The former Boston Red Sox manager is succeeding the club's new skipper in ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball booth.
ESPN has hired Terry Francona, the two-time world champion of the Red Sox, as an analyst to join Dan Shulman and Orel Hershiser on SNB, a role that was held by new Bosox manager Bobby Valentine.
Francona provided analysis for Fox Sports during the American League Championship Series in 2011.
Making his debut on Dec. 5 from baseball winter meetings in Dallas, Francona will also work on ESPN's flagship SportsCenter and Baseball Tonight program. He's also slated to provide analysis for ESPN's coverage of the Little League World Series, andwill be a featured guest on ESPN Radio's national shows and contributor to ESPN.com and ESPNBoston.com.
"Terry is a brilliant baseball mind, with two World Series rings over the last eight seasons, and we're thrilled to welcome him to our team," said Norby Williamson, executive vice president, production in a statement. "Ted Williams for Joe DiMaggio never happened, but this is ESPN's version with Bobby moving to the Red Sox dugout and Terry replacing him on Sunday Night Baseball"
The manager of the Red Sox from 2004-11, Francona helped break the "Curse of the Bambino," ending the franchise's 86-year World Series drought during his first year at the helm. The Sox also won the World Series in 2007. The team suffered an historic collapse this past season, which resulted in Francona's dismissal.
