WEBVTT 1 00:00:07.240 --> 00:00:09.480 By Billy Cunningham to Great America and there's a new 2 00:00:09.679 --> 00:00:13.480 Aircraft Harrier in town. His name is Terry Francona. He 3 00:00:13.560 --> 00:00:16.079 played for the Reds in nineteen eighty seven. He's been 4 00:00:16.120 --> 00:00:19.160 a Manager of the Year three times. He also has 5 00:00:19.359 --> 00:00:23.600 two World Series rings, three PENNANTCE, eleven playoff appearances. He's 6 00:00:23.640 --> 00:00:27.079 managed about three thousand, six hundred games, and for some 7 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:29.760 reason he wants again to come out more or less 8 00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:33.600 of retirement and coach Baseball's I think best town for 9 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:36.719 baseball and its oldest team that is the Cincinnati Resident 10 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:40.240 Terry Francona. Welcome to the Bill Cunningham Show, and Terry, 11 00:00:40.280 --> 00:00:43.439 can you tell the American people? First of all, why 12 00:00:43.479 --> 00:00:44.320 are you doing this? 13 00:00:46.200 --> 00:00:46.359 Well? 14 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:49.280 Thanks for having me. That's kind of a loaded question. 15 00:00:50.520 --> 00:00:53.119 You know. I needed to take a step away from 16 00:00:53.159 --> 00:00:56.000 baseball because I was just so beat up and I 17 00:00:56.079 --> 00:00:59.320 really thought I was retiring. I didn't have the intent 18 00:00:59.439 --> 00:01:02.280 to come back, and it was a really good year 19 00:01:02.280 --> 00:01:06.959 away from baseball. But as I got healthy and then 20 00:01:07.079 --> 00:01:09.319 Nick and Brad came out to Tucson to talk to me, 21 00:01:09.359 --> 00:01:12.920 it just felt right, and I think I made a 22 00:01:12.959 --> 00:01:15.480 really good decision. But there's a way I think you 23 00:01:15.560 --> 00:01:17.920 do this job, and to do it right, you got 24 00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:20.079 to have a certain amount of energy, and I didn't 25 00:01:20.120 --> 00:01:24.000 have that before. And these guys have been good for 26 00:01:24.040 --> 00:01:28.359 me this spring. I've felt pretty reinvigorated and I'm having 27 00:01:28.359 --> 00:01:29.040 a good time. 28 00:01:29.599 --> 00:01:32.400 You know, when I look at your medical history, it's unbelievable. 29 00:01:32.439 --> 00:01:35.879 At least fifty surgeries, you have two new knees, two 30 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:39.239 new hips, other difficulties, all of which now is short. 31 00:01:39.560 --> 00:01:42.599 You're like the bionic man. You're the six million dollar manager. 32 00:01:43.120 --> 00:01:46.480 It's unbelievable that you're doing this. And I harken back 33 00:01:46.519 --> 00:01:48.480 to other times in the Red's history. I know you've 34 00:01:48.519 --> 00:01:50.680 managed the Phillies and the Red Sox and the Indians, 35 00:01:50.680 --> 00:01:53.719 the Guardians and now the Reds. But in nineteen seventy 36 00:01:53.760 --> 00:01:57.280 there was a manager named Dave Bristol and Red's management 37 00:01:57.280 --> 00:01:59.159 management is how to get a new guy in town. 38 00:01:59.200 --> 00:02:01.519 And that guy Sparky Anderson, and went to the World 39 00:02:01.519 --> 00:02:04.840 Series that year. About twenty years later, we went through 40 00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:07.599 the Pete Rose situation. And we all love Pete Rose 41 00:02:07.640 --> 00:02:10.520 in this town. And you you played for him in 42 00:02:10.639 --> 00:02:15.080 nineteen eighty seven, and after that we got a new manager, 43 00:02:15.159 --> 00:02:17.520 Lou Panella went to the World Series and won it. 44 00:02:17.719 --> 00:02:21.240 So here's history repeating itself. New Manager World Series, New 45 00:02:21.280 --> 00:02:25.159 Manager World Series Champion, New Manager World Series Champion. What 46 00:02:25.319 --> 00:02:27.560 is the goal? If somebody would tap you on the shoulder, 47 00:02:27.680 --> 00:02:29.960 Terry Francona and say what is the goal for the 48 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:32.199 twenty twenty five Reds, what would Terry say? 49 00:02:33.960 --> 00:02:36.240 I think it's always the same. It's show up every 50 00:02:36.360 --> 00:02:39.479 day ready to compete your ass off. That's how I 51 00:02:39.560 --> 00:02:41.240 always feel, because you don't know what's going to happen 52 00:02:41.719 --> 00:02:44.319 with guys going down. But if we show up and 53 00:02:44.360 --> 00:02:46.719 we play the game the way you're supposed to, I 54 00:02:46.840 --> 00:02:48.840 always feel like we'll end up what we're supposed to. 55 00:02:49.080 --> 00:02:52.759 And we obviously have high expectations we're supposed to, but 56 00:02:52.919 --> 00:02:55.000 I don't ever put the card ahead of the horse. 