It had been 455 days since AJ Hinch last showed face inside Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros.
He was on his way out as the manager, fired from his job because of the team's sign-stealing scandal.
It had been 1,258 days since Hinch won the 2017 World Series, followed by a victory parade through the city amid the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. It brought the community together.
"That attachment was real," Hinch said.
And it had been 2,387 days since Hinch became the manager of the Astros, leading a once-forgotten franchise, desperately trying to escape a prolonged rebuild, to four postseasons, two World Series appearances and one championship from 2015-19.