Emotional clash: Blue Jays CEO Shapiro faces Indians in ALCS

FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2016, file photo, Toronto Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro watches the first official spring training baseball workout in Dunedin, Fla. Shapiro is the man in the middle of the ALCS. Toronto’s president and CEO spent half of his professional baseball life with the Indians before leaving them last year to join the Blue Jays. Now, with both teams meeting with a chance to make the World Series, Shapiro made it clear he’ll always have deep fondness for Cleveland, but all that affection will be gone as soon as the first pitch is thrown in Game 1. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP, File) FILE - In this Feb. 22, 2016, file photo, Toronto Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro watches the first official spring training baseball workout in Dunedin, Fla. Shapiro is the man in the middle of the ALCS. Toronto’s president and CEO spent half of his professional baseball life with the Indians before leaving them last year to join the Blue Jays. Now, with both teams meeting with a chance to make the World Series, Shapiro made it clear he’ll always have deep fondness for Cleveland, but all that affection will be gone as soon as the first pitch is thrown in Game 1. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

By Associated Press October 12, 2016 5 min read

CLEVELAND (AP) – Mark Shapiro’s love for Cleveland and its people runs deep, personally and professionally.

It’s where the Toronto Blue Jays’ president and CEO began his career, raised his family and helped orchestrate a baseball renaissance in the 1990s that’s enjoying a 21st-century revival. In many ways, it will always be home for Shapiro.

Over the past few months, Shapiro has enjoyed from afar seeing Cleveland celebrate this summer as the Cavaliers won an NBA title, ending a half-century drought for the city, and he’s watched with pride as Indians fans rallied around a team that has been overlooked – even in October.

It’s been some ride.

“I just feel bad that we’re going to have to put an end to it,” he said with a chuckle over the phone on Wednesday.