--- title: "Francona Calls Jeter the Best Player, and Person, in Baseball" url: https://ballhyped.net/2012/04/francona-calls-jeter-the-best-player-and-person-in-baseball/ description: "Former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona has a man crush on Derek Jeter, as unbelievable as that my sound to Yankees and Red Sox fans." published: 2012-04-01 updated: 2012-04-01 author: "BallHyped Staff" --- # Francona Calls Jeter the Best Player, and Person, in Baseball By BallHyped Staff · Published 2012-04-01 MLB April 23, 2012 Former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona has a man crush on Derek Jeter, as unbelievable as that my sound to Yankees and Red Sox fans. On Baseball Tonight on Monday, the new ESPN analyst followed up Jeter’s postgame interview with Tim Kurkjian about a new approach to hitting since his 3,000th hit by saying the Yankees captain was the “best player” in Major League Baseball. “I hope Little Leaguers are watching these interviews,” Francona said, “because this is what you want your kids to grow up and be like. This guy’s not just the best player, he’s the best person.” Wow, who would have thought Tito would ever be in Jeter’s corner, but apparently fired Red Sox manager has been a big Jeter fan all along, and said he appreciated the tip of the cap Jeter always gave him prior to their American League East rivalry games. “It meant a lot to me,” Francona said. “Then he tries to beat your brains out (on the field). He just represents the game so well.” Tags: red sox, yankees [Back to MLB](https://ballhyped.net/category/mlb/) MLB more reports ### [Baseball Writers Accurate or Agenda Driven?](https://ballhyped.net/2012/12/baseball-writers-accurate-or-agenda-driven/) This is the time that a lot of baseball fans and critics have been waiting on. For so long, people have talked and… MLB By Terrance Smith · December 3, 2012 ### [World Series Game 2: BallHyped Blogging Live from a Kayak in McCovey Cove](https://ballhyped.net/2012/10/world-series-game-2-ballhyped-blogging-live-from-a-kayak-in-mccovey-cove/) BallHyped will be on hand for Game 2 of the World Series on Tuesday in San Francisco. Keep a look out for us in… MLB By BallHyped Staff · October 24, 2012 ### [A-Rod’s Future? Yankees’ Problems Won’t End There](https://ballhyped.net/2012/10/a-rods-future-yankees-problems-wont-end-there/) At one point, Alex Rodriguez was indeed “untouchable”. 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