Wikipedia

Julio Franco

For other people named Julio Franco, seeJulio Franco (disambiguation).

In thisSpanish name,the first or paternalsurnameisFrancoand the second or maternal family name isRobles.

Julio César Franco Robles(born August 23, 1958)[1][note 1]is aDominicanformerprofessional baseballinfielder andcoach.He spent most of his playing career inMajor League Baseball(MLB), entering the major leagues in1982and last appearing in2007,at which time he was the oldest active big league player. During that stretch, Franco also spent two seasons playing inNippon Professional Baseball(NPB) and one season playing in the KBO.

Julio Franco
Franco with the New York Mets in 2007
Infielder/Designated hitter
Born:(1958-08-23)August 23, 1958(age 66)
Hato Mayor del Rey,Dominican Republic
Batted:Right
Threw:Right
Professional debut
MLB:April 23, 1982, for the Philadelphia Phillies
NPB:April 1, 1995, for the Chiba Lotte Marines
Last appearance
NPB:October 11, 1998, for the Chiba Lotte Marines
MLB:September 17, 2007, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics
Batting average.298
Hits2,586
Home runs173
Runs batted in1,194
NPB statistics
Batting average.298
Home runs28
Runs batted in135
KBO statistics
Batting average.327
Home runs22
Runs batted in110
StatsatBaseball ReferenceEdit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards

While Franco was an All-Star and posted above-average hitting statistics throughout his career, he is best known for being the oldest regular position player in MLB history. Franco was the all-time hits leader among Dominican-born players until surpassed in 2011 byVladimir Guerrero.He made his MLB debut as ashortstopfor thePhiladelphia Phillies.During his long career, Franco saw significant time as a shortstop,second baseman,first baseman,anddesignated hitter.At the time of his final game, he was the last MLB player born in the 1950s.

Early life

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Franco was born inHato Mayorin the Dominican Republic. As a child, he lived inConsuelo, San Pedro de Macorís,a poor municipality 50 miles east ofSanto Domingo.[2]He attended Divine Providence School in Consuelo.[3]

Career

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Minor league career

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Signed by the Philadelphia Phillies organization on April 23, 1978, as an amateur free agent, Franco reported to the Rookie-levelButte Copper Kings.In each of five minor league seasons, he hit for abatting averageof at least.300. Franco was promoted through the Philadelphia minor league system each year, reaching the Class AAAOklahoma City 89ersin 1982 and batting.300 and hitting 21 home runs in 120 games.[4]

Early MLB career

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Franco debuted in the major leagues in 1982, playing 16 games with thePhillies.He was one of five Phillies along withManny Trillo,George Vukovich,Jerry WillardandJay Ballerwho were traded to theCleveland IndiansforVon Hayesat theWinter Meetingson December 9, 1982.[5]

1983 was Franco's first full season in the majors. In 149 games, he batted.273 with 153 hits.[6]He finished second inAL Rookie of the Yearvoting, trailing onlyRon Kittle.[7]

In June 1986, Franco received a two-game suspension from the Indians after he arrived at the ballpark but then left before the game started. Indians managerPat Corralessaid that Franco left due to a personal problem, but he said that Franco had left without permission and that he had already been given a warning after missing a game in 1985.[8]

Franco hit over.300 in every season from 1986 to 1989. He also averaged over 20stolen basesper season from 1983 through 1991. When he switched from shortstop tosecond basein 1988, he won four straightSilver Slugger Awards.Franco batted with a long whip-like swing with the heaviest bat allowed. Because of his batting style, Franco twice led theAmerican Leaguein grounding intodouble playsand was in the top-ten in that category seven times in the 1980s. He is seventh on the all-time list in ground-ball double plays and has just over 300.[9]

