RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Keith Foulke , a hero to Boston Red Sox Nation for getting the final out in the 2004 World Series to break the 86-year-old Curse of the Bambino, was looking forward to his role as manager of the Boston Hunters in the inaugural season of the Women’s Pro Baseball League , which is playing exclusively in Springfield at Robin Roberts Stadium.
His tenure lasted all of three games.
In an interview with The State Journal-Register on Tuesday, Aug. 11, Foulke did his best to keep his words polite and professional regarding his ouster. But it’s clear he believes the league gave him a raw deal.
“It’s just disappointing,” Foulke said. “At the end of the day, I walk with my head held high. I didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t say anything derogatory, I didn’t say anything mean to my players, ever. I was always really positive. I think the ownership just kind of had a change of mind on the schedule that we’d agreed upon. I was the manager, but I wasn’t going to be able to be there full time, and ultimately, they didn’t think that was a good plan.”
Before Saturday’s game with the New York Heights, Foulke was informed by league ownership — led by Keith Stein, along with commissioner Justine Siegal — they were relieving him of his duties.
The league sent a press release Sunday which announced Los Angeles Queens assistant coach Jemile Weeks' appointment to the Hunters and lauded his baseball experience and also thanked Foulke for his time with the league. A follow-up email to media members said Weeks would not answer questions about Foulke during his next press availability.
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Siegal later described the move as a “baseball decision," nothing more, and described Foulke as a good person who she wished well. The league said Tuesday it would not comment further on its decision.
As part of his contract, Foulke said, he would be allowed to make an occasional trip to his Arizona home to be with his recently-married wife, Jen, and his children. Foulke said the contract was approved by Stein.
However, Foulke now believes, that arrangement wasn’t made clear to Siegal or the rest of the league. That, he believes, began some second-guessing behind his back — though Foulke declined to name names.
“I think there was a discrepancy between what I consider to be a pro level and what some other people are used to,” said Foulke, whose MLB career spanned from 1997-2008. “There were things that (Stein) and I had to work out, to make sure that it worked for everybody. He was excited and was very patient, because I had to get some things worked out at home. We were very up front with each other.”
Calling himself “an outspoken guy," Foulke did say that he thought the talent levels for the other three teams in the league were higher than the Hunters' team that was drafted. For instance, the Hunters had three teenage players, while other teams had more accomplished veterans.
Foulke said he made those comments in private, away from his players, but that someone relayed them to the players behind his back. What Foulke might have believed was just some “manager talk" — where every manager has a gripe about something — was blown out of proportion. He believes he was always encouraging to his players and was eager to teach them more about the game.
“A half hour before our game, I get told they want a new direction. We had just won our first game. But here’s the thing: they said something at that moment about maybe wanting to keep me on as a consultant with the league,” Foulke said. “I just said, ‘This is a lot for me to digest right now. You’re firing me and offering me a job in the same breath?’ I said, ‘that’s a lot to take in right now. I can’t deal with that.’”
An effort to reach Siegal for further comment was unsuccessful.
Foulke said he was already back in Arizona and “painting the kitchen on my wife’s orders.”
“Look, I wish the team well and I wish the league well. I do,” Foulke said.
And, Foulke is able to laugh a little, even now.
“My phone has been blowing up with my friends in baseball saying, ‘How do you get fired after three games, Foulkie?’ I said, 'It takes a special talent,'" he said.
Adrian Dater is a freelance writer for The State Journal-Register. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Red Sox legend responds as WPBL fired him from Boston Hunters after 3 games
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