Apr 6, 2005 12:01 pm US/Eastern NEW YORK (AP) -- Boston manager Terry Francona was taken to a hospital Wednesday with tightness in his chest, and was expected to miss the Red Sox's afternoon game against the Yankees.
Francona, who turns 46 on April 22, said all morning he was not feeling well, according to general manager Theo Epstein. Francona was taken by ambulance to New York Weill-Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan, where he has relationships with several doctors.
"He was taken to the hospital for precautionary tests," Epstein said. "He had all his faculties about him, he was just going for tests."
Francona took the 8 a.m. team bus to Yankee Stadium and began his routine, even fulfilling media obligations despite not feeling well.
Epstein said the Yankees made all of their staff available to Francona. Epstein didn't know what type of testing Francona was undergoing, but Red Sox team doctor Thomas Gill was monitoring his condition by phone from Boston, and team trainer Jim Rowe accompanied the manager to the hospital.
Bench coach Brad Mills was to fill in for Francona against New York.
Epstein informed the team about Francona after the second Red Sox bus arrived at the stadium around 10:30 a.m.
"It was scary because you're talking about real-life stuff, you're not talking about wins and losses," Boston first baseman Kevin Millar said.
Epstein spoke to Francona and said he was upbeat. "He wishes he was at the ballpark," he said.
Francona, who led the Red Sox to their first World Series championship in 86 years in his first season as manager, had experienced chest pains before -- a side effect of life-threatening blood clots that developed from a knee operation.
Ten days after having knee surgery in 2002, he was in Seattle interviewing for the Mariners' managing job when he experienced severe chest pains.
Upon his return home, Francona said, doctors discovered a blood clot had gone to his lungs. He was given blood thinners and the problem was thought to be under control, but complications developed. He had staph infections in both knees, which required four more operations, he said, and then developed serious hemorrhaging in his leg that ultimately required an additional two operations.
He was sent home after Thanksgiving, but more clotting ensued and he was hospitalized until Christmas Eve. In all, he said, he underwent eight operations to deal with the problem. On more than one occasion, he said, the situation was life-threatening.
Francona played 10 years in the major leagues as a first baseman and outfielder. He had already had 11 knee operations when he went in for the arthroscopic procedure in November 2002.
Francona also managed the Philadelphia Phillies from 1997-2000.