In December 1988, during baseball'sWinter Meetings,Franco was traded from Cleveland to theTexas Rangers,who were in need of an everyday second baseman. The Rangers gave up first basemanPete O'Brien,and two prospects,Oddibe McDowellandJerry Browne.The Rangers had acquired first basemanRafael Palmeirothe day before, andThe New York Timessaid that the Rangers' lineup might allow Franco to bat fifth, a batting order slot that could increase his number ofruns batted in(RBI).[10]

With Texas, Franco was named to all three of hisAll-Starteams: in 1989, 1990 and 1991, and he won theMajor League Baseball All-Star Game MVP Awardin 1990. In the 1990 All-Star game, Franco came to bat in the 7th inning againstRob Dibbleof theCincinnati Reds.Franco drove a 101 mphfastballto the right-center field fence for adouble,scoring the only runs of the game.

In 1991, Franco had his only 200-hit season and won theAmerican Leaguebatting title.His.341 average was nine points higher than that of futureBaseball Hall of FamememberWade Boggs.[11]A 1992 knee injury limited him to 33 games that season and fundamentally ended Franco's time as a middle infielder, playing only 35 more games at 2B the remainder of his career.[12]Franco later said that the injury helped him to realize the importance of taking care of his physical condition.[13]He spent 1993 as a designated hitter before opting to become afree agentand signing with theChicago White Sox.

Strike and baseball abroad

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In 1994, as a member of the Chicago White Sox, Franco had already hit 20home runsfor the only time in his career and was on pace to reach 100runs batted infor the only time in his career when the remainder of the season was canceled by the1994–95 Major League Baseball strike.Franco went on to win his fifth Silver Slugger Award and first as aDesignated hitter.On December 28, 1994, Franco signed to play in Japan with theChiba Lotte Marinesin thePacific League.Chiba Lotte had the best season in its history in 1995, and Franco won the Japanese equivalent of theGold Glove Awardas a first baseman.

After the 1995 season in Japan, Franco signed with the Cleveland Indians, where he was a fan favorite. In 1996, he batted.322 with 76 RBIs even in an injury-shortened season, and played in his first postseason. Early in the 1997 season, Franco hit a hard line drive back to the pitcher's mound which struckDetroit TigerspitcherWillie Blair;the pitcher missed four weeks of the season with abroken jaw.[14]In August 1997, the Indians released Franco. He quickly signed with theMilwaukee Brewers.

In 1998, Franco was back in Japan playing for Chiba Lotte. The following year, he returned to North America, in theMexican Leaguewith a.423 average in 93 games (and also astrikeoutin his only MLBat batwith theTampa Bay Devil Rays). In 2000, Franco was back in Asia but, this time, inSouth Koreato play for theSamsung Lions.He returned again to the Mexican League in 2001.

Return to the majors

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Franco with the Atlanta Braves in 2002

In September 2001, Franco was a 43-year-old who had just one major league at bat in the previous three seasons. Despite his lengthy absence, theAtlanta Braves,after seeing his success in the Mexican League, purchased his contract from theAngelopolis (Mexico City) Tigers.Franco played well defensively as a first baseman and was a good hitter against left-handedpitchers.The Braves re-signed him after that season and each of the next three.

Franco was talking in the weight room in August 2003 withJason Marquis,when he leaned on a stand and an 80-pound weight rolled over his finger, breaking it. "When the weight started to roll," Franco said, "I said, 'Uh-oh.'"[15]

In 2004, Franco passedCap Ansonas the oldest regularly playing position player in MLB history. (A few regularly playing pitchers, includingknuckleballersPhil NiekroandHoyt Wilhelm,were older than Franco, and Leroy “Satchel” Paige was reportedly 57, and a few non-pitchers, likeMinnie MiñosoandJim O'Rourke,appeared as publicity stunts at old ages but did not play regularly.)

On December 8, 2005, at age 47, Franco signed a two-year contract with the Mets.

