Implication in sign stealing scandal leads to losing his job as Red Sox’ first Latino manager
By Alberto Vasallo, III
Heartbreaking. Tragic. Sad.
These are the words many in the Latino community of Boston – especially Puerto Ricans – are using to describe the demise of Sox manager Alex Cora, who parted ways with the club a day after baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred implicated him in the sport’s sign-stealing scandal.
For a large portion of the community in the Boston area, Cora was more than just a former player and manager. He was a genuine hero. And it wasn’t just because he became the first Latino manager for the hometown club and first Puerto Rican to lead a team to a World Series Championship, but it was because of what he did off the field.
What most in my community will never forget is how he used his highly visible and powerful platform as leader of New England’s most storied and prized professional team to help his homeland and his people during one of its worse natural disasters.
It had been more than four months since Hurricane Maria had devastated the island of Cora’s birth, Puerto Rico, and it was only three months since he had become the 47th manager of the Red Sox.
At the end of his negotiations with the team, Cora had one final request.
«He asked for one thing. Not for him or his family. He asked the Red Sox for relief help for the people of Puerto Rico, and specifically for his hometown of Caguas,» explained Sam Kennedy, Red Sox President and CEO.
Shortly thereafter, in January of 2018, the Red Sox and Cora boarded a JetBlue plane filled with almost 10 tons of supplies collected by Cora and the Sox and flew to Caguas, Puerto Rico, where the Red Sox Foundation added to the donation with a $200,000 check for the disaster relief efforts.
Cora returned later in the year to his homeland, but this time he brought along the 2018 World Series Championship trophy, along with a great deal of sheer happiness and pride.
«I was just happy to be able to bring some joy to so many who have been suffering so much. It’s the least I could do», Cora told me at the time.
I could tell then and I can tell you now, Cora was a true hero to those people.
What he did – both times – for his people should never be forgotten or underrated.
I was very happy to see that the Red Sox acknowledged this during their statement yesterday as they mutually parted ways with Cora.
«This is a sad day for us,» said owner John Henry, chairman Tom Werner, and CEO Sam Kennedy in a statement. «Alex is a special personal and beloved member of the Red Sox. We are grateful for his impact on our franchise. We will miss his passion, his energy and his significant contributions to the communities of New England and Puerto Rico.»
I too will fondly remember this part of Cora’s time here in Boston. I hope others will as well.
PS: Cora was mentioned 11 times in a nine-page report by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, and described as a key person in the execution and planning of an elaborate cheating scheme while he was the bench coach for the Houston Astros when they illicitly stole signs and won the 2017 World Series. Yesterday, the Boston Red Sox did not wait for MLB’s investigation to conclude regarding another alleged high-tech sign-stealing plan involving the team and Cora and took action and announced they were mutually parting ways.
