Terry Francona was ushered into the interview room Wednesday moments after managing the Indians into the World Series, so he was late arriving to their postgame celebration. He walked into the clubhouse just as players stopped spraying champagne and started speaking to the media.

The Indians actually struggled to get the party started. It was if they weren’t exactly sure what to do after beating the Blue Jays and winning the American League Championship Series. For a while, each time they were ready to uncork the bubbly in unison, they realized somebody was missing from their circle.

Francona’s absence, strangely, was overlooked.

It was just as well, as far as he was concerned. To him, the pennant was for the band of brothers in the clubhouse and the City of Cleveland. The Tribe, who had the 23rd-highest payroll when the season began, ran away with the AL Central, swept the Red Sox and dumped the Jays in five games.

“I’m honored that we’re going to the World Series,” Francona said after eliminating Toronto. “We always said, if we could do it with this group, it would be so special. This is as close to a family feel as you can get in a professional setting. For that part of it, it’s beyond feeling good. The only personal things are the relationships.”