Franco had been theoldest player in the major leaguesfrom 2004 to 2007, and was the last active player who was born in the 1950s. On April 20, 2006, pinch-hitting with one out in the eighth inning against theSan Diego Padres,Franco hit a go-ahead two-run home run, becoming the oldest player in Major League history to hit a home run. Franco hit a three-run homer on September 30, 2006, in Washington to extend his own record. It was one of three hits in the game for Franco, who fell a triple short of hitting for the cycle. Franco yet again bested himself on May 4, 2007, when he homered into the swimming pool atChase FieldagainstArizona DiamondbacksleftyRandy Johnson— a game in which he also stole a base.

Franco was also the oldest player ever to hit agrand slam,apinch-hithome run, two home runs in one game, and to steal two bases in a game. On April 26, 2006, Franco became the second-oldest man in MLB history to steal a base, behind onlyArlie Latham,who accomplished the feat in a token appearance at age 49 with theNew York Giantsin 1909. On July 29, 2006, against the Atlanta Braves, Franco became the oldest player ever to pinch run, when he came in forCarlos Delgadoafter Delgado washit by pitch.On September 19, 2006, a day after the Mets clinched the division title, Franco started atthird basein a game against theFlorida Marlins.This was Franco's first start at the position since his rookie year, marking 24 years between starts at the position.[16]

Franco struggled with the Mets in 2007, achieving just a.200batting average(in only 50 at-bats in half a season). Franco grew unhappy with insufficient playing time before being designated for assignment on July 12.[17]He subsequently re-signed with theAtlanta Braveson July 18 and was placed on the team's active roster. In his first game since re-signing with the Braves, he went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and received two standing ovations in a Braves 10–1 rout of the Cardinals. On August 1, just 13 days after the Braves signed him, the Braves designated Franco for assignment after the team acquiredMark Teixeirafrom theTexas Rangers.He accepted a minor league assignment on August 8 and was called back up as promised on September 1.

Franco declared free agency on October 29, 2007. Franco began the 2008 season — his 31st in professional baseball — as a first baseman for the Tigres de Quintana Roo (Cancún) in theMexican League.[18]

After the Mexican League

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On May 2, 2008, Franco officially announced his retirement from baseball to his Mexican League team, the Quintana Roo Tigers. An official announcement was released the next day. Franco said that retiring was the hardest decision he had ever made, but he pointed to his decreasing production as a player and said that he felt like it was time to retire.[19]

Franco was hired in March 2009 as the manager of the rookie-levelGulf Coast League Mets.[20]In Franco's only season managing the team, they posted a record of 22 wins and 34 losses.[4]In 2010–2011, Franco managed a winter league team, theCaribes de Anzoátegui,in theVenezuelan Professional Baseball League.He led the team to its first league championship in 20 years. He returned to the team the following season, but he was fired after the team started with a 28–28win–loss record.[21]Soon thereafter, Franco was hired as the manager of thePericos de Pueblafor the 2012 Mexican League season.[22]In two seasons with Puebla, he led the team to 110 wins and 104 losses.[4]

Franco appeared on theBaseball Hall of Fameballot in 2013. Paul White ofUSA Todaywrote that while Franco was a consistent player over a long career, he was rarely dominant. White wrote that Franco's statistics were inferior to other Baseball Hall of Fame second basemen.[23]Franco received six Hall of Fame votes (1.1% of the total ballots), an insufficient total to appear on the next year's ballot.[24]

Return to baseball

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On May 16, 2014, theFort Worth CatsofUnited League Baseballannounced that Franco had been signed for the 2014 season.[25][better source needed]He went 6-for-27 in seven games.[26]

On February 8, 2015,Ishikawa Million Starsof the professional JapaneseIndependent baseball leagueBaseball Challenge Leagueannounced that Franco had been signed as a player-manager for the 2015 season.[26][27]Franco said that he did not think he would appear often as a player, but 14 games into the season, Franco had played in ten games owing to an injury to a key player.[28]

Second coaching stint

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Franco was part of the coaching staff for theLotte Giantsof the KBO League from 2016–2020.[29]

On February 5, 2022, Franco returned to theMexican Leagueas he was named hitting coach of theAcereros de Monclova.[30]