57 00:02:55.080 --> 00:02:57.240 I just try to, you know, we stay in a moment, 58 00:02:57.599 --> 00:03:00.360 play as good as we can today, and then show 59 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:02.039 up tomorrow and see what we can play a little better. 60 00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:04.479 Are you an analytics kind of a guy? At one 61 00:03:04.479 --> 00:03:08.159 point I couldn't spell analytics. And right now, if the 62 00:03:08.159 --> 00:03:10.120 Reds are pitching and there's a batter up and there's 63 00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:12.520 two to one, if it counts two and one. He 64 00:03:12.599 --> 00:03:15.800 hits two ten against the curveball, three ten against the fastball, 65 00:03:16.360 --> 00:03:18.919 and you got the nine quadrants of a home play. 66 00:03:18.960 --> 00:03:21.759 Are you, as Terry francona analytics or do you do 67 00:03:21.879 --> 00:03:23.240 by the seat of your pants. 68 00:03:23.639 --> 00:03:25.159 I don't do it by the seat of my pants. 69 00:03:25.240 --> 00:03:28.800 I don't think that's fair to anybody. But the way 70 00:03:28.840 --> 00:03:31.159 I like to say it is I feel an obligation 71 00:03:31.280 --> 00:03:34.400 to know stuff because I don't want to guess. But 72 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:38.000 you're dealing with people and you never can forget that. 73 00:03:38.159 --> 00:03:40.680 And I feel like you know. I've been in the game, 74 00:03:40.759 --> 00:03:42.919 I think forty six years. I feel like I know 75 00:03:43.000 --> 00:03:47.759 what I'm watching. And again, it helps to get information. 76 00:03:48.280 --> 00:03:50.639 I think you can get bogged down with information if 77 00:03:50.680 --> 00:03:52.520 you lay yourself as. 78 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:57.879 Far as one thing, Michael Jordan. You managed Michael Jordan, 79 00:03:57.960 --> 00:04:01.240 the greatest of all time in basketball in nineteen ninety 80 00:04:01.240 --> 00:04:04.000 four with the Birmingham Barons, and then you were managed 81 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:07.719 by Pete Rose. And when I think about basketball, I 82 00:04:07.759 --> 00:04:10.599 think about the passion the perseverance of Michael Jordan. Then 83 00:04:10.639 --> 00:04:13.120 I think about Pete Rose. I'd be loved character. Is 84 00:04:13.159 --> 00:04:16.839 there some connection in your mind between Michael Jordan and 85 00:04:16.839 --> 00:04:19.040 Pete Rose, how they're conducted themselves. 86 00:04:19.399 --> 00:04:22.240 I've told a lot of people that the very similar 87 00:04:22.319 --> 00:04:25.720 personalities where if you tell them no, they're going to 88 00:04:25.800 --> 00:04:27.439 find the They're going to find a way to make 89 00:04:27.480 --> 00:04:30.199 the answer be yes. You know, they're just so driven. 90 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:33.079 I mean, most people that get to this level are driven. 91 00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:35.920 But then there's a few and you just named two 92 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:38.360 of them that take it to of the anth degree, 93 00:04:38.800 --> 00:04:40.639 and that is Michael and Pete both. 94 00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:44.279 Well, how did you handle Michael Jordan? Because I saw 95 00:04:44.360 --> 00:04:47.399 some of the thirty by thirty stuff and you're in it. 96 00:04:47.720 --> 00:04:52.040 You if he stuck with baseball, would he have made 97 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:53.720 to the major leagues? Of course, the owner of the 98 00:04:53.720 --> 00:04:56.839 White Sox wanted him to go and playing Comiskey Park. 99 00:04:56.879 --> 00:04:59.240 Can you imagine Michael Jordan in a White Sox uniform 100 00:04:59.319 --> 00:05:02.480 and comisky? What was he? A major league baseball talent? 101 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:03.199 Michael Jordan? 