Tito Francona spent some of the best years of his career in a Cleveland uniform. His death casts a shadow over the first day of Spring Training, as pitchers and catchers reported yeesterday.
Tito Francona dies at age 84 - The news of the elder Francona's passing circulated on Wednesday morning, casting a pall over what was officially the first day of Spring Training for the Indians. It was the day pitchers and catchers reported to camp, marking the beginning of another season. This year, it also came with the loss of a player beloved by Tribe fans in the 1950s and '60s, and a man who kept a close eye on the team his son manages.