Francona: Torre Is a Gentleman

Outgoing Yankees manager gets respect, support from fans and rivals alike
By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 19, 2007 3:51 AM CDT
Francona: Torre Is a Gentleman
Graphic highlights Joe Torre?s tenure as Yankees? manager; two sizes; 2c x 3 3/4 inches; 96.3 mm x 95.3 mm; 3c x 2 3/4 inches; 146 mm x 69.9 mm   (Associated Press)

After Joe Torre rejected the Yankees' offer of a $5 million one-year contract yesterday, supporters came out of the woodwork in the unlikeliest of places: the Red Sox dugout. Boston manager Terry Francona called Torre a "gentleman," and knuckleballer Tim Wakefield said he "hoped to be able to play for him at some point," reports the New York Times.

Torre's players, Wakefield reports, "say he's the best," and Indians manager Eric Wedge agrees that Torre is "one of the greatest managers of all time." Francona allows that "everyone can talk about Joe and have their opinions," but he himself has respected Torre since Francona's father and the then-Braves catcher were teammates in 1967. (More MLB stories.)

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