102 00:05:03.839 --> 00:05:06.600 What I've told people is it wasn't fair to judge 103 00:05:06.800 --> 00:05:09.560 until he got about a thousand at bats. But he 104 00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:12.120 could do some things. Now, I mean he stole thirty bases, 105 00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:15.480 you know, he he could do some things. In a 106 00:05:15.480 --> 00:05:17.319 lot of prospects, you know you need to do. He 107 00:05:17.399 --> 00:05:20.480 just hadn't played in so long. But I also, like 108 00:05:20.519 --> 00:05:22.920 I said, I found out if you told him no, 109 00:05:23.639 --> 00:05:25.839 he'd find a way to make the answer be yes. 110 00:05:25.879 --> 00:05:27.759 So do I think he'd have found his way to 111 00:05:27.839 --> 00:05:28.720 major leagues? Yeah? 112 00:05:28.720 --> 00:05:29.079 I do. 113 00:05:29.399 --> 00:05:31.040 What do you have been an everyday player? I don't 114 00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:34.519 know he had more developing to do, but I knew 115 00:05:34.720 --> 00:05:38.000 he was so respectful to the game of baseball. He 116 00:05:38.160 --> 00:05:40.839 made it really easy to be patient with him, and 117 00:05:40.879 --> 00:05:42.319 that was what I appreciated. 118 00:05:42.759 --> 00:05:44.759 As far as your year with the Reds in nineteen 119 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:47.800 eighty seven, your manager was Pete Rose. What did you 120 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:49.639 learn about baseball from Pete Rose? 121 00:05:50.439 --> 00:05:52.759 Well, I'd played with Pete and eighty four in Montreal, 122 00:05:53.439 --> 00:05:55.319 and I tell a lot of people I've probably learned 123 00:05:55.319 --> 00:05:57.720 more playing cards with Pete about baseball than I did 124 00:05:57.759 --> 00:05:59.759 from a lot of other people. He just, you know, 125 00:05:59.839 --> 00:06:02.439 the game was in slow motion for him. And I 126 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:05.040 know Pete brought me over here in eighty seven and 127 00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:07.199 I felt like I really let him down because I 128 00:06:07.319 --> 00:06:10.079 just I just didn't hit. I mean, I got some 129 00:06:10.199 --> 00:06:13.319 hits opening day and then it just went south, and 130 00:06:13.399 --> 00:06:16.000 I felt like I let him down and that killed me. 131 00:06:16.759 --> 00:06:18.759 Oh, you bat a two twenty seven for the Reds. 132 00:06:18.759 --> 00:06:21.639 You were twenty eight years old, pretty good team, and 133 00:06:21.759 --> 00:06:25.360 I think largely that same team three years later with 134 00:06:25.480 --> 00:06:29.160 Lou Panella won. What was the difference between the eighty 135 00:06:29.240 --> 00:06:32.279 seven eighty eighty nine Reds with Pete Rose that didn't 136 00:06:32.279 --> 00:06:35.040 win and then a new a breath of fresh air arrived. 137 00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:38.079 I saw this interview that Barry Larkin conducted about you, 138 00:06:38.879 --> 00:06:41.560 the great number eleven Hall of Famer. You're going to 139 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:43.279 be a Hall of Famer. I pray to God Lou 140 00:06:43.319 --> 00:06:46.959 Penella becomes a Hall of Famer. But Barry Larkin said 141 00:06:47.079 --> 00:06:50.800 after the Pete Rose situation in August September of eighty 142 00:06:50.839 --> 00:06:54.120 nine was resolved and spring training started, he said, there 143 00:06:54.160 --> 00:06:56.360 was a breath of fresh air that we needed that 144 00:06:56.439 --> 00:06:59.439 we thought we were better than our record indicated. In fact, 145 00:06:59.480 --> 00:07:01.240 in eighty nine the Reds had a losing record. The 146 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:03.959 next year they went to the World Series. And so 147 00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:06.120 how do you relate to the Reds team and Reds 148 00:07:06.120 --> 00:07:08.720 fans now saying this is a team that can win, 149 00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:11.759 it should win. It hasn't won. We can't go why 150 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:13.839 it hasn't won in the past, but why will it 151 00:07:13.879 --> 00:07:16.120 win this year? And are you the breath of fresh air, 152 00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:18.920 the Reds and the baseball's oldest franchise, knees. I'm so 153 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:20.959 excited about this, I can't stand it. Are you the 154 00:07:21.000 --> 00:07:21.879 breath of fresh air? 155 00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:25.800 I don't know if I've ever been called that. You know, 156 00:07:25.800 --> 00:07:28.959 I'm not here to try to piss anybody off. I 157 00:07:28.959 --> 00:07:31.000 think we all like to feel like we can make 158 00:07:31.040 --> 00:07:33.800 a difference, and we're certainly going to try. But I 159 00:07:33.800 --> 00:07:36.199 don't think I need to go make any proclamations. Like 160 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:38.480 I said, I want us to show up and play 161 00:07:38.879 --> 00:07:42.319 our rear ends off every day, and if we do that, 162 00:07:43.399 --> 00:07:46.199 I always feel like we're gonna figure it out. That's 163 00:07:46.240 --> 00:07:48.920 how I've always felt, and I will continue to do that. 164 00:07:48.959 --> 00:07:50.839 And this is a good group. This is a fun group, 165 00:07:50.879 --> 00:07:53.000 and it's a group that's going to get better. We're 166 00:07:53.040 --> 00:07:55.560 not the finished product. That doesn't mean we can't win, 167 00:07:56.040 --> 00:07:57.480 but I think it means we'll get better. 