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Hirschbeck’s legacy goes beyond balls, strikes
- Updated: October 31, 2016
CLEVELAND — The relationship that we witness between umpire and manager often involves confrontation. Before replay review, the two parties could argue just about anything. These days, skirmishes over balls and strikes suffice.
But in this World Series, umpire John Hirschbeck and Indians manager Terry Francona feel genuine affection for one another off the field, especially as the umpire’s long career winds down to its final innings. Hirschbeck, the crew chief for this Series and the second-longest-tenured active ump in the game, is hanging up his black jacket and hat for good upon the conclusion of the Fall Classic. And though impartiality is the backbone of any assignment, Hirschbeck said Francona is one of the people he’ll miss most.
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“Joe Maddon has been a good friend for a very long time,” Hirschbeck said. “But with Terry, it’s special, because you can never forget the way he was to my son and how much my son loved Terry.”
Game Date Time (air time/game time) Matchup TV Gm 1 Oct. 25 CLE 6, CHC 0 Gm 2 Oct. 26 CHC 5, CLE 1 Gm 3 Oct. 28 CLE 1, CHC 0 Gm 4 Oct. 29 CLE 7, CHC 2 Gm 5 Oct. 30 CHC 3, CLE 2 Gm 6 Nov. 1 7:30 p.m./8 p.m. CHC @ CLE FOX *Gm 7 Nov. 2 7:30 p.m./8 p.m. CHC @ CLE FOX * If necessary | All times listed ET • World Series coverageShop for postseason gear: Cubs | Indians
Until his death from a seizure at age 27 in April 2015, Hirschbeck’s son Michael would regularly make the drive from the family’s Poland, Ohio, home with his dad to serve as a bat boy at Progressive Field. He did it for every Indians manager from Mike Hargrove through Francona.
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Michael had the same rare genetic disease — adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) — that claimed his older brother John’s life in 1993, and the baseball community has long been the supportive of the umpire whose …
