New Indian Nick Swisher can barely contain his joy over being in Cleveland. CLEVELAND, OHIO -- Steve Swisher stood in the back of the Tribe's press room, smiling as his son, Nick, bubbled and nearly burst with excitement about signing as a free agent outfielder with the Indians.
"I was hoping this would happen," said Steve Swisher, a former major-league catcher for nine seasons. "It's a source of pride to see him in an Indians uniform."
Steve Swisher, 61, lives in Parkersburg, W.Va., where Nick grew up after being born in Columbus. Steve played at Ohio University and was a first round pick of the Chicago White Sox in 1973.
"When Nick called and said that the Indians were interested, I told him that he should be interested in them because of Tito," said Steve.
Tito is the nickname of Terry Francona, the Tribe's new manager.
"I go back way back with Steve," said Francona. "It was 1988. I was in the [Tribe's] farm system at Colorado Springs. My knees were shot. I had been in the big leagues, but had no idea if I'd ever get back.
"Steve was managing and he wouldn't let me quit. He almost beat it out of me. He was so intense, but he kept saying I could do it -- I could get back to the big leagues."
Playing in the Class AAA Pacific Coast League, Francona batted .323 for Steve. He was promoted to the Tribe, and hit .311 in Cleveland. He played only one more year in the majors because of his deteriorating knees -- but he never forgot what Steve meant to his career.
And Steve always remembered the determination and grit of Francona playing on this brittle, aching knees.
"[Francona] is a proven winner," said Steve Swisher. "He is a good communicator, but he also isn't there to kiss your butt. He is there to manage and mentor you. He can motivate, and he has the same passion for the game as Nick."
Obviously, this signing would not have happened unless the Tribe came up with a 4-year, $56 million deal for the former Yankees outfielder. But there have been times when the Tribe was the highest bidder for a free agent, but the player still went elsewhere.
The dollars signaled the Indians were serious about Nick. The recruiting pitch including former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel and others with Buckeye roots who appealed to Swisher, but Francona's presence was the closer.
"You don't bring a guy like this over here if you don't plan on winning," said Nick. "To have that captain of your ship, a proven guy who knows how to manage the game the right way . . . it was an easier decision for me."
Nick is the biggest and most expensive signing in Tribe history. He is not a superstar, but has hit at least 20 home runs in each of the past eight seasons. In the past three seasons, he has averaged 25 homers and 89 RBI.
Francona was right to say, "this is a really big deal" for the Indians.
It is also the type of move the Tribe hoped it would make when hiring Francona. He won two World Series in Boston. After working for ESPN in 2012, Francona said he wanted to work for the Tribe because of his respect and friendship with team President Mark Shapiro and General Manager Chris Antonetti.
The other element is Francona's father -- Tito -- played with the Indians from 1959 to '64. The Francona family is from New Brighton, Pa. The Indians are a special team to him, just as they are to the Swisher family.
A key to Nick's decision was his wife, JoAnna Garcia Swisher. She is an actress who starred in "Reba" and has 44 film/television credits. She grew up in Tampa.
"Whenever Nick played in Cleveland, I came with him," she said. "I like the city and the restaurants. I went to Parkersburg several times to visit his family. Midwestern people are so nice, they always make me feel at home. It's a homey place to me."
She added: "The moment Terry [Francona] was hired, the Indians were on our radar [as a place to sign]."
Nick gushed through his news conference. Having been around the Tribe as a writer since 1980, I've never seen anything quite like it -- someone who is genuinely happy to be here.
Swisher seems to go through life like a man who just gulped down a 5-hour energy drink.
"That's just Nick," said his father. "He loves the game. He knows he's blessed. He knows every day is not perfect day, but he knows that you must respect and love the game every day."
To reach Terry Pluto: terrypluto2003@yahoo.com; 216-999-4674 Previous columns online: cleveland.com/columns