168 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:01.160 Let's say it's about seven pm an opening day and 169 00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:04.480 the Reds are winning two to one. You look down 170 00:08:04.480 --> 00:08:06.360 to the look out to the bullpen used to be 171 00:08:06.439 --> 00:08:08.160 down to the bullpen. You look out to the bullpen, 172 00:08:08.639 --> 00:08:11.639 and you got Rogers, you got Barlow, you don't have 173 00:08:12.120 --> 00:08:16.879 Alexis Das, Who does Terry Francona come in to nail 174 00:08:16.920 --> 00:08:19.720 down to win two to one victory and the ninth 175 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:21.800 ending about seven o'clock on opening day? Who do you 176 00:08:21.800 --> 00:08:22.199 bring in? 177 00:08:22.959 --> 00:08:25.920 Well, I hope we're in that situation. Is a lot 178 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:27.920 of us gonna depend on how we get there. You know, 179 00:08:27.920 --> 00:08:29.519 we're gonna have to mix the match a little bit. 180 00:08:29.560 --> 00:08:31.759 And I've already talked to the bullpen guys and I've 181 00:08:31.800 --> 00:08:37.480 talked a little bit more. But you know, we'll see again. 182 00:08:37.519 --> 00:08:39.879 It depends on how long our starter goes, how many 183 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:43.039 guys who went through, But we'll figure it out. And 184 00:08:43.240 --> 00:08:46.879 I guarantee you somebody to be out there. And like 185 00:08:46.919 --> 00:08:48.840 I said, though, it just depends who we use leading 186 00:08:48.919 --> 00:08:50.039 up to that, how. 187 00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:52.879 Would you say, Ladella Cruz, you're catching him in a 188 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:55.600 second full year. We're just so excited about him. He 189 00:08:55.600 --> 00:08:58.559 could become the face of baseball. And you now spent 190 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:02.080 about twenty five of thirty games with Elladella Cruz. What 191 00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:04.679 kind of character is he and what does he bring 192 00:09:04.720 --> 00:09:07.600 to the table for the Reds in twenty twenty five, Well, it. 193 00:09:07.559 --> 00:09:10.000 Brings everything to the table. I think that's why everybody 194 00:09:10.120 --> 00:09:11.919 you know likes him so much. Everybody wants to get 195 00:09:11.919 --> 00:09:14.120 a piece ofthing. And he's a great kid to boot. 196 00:09:14.120 --> 00:09:17.000 He plays a game right, he plays with passion, and 197 00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:19.440 he's only going to get better because he wants to. 198 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:22.279 And you know that we're getting him at it. We're 199 00:09:22.279 --> 00:09:23.960 getting a lot of our guys at a good time 200 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:26.240 where they've got a year or two under their belt. 201 00:09:26.600 --> 00:09:29.080 You know, they start to understand they don't just belong, 202 00:09:29.480 --> 00:09:32.480 but maybe they can thrive and compete because there's a difference, 203 00:09:32.840 --> 00:09:34.399 and I hope we'll get them at that time. 204 00:09:34.639 --> 00:09:36.799 In fact, you've been in baseball. I mean, your dad 205 00:09:36.919 --> 00:09:39.799 was in baseball fifteen years. You grew up in major 206 00:09:39.879 --> 00:09:42.480 league locker rooms. You've been there. You talk about in 207 00:09:42.559 --> 00:09:45.200 baseball forty some years. You've probably been in baseball sixty 208 00:09:45.240 --> 00:09:48.639 some years. If you take your time in various locker rooms, 209 00:09:48.919 --> 00:09:51.639 and from that, give me the one or two big 210 00:09:51.759 --> 00:09:55.080 changes you've seen in baseball just inside the locker room 211 00:09:55.080 --> 00:09:56.639 in the past thirty or forty years. He used to 212 00:09:56.679 --> 00:09:59.320 be you had a player and you knew they had him. 213 00:09:59.360 --> 00:10:01.399 But now a little bet of romance has to go on. 