NEW YORK -- Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona was taken to a hospital Wednesday with tightness in his chest and missed his team's afternoon game against the Yankees.
Francona, who turns 46 on April 22, said all morning he was not feeling well, Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said. Before Boston's game against the Yankees, Francona was taken by ambulance to New York Weill-Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan, where he has relationships with several doctors.
"He was taken to the hospital for precautionary tests," Epstein said. "He had all his faculties about him, he was just going for tests."
On Wednesday, Francona was flown from New York to Hanscom Air Force Base, just north of Boston, and then driven to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
He'll be further evaluated there by the Red Sox medical director Dr. Thomas Gill.
It isn't known what caused Francona's chest discomfort or when he'll rejoin the team, but Epstein told ESPN Baseball Tonight's Karl Ravech that Francona did not have a heart attack.
Bench coach Brad Mills filled in for Francona against New York.
Mills, friends with Francona since they were roommates and teammates
at the University of Arizona, was with Francona at the stadium
Wednesday morning.
"He just felt a little tightness in his chest," Mills said. He
was a little concerned, there's no doubt. He told me, 'Don't worry
about me. I'm going to be OK.' "
Epstein, who left the ballpark and went to the
hospital to be with Francona, said Francona was upbeat.
"He wishes he was at the ballpark," he said.
Francona took the 8 a.m. team bus to Yankee Stadium and began his routine, even fulfilling media obligations, despite not feeling well.
Epstein said the Yankees made all of their staff available to Francona. Gill was monitoring Francona's condition by phone from Boston, and team trainer Jim Rowe accompanied the manager to the hospital.
Epstein informed the team about Francona after the second Red Sox bus arrived at the stadium around 10:30 a.m.
"It was scary because you're talking about real-life stuff, you're not talking about wins and losses," Boston first baseman Kevin Millar said.
Francona, who led the Red Sox to their first World Series championship in 86 years in his first season as manager, had
experienced chest pains before -- a side effect of life-threatening
blood clots that developed from a knee operation.
Ten days after having knee surgery in 2002, he was in Seattle interviewing for the Mariners' managing job when he experienced
severe chest pains.
Upon his return home, Francona said, doctors discovered a blood
clot had gone to his lungs. He was given blood thinners and the
problem was thought to be under control, but complications
developed. He had staph infections in both knees, which required
four more operations, he said, and then developed serious
hemorrhaging in his leg that ultimately required an additional two
operations.
He was sent home after Thanksgiving, but more clotting ensued
and he was hospitalized until Christmas Eve. In all, he said, he
underwent eight operations to deal with the problem. On more than
one occasion, he said, the situation was life-threatening.
Francona played 10 years in the major leagues as a first baseman
and outfielder. He had already had 11 knee operations when he went
in for the arthroscopic procedure in November 2002.
Francona also managed the Philadelphia Phillies from 1997-2000.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.