Shapiro salutes Indians in bittersweet moment

TORONTO — Mark Shapiro choked back tears as he searched for words. He wanted to say this just right, and he didn’t want anyone to misconstrue his swirl of emotions.

Shapiro had just come from the visitors’ clubhouse at Rogers Centre, where some of his closest friends were celebrating the Cleveland Indians winning the American League pennant.

For the past 11 months, Shapiro has been the president and CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays. This is the team he’s completely invested in. On that, there’s no conflict. He wants to be clear about that.

Game Date Matchup TV/Highlights Gm 1 Oct. 14 CLE 2, TOR 0 Gm 2 Oct. 15 CLE 2, TOR 1 Gm 3 Oct. 17 CLE 4, TOR 2 Gm 4 Oct. 18 TOR 5, CLE 1 Gm 5 Oct. 19 CLE 3, TOR 0 • ALCS coverageShop for postseason gear: Blue Jays | Indians

“When the first pitch was thrown, I wanted to win,” Shapiro said. “I wasn’t conflicted in the least.”

Until last November, though, the Indians had been Shapiro’s team. He’d served the franchise in a variety of roles for 24 seasons, including the last five as team president.

Shapiros’ fingerprints are all over the Indians, not just in the personnel, but in the franchise’s structure and style of doing business. The Tribe is respected throughout baseball for doing things a certain way. For hiring talented people. For empowering them and trusting them.

This was Shapiro’s legacy with the franchise, and on Wednesday evening, the Indians accomplished the very thing Shapiro had been focused on for most of his adult life.

After …

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