214 00:10:01.480 --> 00:10:03.360 You have to make sure the players want to stay 215 00:10:03.720 --> 00:10:06.480 in Cincinnati's a fabulous place to play because you're gonna 216 00:10:06.480 --> 00:10:08.559 you're gonna learn an opening day how important this is. 217 00:10:08.720 --> 00:10:11.320 But how's baseball changed the last thirty or forty years 218 00:10:12.200 --> 00:10:12.840 in your mind? 219 00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:16.480 Well, there's been a lot of changes. I mean one 220 00:10:16.559 --> 00:10:18.440 of the things, like you said in the locker room 221 00:10:18.519 --> 00:10:20.679 is we used to sit after games and you know, 222 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:23.240 we played cards and drink beer, and now you can't 223 00:10:23.240 --> 00:10:26.320 do that. You know, life times have changed, and I 224 00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:28.240 get it, but it takes some of the some of 225 00:10:28.279 --> 00:10:31.519 the fun away. The game, though, is still baseball, and 226 00:10:31.559 --> 00:10:34.120 I firmly believe, regardless of how much money you guys 227 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:37.000 are making or free agency, if you can get your 228 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:39.399 players to play baseball, you got a chance. And that's 229 00:10:39.399 --> 00:10:40.240 what we're gonna try to do. 230 00:10:40.759 --> 00:10:42.960 Terry Farrek Conan, Do you feel like you're born again? 231 00:10:43.159 --> 00:10:46.720 Because the article is written about you and it feel 232 00:10:46.759 --> 00:10:49.200 like after you went through your health difficulties now came 233 00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:51.559 out the other side. And the involvement Marty Brownman was 234 00:10:51.639 --> 00:10:53.679 key to this. Do you feel like you're born again? 235 00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:57.440 I don't know if I'd go that far. I am excited, 236 00:10:58.480 --> 00:10:59.799 you know, I'm gonna have to keep an eye on 237 00:10:59.799 --> 00:11:02.000 my because I'm not a young pup, and you know, 238 00:11:02.039 --> 00:11:05.159 I've had a lot going on. But I get up 239 00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:06.840 and swim every day because I want to be a 240 00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:09.279 good manager. I want to have, you know, energy for 241 00:11:09.320 --> 00:11:12.120 these guys, and I try to keep my button on 242 00:11:12.360 --> 00:11:14.960 all day and then when I go home, I just collapse. 243 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:19.919 Well, Terry, you're the best. I think you walk in 244 00:11:19.919 --> 00:11:23.000 the shoes of Sparky Anderson and Louke Panela in the 245 00:11:23.080 --> 00:11:25.720 sense that you're a lifer in baseball and you've come 246 00:11:25.759 --> 00:11:27.840 here and we're just honored to have you in Cincinnati 247 00:11:27.919 --> 00:11:30.320 after the year off. When this thing when Marty the 248 00:11:30.360 --> 00:11:32.720 story about Marty Brennan just briefly tell me that Marty 249 00:11:32.759 --> 00:11:35.240 Brennan connection that you had to get this job. 250 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:38.320 Well, I mean when I was here as a player, 251 00:11:38.399 --> 00:11:42.200 Marty and Nuxy, Joey, they were so good to be 252 00:11:42.279 --> 00:11:44.759 and some people in this game he just remained friends with, 253 00:11:45.559 --> 00:11:48.639 and me and Marty have have been friends ever since. 254 00:11:48.799 --> 00:11:52.159 And he reached out to me earlier this year, and 255 00:11:52.600 --> 00:11:54.600 next thing, you know, Nick and Brad are find out 256 00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:57.840 the Tucson and like I said, it just felt right. 257 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:01.399 And I mean I know what kind of baseball town 258 00:12:01.480 --> 00:12:04.200 this can be. You know, I saw it firsthand and 259 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:07.879 we got it. We got we got some baseball to play. 260 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:10.679 But if we do, these people will be excited. 261 00:12:11.080 --> 00:12:13.320 Lastly, would you like to enter the Hall of Fame 262 00:12:13.360 --> 00:12:16.480 in a few years with Pete Rose? In memory of Pete? 263 00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:21.399 I'll never I can talk about Pete. I'll never talk 264 00:12:21.440 --> 00:12:24.879 about myself in that vein. I don't think that's healthy 265 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:28.320 for any for a manager. With the manager, it's got 266 00:12:28.360 --> 00:12:31.279 to be about the players. It can never be about yourself. 