With the Cleveland Guardians‘ 7-5 win yesterday over the Kansas City Royals, they assured themselves of at least 90 wins on the season.
It also marked a little bit of history for the club’s manager, Terry Francona.
With yesterday’s win, Francona became the eighth manager in MLB history to have led his team to at least 90 wins in 12 or more seasons, joining managers such as Bobby Cox, Tony La Russa, Connie Mack, Joe Torre, Dusty Baker, John McGraw, and Joe McCarthy.
The Guardians can still finish with up to 93 wins this season after capturing their first AL Central title since 2018.
They’ll finish up the regular season with three more games at home against the Kansas City Royals.
Congratulations to Cleveland #Guardians manager Terry Francona! He becomes the 8th manager in #MLB history to lead his team to at least 90 victories in 12 or more seasons:
15:Joe McCarthy, Bobby Cox
14:John McGraw
13:Tony La Russa, Connie Mack
12:Joe Torre, Dusty Baker, Francona— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 2, 2022
Tito Makes History
Francona is no stranger to winning, having led the Boston Red Sox to two World Series titles in 2004 and 2007, respectively.
He was the American League Manager of the Year in 2013, his first year at the helm of the Guardians.
That year, he led them to a 92-70 finish and a Wild Card.
He also led Cleveland to the Fall Classic in 2016, when they fell in seven games to the Chicago Cubs, who with that series win, broke their curse.
But from 2016-18, Francona led the Guardians, then the Indians, to three straight division titles.
Last season was his first losing season as manager of the Guardians.
But this year, things have been different.
This team has come from out of nowhere to run away with the AL Central and ride into the playoffs hot.
This could put him in the mix for the AL Manager of the Year Award once again.
Not much was expected out of the Guardians, but Francona got the most out of his roster in 2022.
NEXT: 3 Reasons The Guardians Have Been So Good In 2022
