LOS ANGELES – Before Game 1 of this first-round playoff series between the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers, the home team ran a feature on their big video board of their manager, Dave Roberts, and his playing and managing career.
As Roberts was shown being interviewed about a playing career known for the most famous postseason stolen base in history and little else, Reds manager Terry Francona made his way to the visitors dugout for his usual pregame prep.
Advertisement
Reds Dodgers Francona Shohei Ohtani Guess the 2 reasons Cincinnati Reds’ Terry Francona won’t intentionally walk Shohei Ohtani
Reds Dodgers Sal Stewart ‘Welcome to the postseason, Sal.’ Reds celebrate RBI single in 1st inning vs Dodgers
Francona spent a few minutes leaning on the rail watching the guy he managed on that 2004 Red Sox team talk about the stolen base that helped turn an impossible comeback against the Yankees in that American League Championship Series, as well as where his career went next.
Terry Francona managed Dodgers manager Dave Roberts in Boston, where Roberts had a legendary stolen base in the Red Sox’s epic comeback against the New York Yankees.
Along the way, Roberts extolled the quality of Francona as a manager and person.
“I was coming out, and I was like, ‘What the hell?’ “ Francona said. “Yeah, it was a little bit (surreal).”
Advertisement
Roberts’ steal with two out in the ninth inning of Game 4 of that 2004 ALCS led to a comeback win in that game and eventually the only series comeback from a 3-games-to-none deficit in postseason history.
Roberts is the first in MLB history to play in the World Series for a manager that he later managed against in the playoffs.
“When we had our meeting with the umpires (and Roberts), I gave him a big bear hug,” Francona said, “and like I always whisper, ‘Thank God you were safe.’ “
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds’ manager Terry Francona’s surreal moment before Game 1