Terry Francona

Terry Francona defied history by leading the Boston Red Sox to their first World Series Championship in 86 years. After rebounding from a 0-3 deficit and defeating the arch-rival New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series, the Red Sox swept the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series to extinguish the curse that held Boston in misery for much of the past century.

Terry Francona shares with audiences the successful coaching and leadership methods that brought his team, a self-described “bunch of idiots” all the way to World Series victory in 2004. Using techniques culled from his many years as a player and a major-league coach, Francona shares his game plan for success. Through leadership, persistence and teamwork, he shows audiences that no obstacle is too difficult to overcome. Francona is experienced at bringing out the best in every individual on his team and working to overcome adversity by keeping all focused and believing in one goal – success.

Francona became just the 6th manager in club annals to lead the Red Sox to the postseason in his first year at the helm, and just the 3rd to win the World Series in his first year. By managing a total of 50 players in reaching the postseason for the first time in five major league managerial seasons, Francona saw his club overcome player injuries, and doubting naysayers to take the coveted title of world champion.

In 1982, Francona began a long battle with health problems when he caught a spike in the warning track in St. Louis. His knee injuries would continue and require many surgeries. In 2002, he received arthroscopic surgery and ten days later was back in the hospital with a life-threatening situation. Doctors had discovered a blood clot had gone to his lungs. Francona was given blood thinners and it was assumed the threat was under control; but complications soon developed. Staph infections were found in both knees and required additional surgeries just to save his leg from amputation. More clotting ensued and after all was said and done, Francona went through eight surgeries in between November and December 2002.

Francona suffers from a condition known as deep-vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT is a condition resulting from the formation of a blood clot inside a deep vein, commonly located in the calf or thigh. DVT occurs when the blood clot either partially or completely blocks the flow of blood in the vein. What happened to Francona in 2002 was a pulmonary embolism—a potentially life-threatening complication occuring when a fragment of a blood clot breaks loose and travels to the lungs. Around two million people are diagnosed with DVT each year. DVT kills up to 200,000 Americans per year—more than AIDS and breast cancer combined.

Now in his 26th season in pro baseball, Francona begins his sixth season as a major league manager, only his second with the Red Sox. Known for effective management skill, he previously guided the rebuilding Philadelphia Phillies with great success. Only 37 when hired by the Phillies, he was the youngest manager in the majors at the time. Francona began his coaching career immediately upon the conclusion of his playing days in 1991.