267 00:12:31.559 --> 00:12:34.799 And when it becomes about you, I get really uncomfortable. 268 00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:37.440 May fourteenth is Pete Rose Day. Whill there'll be a 269 00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:38.799 tear in your eye for Pete. 270 00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:42.039 I don't know if I'll cry, I'll be touched. I mean, 271 00:12:42.039 --> 00:12:44.840 I love the guy, Like I said, I played with 272 00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:47.440 him and for him, and I loved him to death. 273 00:12:47.480 --> 00:12:50.080 And I will be one of the proudest people out there. 274 00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:50.840 I guarantee it. 275 00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:53.639 Terry frank ConA, may you live long and prosper when 276 00:12:53.679 --> 00:12:55.519 about a hundred games and take the reds of the 277 00:12:55.519 --> 00:12:58.679 World Series where they belong. Between nineteen seventy five and 278 00:12:58.759 --> 00:13:02.039 nineteen ninety, EDGE were champions in the World Series twenty 279 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:04.559 percent of the time. Think of twenty percent of the 280 00:13:04.600 --> 00:13:07.159 time between nineteen seventy five and nineteen ninety the Reds 281 00:13:07.159 --> 00:13:09.679 with the World Series champion. Since then, the last thirty 282 00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:12.279 five years have been more difficult, and I think you're 283 00:13:12.320 --> 00:13:14.679 the Moses that may lead us into the promised Land. 284 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:17.519 And Terry Francona, once again, thank you for coming on 285 00:13:17.559 --> 00:13:19.240 the Bill Cunningham Show. Thank you, Terry. 286 00:13:19.639 --> 00:13:21.720 All Right, Bill and joy Man, Thanks God. 287 00:13:21.559 --> 00:13:25.159 Bless America. Let's continue with more. That's Terry Francona unplugged 288 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:30.720 on News radio seven hundred WLW. All Right, Billy cunning 289 00:13:30.759 --> 00:13:32.879 in the Great American. We're going to have the words 290 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:35.960 of Mike McConnell in about seven or eight minutes about 291 00:13:36.039 --> 00:13:39.039 his retirement in glory from this sacred radio station. What 292 00:13:39.080 --> 00:13:42.279 he said this morning and his last day, those kinds 293 00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:44.519 of things. We'll talk about that a little bit later on. 294 00:13:44.600 --> 00:13:47.720 But getting back to the Reds this year, I will 295 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:50.279 look back in my memory banks, maybe you could come 296 00:13:50.360 --> 00:13:52.679 up with something different. Have the Reds ever hired a 297 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:57.559 manager Don on other teams had multiple World Series titles? 298 00:13:58.320 --> 00:14:01.480 I don't think so. Going back, I can't think of 299 00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:04.200 one and I look to the list of managers, this 300 00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:08.440 is unique and when you deal with Terry Francona. He 301 00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:12.000 went to Boston and in his first year there took 302 00:14:12.039 --> 00:14:15.360 the Boston Red Sox to the World Championship, the World 303 00:14:15.399 --> 00:14:18.919 Series win. Did it again a few years later four 304 00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:22.279 o seven. His first st it was with the Philadelphia Phillies. 305 00:14:22.799 --> 00:14:26.480 Spent about four years there, did okay, not good. Red Sox. 306 00:14:26.519 --> 00:14:30.000 Harem went to the Promised Land and after that went 307 00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:34.240 to the Indians slash Guardians, where he managed for about 308 00:14:34.519 --> 00:14:37.919 ten years. Because he played for the Indians. He played 309 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:41.360 for the Expos, the Cubs, the Reds, the Indians slash Guardians, 310 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:44.440 and the Brewers and now the Reds. It's his fourth 311 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:49.960 managerial stint, likely his last. He's managed about three thousand, 312 00:14:50.120 --> 00:14:55.200 six hundred Major League