Known as “Tito” to players and fans, Terry Francona wasn’t just a master strategist on the diamond; he was the king of pranks, weaving laughter into the high-stakes world of Major League Baseball. Whether it’s filling a teammate’s coffee with chewing tobacco or drenching unsuspecting front office staff with water balloons during spring training, his antics were as legendary as his leadership. On July 25, 2025, in Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park, Francona created another masterpiece, reminding us all that when he’s present in his ballpark, nobody’s safe.
As the Tampa Bay Rays took the field for their usual pre-game stretch, the stadium’s massive jumbotron jolted to life. The clips weren’t about past highlights or player statistics. It was, in fact, a special delivery personally arranged by Francona for his old friend—the Rays manager Kevin Cash.
The Reds’ social media captured the moment perfectly and posted it on X, writing, “Tito arranged for the scoreboard at GABP to show a loop of Kevin Cash striking out .” The announcer narrated the hilarious scene live, saying, “They had on a loop Kevin Cash striking out over and over.” He added, “And there’s the little smirk of Tito enjoying everything.”
Tito arranged for the scoreboard at GABP to show a loop of Kevin Cash striking out pic.twitter.com/NJGTbRLCzA
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) July 25, 2025
The seeds of Francona and Cash’s camaraderie trace back to the time when Cash was playing for Francona’s Boston Red Sox. Their relationship further deepened when Cash was on Francona’s staff in Cleveland.
In 2017, Francona paid comic tribute to Cash by getting his career batting numbers flashed on the scoreboard briefly. It presented numbers that announced Cash as the owner of the “5th worst OPS+ of all time.”
“How bad is Kevin Cash at the plate? Cash’s career batting stats: .183/.248/.273. In the history of Major League Baseball, among all non-pitchers with at least 650 plate appearances, Kevin Cash is the 5th worst OPS+ of all time,” the graphic read.
And, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Francona once had Cash’s car soaped up and played a video of it on the stadium video board. He also posted a mural outside his office that ridiculously listed Cash as one of the “Legends of the Game.” After Cash lost a bet, Francona had a jersey made for him reading “NO CASH,” forcing him to wear it while presenting the lineup card. There is no end to Tito’s creativity when it comes to trolling.
But, Cash couldn’t be more thankful of his mentor. “We do have a great friendship and I respect him a lot,” he once shared. “He has always been a tremendous sounding board in baseball, outside of baseball, and I’m very grateful for our relationship.”
But that doesn’t mean he’ll just take a punch without returning the favor.
When Kevin Cash struck Back
Cash once playfully stole Francona’s custom dugout seat in 2018 and brought it over to the Rays’ dugout. That year, during batting practice, he even rolled Francona’s beloved motorized scooter, nicknamed “The Hog,” onto the field.
For his part, Francona unapologetically wears the retribution as a badge of honor, embracing his role as the instigator. “I’m sort of like the big brother of the two. Where I can kind of take advantage of it a little bit,” he admitted with a smile. After one of Cash’s pranks, Francona humorously declared, “I think he’s immature. I thought mine was sort of classically funny.”
Now, you might wonder what gives Francona the ultimate bragging rights in his statistical showdown against Cash. Well, Tito wasn’t a Hall of Fame hitter, although his career .274 figures easily outdistances Cash’s. 183.
But Francona detected something special in Cash well before he ascended to the rank of one of the game’s best managers. He famously said, “When he was in the batter’s box, I wanted him to be a coach,” before further adding, “I saw the presence he had in the clubhouse that was way more than a backup catcher who’s hitting .140—when he was hot—should have.”
And to be clear, Cash is not Tito’s only target. Francona’s antics are legendary across the league. At one point, he playfully teased his star shortstop Francisco Lindor over his new haircut, posting photos of Amber Rose around the clubhouse. As former Cleveland reliever Dan Otero said, Tito treats everyone the same, whether it’s your first day or your 15th year.
Francona is among baseball’s most decorated managers and ranks among the only 13 active MLB managers with a track record of at least 2,000 career victories in the majors. He is best known for managing the Red Sox to a World Series title in 2004. And breaking their 86-year championship curse. He added another one in 2007. His infectious humor, leadership, and empathy make a difference that lasts with everyone he touches. And of course, his humor too!
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