New report alleges Terry Francona, Chris Antonetti likely knew about Mickey Callaway’s behavior
Further reporting from The Athletic’s Brittany Ghiroli and Katie Strang has brought to light just how much Cleveland knew about Mickey Callaway’s behavior while with the organization
Last month, The Athletic reported that former Cleveland pitching coach Mickey Callaway was being accused of lewd behavior toward multiple women throughout his coaching career, including extensive abuse while with Cleveland.
Three days later, Cleveland president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti addressed the media, saying he was “disturbed, distraught and saddened” by the allegations, and that he was learning about Mickey’s behavior for the first time in the report.
Today we have learned that was a blatant lie.
The Athletic’s Brittany Ghiroli and Katie Strang have a new report that alleges both Antonetti and manager Terry Francona were aware of a consensual extramarital affair that Mickey Callaway was having with an Arizona woman in 2015 and even discussed it with him at some point. They defended him on multiple occasions to an angry husband who called in to tell the organization about the “pornographic” messages his wife was receiving from Callaway.
At one point, a Cleveland-based attorney brought in by the organization had reportedly offered to have Terry Francona call the husband as some way of making amends. The attorney, in a recording obtained by The Athletic, at one point expressed concern about the husband making the photos and/or videos sent from Callaway public.
Multiple sources are quoted in the report pointing out the hypocrisy of Antonetti’s statements made on Feb. 4. They reiterate that Mickey’s behavior was the “worst-kept secret in the organization.”
Callaway is currently still a member of the Los Angeles Angels organization, but serving a suspension as the team continues to investigate his behavior.
Ed. Note: A previous version of this story indicated that Mickey’s extramarital affair was with a member of the Cleveland organization. That was in error and has been removed.