Baseball games. He also has those 313 00:14:55.240 --> 00:14:59.600 two World Series titles, which is pretty good. He also 314 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:04.840 has three Pennance Championships, pretty good. Also had eleven playoff 315 00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:08.000 appearances as a manager. That's pretty good. And then, of 316 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:12.720 course the record of nineteen hundred and fifty wins and 317 00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:15.639 and seventy two losses about thirty six hundred games. He 318 00:15:15.679 --> 00:15:18.919 wins fifty four percent of his time. He made the 319 00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:21.559 comment he feels like he's born again. He had lots 320 00:15:21.559 --> 00:15:25.480 of health problems, none of which are critical, but they're painful, 321 00:15:25.559 --> 00:15:29.000 such as he's had at least fifty surgeries. Both these 322 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:31.320 are new, both hips are new, had blood clots, had 323 00:15:31.320 --> 00:15:34.440 heart problems, and all came down maybe chewing too much 324 00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:37.000 tobacco and not working out. Now he's got rid of 325 00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:39.879 the tobacci and he's working out, and he's a young 326 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:43.919 sixty five years old. So have had it. Man, The 327 00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:47.519 Reds could not have made a better hiring decision than 328 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:51.559 Terry Francona, who has said he spent about forty six 329 00:15:51.639 --> 00:15:55.600 years in the Major leagues. First, his youngest days, he 330 00:15:55.679 --> 00:15:58.320 was in the locker rooms of major league teams. His father, 331 00:15:58.440 --> 00:16:01.840 Tito Francona, in fifteen years in the Major leagues, and 332 00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:04.159 a young Terry was running around the locker room as 333 00:16:04.200 --> 00:16:07.799 a kid. And in nineteen eighty seven I did the 334 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:10.480 extra inning show, and I was in the locker room 335 00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:12.360 a lot with Pete and the other players, and I 336 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:15.559 barely remember Terry Francone is standing in the corner with 337 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:19.360 Luis Kenonis, singing, have you seen her? Tell me? Have 338 00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:21.399 you seen they had a quartet and they would sing. 339 00:16:21.720 --> 00:16:25.159 There were people drinking beer, smoking cigarettes. That was nineteen 340 00:16:25.159 --> 00:16:29.559 eighty seven in Riverfront Stadium. Unbelievable. And now if somebody 341 00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:32.120 would have told that kid in nineteen eighty seven, by 342 00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:35.360 the way, at that point he was twenty eight years old, 343 00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:36.639 win so much of a kid. But he was a 344 00:16:36.679 --> 00:16:38.559 hanger on. But he did hit a home run in 345 00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:42.200 an opening day for the Reds. And after that season, 346 00:16:42.679 --> 00:16:44.879 Pete and the Powers have Me decided to release him 347 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:47.480 and away he went to the Indians and the Brewers 348 00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:51.480 and then got into into managing with the Birmingham Barons, 349 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:54.639 where Michael Jordan, the greatest of all time in basketball, 350 00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:58.279 hit two O two in nineteen ninety four and the 351 00:16:58.320 --> 00:17:00.399 rest show, we say, is history. So let's can anyway. 352 00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:02.720 Three years later, he's the manager for the Phillies. Let's 353 00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:04.119 continue with them more. We're going to play some of 354 00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:06.599 Mike mcconnald's words this morning and more at Trump of 355 00:17:06.599 --> 00:17:09.400 the Reds in the home of Terry Francona News Radio 356 00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:16.400 seven hundred WULW, Cincinnati. Well, our official holiday begins tomorrow. 