GOODYEAR, ARIZ.– Indians manager Terry Francona will be away from the club until Sunday, following the death of his father, Tito Francona.
The elder Francona, who played for the Indians from 1959-64, was 84. He died at his home in Pennsylvania on Tuesday night.
“He was a special individual, not only was he an important player for our franchise, but he was universally respected, liked and admired,” Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said Thursday. “Every time he walked into the room he had a smile and an infective energy. And you couldn’t help but enjoy the time with him.