CLEVELAND — Terry Francona made it to the house finale, his closing managing the Guardians earlier than departure.

His cherished scooter didn’t get there.

Simply hours earlier than Cleveland fanatics saluted the usual supervisor, who’s depart baseball nearest 11 seasons with the membership, Francona seen that the prestigious motorized scooter he rode to and from Aspiring Farmland for the week a number of seasons used to be stolen for the second one moment.

“The hog has been officially put on ice,” Francona mentioned, the usage of the puppy nickname for his journey earlier than Wednesday night time’s recreation towards the Cincinnati Reds. “It got stolen again, but this time they stripped it.”

Francona mentioned the two-wheeled car used to be swiped about 10 days in the past. It used to be first stolen in January however recovered via Cleveland Police.

“Been in mourning,” he mentioned. “They got it in the clubhouse under a blanket. Looks like they took a baseball bat to it.”

Francona, 64, not too long ago hopped on a replace electrical scooter, however the journey wasn’t the similar. He veered out of learn how to keep away from hitting some pedestrians, stuck a pothole on a cobblestone side road alike his downtown condominium and crashed.

“I went over the handlebars,” he mentioned, “I mean over. It’s amazing how much you can see of your life in that moment.”

Jokes apart — and it used to be becoming the moments earlier than Francona’s finale integrated some light-hearted one-liners from him — the closing house recreation in 2023 is a bittersweet party.

It’s dried for the Guardians and their fanatics to mention see you to the longest tenured and winningest supervisor within the membership’s 123-year historical past — one in all baseball’s all-time characters.

Even if he hasn’t formally introduced his departure, Francona is anticipated to take action officially early upcoming age.

His leaving shall be a loss for baseball.

“For me, just to be here on his last home game means a lot,” mentioned Reds supervisor David Bell, who has recognized for many years. “The thing I know about Tito is that everyone who has ever worked with him loves him. I’m sure this emotional.”

Francona didn’t need a particular rite for his ultimate house recreation, however he relented to the staff handing out 20,000 pink “Thank You Tito” T-shirts.

“The most frustrating part is I can’t wear the T-shirt because it’s me,” Francona cracked previously. “I mean, it’s a nice T-shirt. I love it when we get free stuff, but I can’t wear it.”

In a while earlier than the primary sound, the staff paid homage to Francona’s run in Cleveland with a touching video tribute that chronicled his deep reference to the franchise (his dad, Tito, spent six seasons as an outfielder with the Indians) in addition to his managerial stint.

When it completed, Francona emerged from the dugout and tipped his cap on the cheering fanatics. He retreated for a date earlier than coming again out for a curtain name.

Francona wasn’t certain what sort of feelings he can be feeling as Cleveland mentioned see you.

“Probably more uncomfortable than anything,” he mentioned. “I know it’s a nice gesture, not dismissing that part of it. My joy is what I do every day and who I do it with.”

Francona, who’s thirteenth at the profession wins checklist with 1,948, has battled critical fitness problems lately and desires to go on earlier than the sport beats him up additional.

It’s moment.

“It got harder,” mentioned Francona, who got here to phrases together with his date in July. “That’s why I’m going to shut it down. … I’m going to go get my body patched up again for about the 80th time and I’m going to try to go get healthy and I’m in no rush.”

Francona insisted upon holding the highlight on his avid gamers throughout the season’s ultimate era and he spoke with them earlier than the layout opener in order that they weren’t stuck off-guard via anything else of their ultimate days in combination.

He has been a cherished determine in Cleveland and past.

“To be in this game that long and be respected and liked by everyone you have ever come across is amazing,” mentioned Bell, whose father, Good friend, performed with Francona and rented him as a mentor. “From a player’s standpoint, I would love to play for Tito and I think most of his players do. To get the most out of your players but also to be well-liked by so many people, in this game that’s everything.

“An out of this world profession.”

Francona’s teams were always in the playoff hunt despite having one of baseball’s lowest payrolls. In 2016, the team came within one swing of winning their first World Series since 1948 before losing in seven games to the Chicago Cubs.

Before the finale, Francona reflected a bit on his managerial career, which began in Philadelphia in 1997 and ended after four years with his car’s tires being slashed on fan appreciation day.

Asked what he’d miss most, Francona said “simple resolution is the community.”

And there’s that short ride home.

“It’s the best setup ever,” he said. “I don’t know too many playgrounds the place nearest video games, the police are both high-fiving or telling you, ‘Howdy, simply dangle in there or short round this automobile.’ I ruthless it, it’s been great.”