357 00:17:16.440 --> 00:17:19.119 Reds Baseball unlike any in the world. Good to hear 358 00:17:19.160 --> 00:17:22.400 from Tito Francona about what he expects from this year's team, 359 00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:25.480 and we have expectations. We have a coming up later 360 00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:29.240 Tommy Thrall to talk about what he observed in Arizona, 361 00:17:29.319 --> 00:17:31.680 what he observed last night and Dayton McLean looked pretty 362 00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:34.319 good again. And what's going to happen this year with 363 00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:38.359 your Cincinnati Reds. That's coming. But I think an equally 364 00:17:38.400 --> 00:17:41.200 important announcement took play the place this morning with Mike 365 00:17:41.319 --> 00:17:45.240 McConnell for many forty years, my running mate right here, 366 00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:47.440 and we kind of came here more or less together, 367 00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:50.680 and at this point Mike has decided to retire. With 368 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:53.079 the thanks of a grateful nation. We did our best 369 00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:54.799 to keep him, trying to talk him out of it. 370 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:57.279 He could have picked almost any day shift to do, 371 00:17:57.880 --> 00:18:01.920 but Mike said he's done. And it's because next week 372 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:05.960 will be his fiftieth anniversary in radio, starting in April 373 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:09.519 of nineteen seventy five in the Dayton area along with 374 00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:12.039 Eddie Fingers, another living legend. But this is what Mike 375 00:18:12.119 --> 00:18:15.240 McConnell said this morning, and Dave Keaton hit it. 376 00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:19.279 Hey, and that is that I am going to retire. 377 00:18:21.720 --> 00:18:25.880 Why because I'm old. I'll be here through next week 378 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:28.839 and that will be it. I'm not taking any more 379 00:18:28.839 --> 00:18:32.200 time off. I'll be here every day through next Friday, 380 00:18:32.839 --> 00:18:35.720 and we'll pull the plug on it then. So thought 381 00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:37.880 about it for a long time, and I guess, like 382 00:18:38.359 --> 00:18:42.039 three years ago when I signed my present contract, pretty 383 00:18:42.119 --> 00:18:43.240 much made up my mind it was going to be 384 00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:49.039 the last one and told management over you a year ago. 385 00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:52.799 So I'll miss a lot of aspects out of it, 386 00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:54.319 but look forward to it. At the same time, I'll 387 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:57.319 have no regrets because I've done this for a long time. 388 00:18:58.599 --> 00:19:01.640 I did the math realized I started doing this for 389 00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:06.079 a living in April of seventy five, so that's fifty 390 00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:11.920 years and that's enough. So I've enjoyed it, great job 391 00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:16.000 most of my life, and I will miss it, and 392 00:19:16.039 --> 00:19:17.759 we'll plenty of time to talk about it between now 393 00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:21.079 and then. But that's the announcement of the day. Next 394 00:19:21.079 --> 00:19:26.480 Friday is my last day on the radio. Michael kils Well, 395 00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:27.240 that was kind of it. 396 00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:30.480 And of course we knew here internally the last few 397 00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:33.000 weeks that it was going to happen, and most of 398 00:19:33.079 --> 00:19:36.680 us kind of thought, well, well, maybe something will change. 399 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:41.920 There's nothing more constant in life than constant changes. There's 400 00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:46.359 nothing more constant than change in life. It's ongoing that 401 00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:50.359