the Guardians. They made six trips to the postseason and had one run to the World Series in 2016.

Fans came out in droves, donned in red "Thank you Tito" shirts and holding dozens of signs throughout the park to deliver those messages.

And the message? That he was appreciated during his time in Cleveland.

"We just love that he's just a regular guy, a nice guy," said Amy Campbell, of Moreland Hills. "It's kind of sad to see him go. I really like him. I think he's kind of the heart of the team."

And after watching Francona battle numerous health issues over the last several seasons, there's a supportive understanding that he was grinding through quite a bit for quite some time.

"But good for him. He kind of picked his time to go out," said Amy S. of Moreland Hills. "What's that Frank Sinatra song? He did it his way. We want him in good health more than anything else. And he's left the team in good shape. I know it wasn't their best season, but it's sound."

Francona was always someone who was accepted by the people of Northeast Ohio. He was one of them.

"He's been great for the city," said Francis D. of Elyria. "He's embraced it. His communication skills were [top tier]. He set the standard."

Dan D. of Elyria remembered Tito's dad — the original Tito — playing. And he showed up Wednesday to say goodbye the younger Francona.

"We were lucky to have him for 11 years," he said. "I really hate to see him go."

And after the game, Francona had one last message for Guardians fans.

"I think tonight it would just be, 'Thank you'" Francona said. "I have tried to do my best all the time and sometimes it's been better than others, but I appreciated my time here very much, and I hope that they support these guys moving forward a lot. We didn't get things accomplished this year like we wanted — that doesn't mean it's not going to happen."