CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Charlie Manuel was standing on the dugout steps, a few feet from Terry Francona, who was serving as the Indians' designated hitter for that late-August affair against Kansas City in 1988.
Francona was waiting his turn to move out to the on-deck circle before he could face Royals hurler Mark Gubicza, who finished that year third in the American League Cy Young Award balloting.
"I had very little chance," Francona said.
Manuel chimed in with some advice.
Manuel: "Son, see that sign out there, way out there in right field?