Career statistics

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In 2,527 games over 23 major league seasons, Franco posted a.298batting average(2,586-for-8,677) with 1,285runs,407doubles,54triples,173home runs,1,194RBI,281stolen bases,917bases on balls,.365on-base percentageand.417slugging percentage.He finished his career with a.978fielding percentageplaying primarily at shortstop, second and first base. In 31 postseason games, he batted.224 (22-for-98) with nine runs, two home runs, six RBI and six walks.[3]

Awards and highlights

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  • Three-timeAll-Star(1989–1991)
  • MVP All-Star Game(1990)
  • LedAmerican Leagueinbatting average(.341, 1991)
  • Led AL in singles (156, 1991)
  • Second in the AL Rookie of the Year selection (1983, behind Ron Kittle)
  • Led AL inat-bats(658, 1984)
  • Top 10MVPselection (8th, AL, 1994)
  • Carolina League MVP(1980)
  • Twice hit over.400 in the Mexican League (.423, 1999;.437, 2000)
  • Oldest player to hit aGrand Slam(47, 2005, breaking his own record set in 2004 at 45)
  • Oldest regularly playing non-pitcher player in MLB history (48)
  • Second-oldest player to appear in MLB postseason play (48, during the 2006 postseason)
  • Oldest player in Major League history to hit a home run (48)
  • Second-oldest player to steal a base (48, during the 2007 season)
  • Led all Dominican players in MLB history in seasons, games, at-bats, hits, and bases on balls
  • 4,000 Professional Hit Club:Has compiled over 4,200 hits in his 26-year professional career, making him one of only eight known players with at least 4,000 professional hits (the others beingPete Rose,Ty Cobb,Hank Aaron,Jigger Statz,Stan Musial,Derek Jeter,andIchiro Suzuki).[31]
  • As of 2006, Julio Franco was the only active player to face a pitcher who pitched against Hall of FamerTed Williams,who retired in 1960. The pitcher isJim Kaat,who played in the majors from 1959 to 1983. Williams had batted against Kaat the final day of the 1959 season, Kaat's rookie year. Kaat walked Franco in the latter's rookie season in 1982.[32]
  • Franco is the only MLB player known to have hit a home run with his grandson in attendance.[33]
  • Franco was the sixth batter thatRoger Clemensever faced, and when the two faced each other on June 15, 2007, they became the oldest batter-pitcher pair in the major leagues since October 1, 1933.[34]

Personal life

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Franco is a practicing Christian. In a 2005 interview with theBaptist Press,he said, "I’ve been a Christian for 15 years," and added, "I want to play until I’m 50 years old. I know that my body is the temple of theHoly Spiritand I want to keep my body healthy. I believe the key to that is discipline and obedience.”[35]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^Franco's birth date is in question. Many of his early bios and cards have his birthday listed in 1954, and on the roster of the Quintana Roo Tigres, his birthday is listed in 1961.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^"Julio Franco Career Stats - MLB".ESPN.RetrievedFebruary 14,2024.
  2. ^McCarthy, Colman (June 28, 2003)."Through baseball, nun really connects".The Washington Post.RetrievedJanuary 25,2016.
  3. ^ab"Julio Franco Stats".Baseball-Reference.com.Sports Reference LLC.RetrievedJanuary 25,2016.
  4. ^abc"Julio Franco Minor & Mexican Leagues Statistics".Baseball-Reference.com.Sports Reference LLC.RetrievedJanuary 25,2016.
  5. ^"Phillies Trade Trillo for Hayes,"The New York Times,Friday, December 10, 1982.Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  6. ^https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/francju01.shtml
  7. ^https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1983.shtml#all_AL_ROY_voting
  8. ^Dias, Roberto."UPI Archives: The Cleveland Indians Monday suspended shortstop Julio Franco for..."United Press International.RetrievedJanuary 29,2016.
  9. ^ "Career Leaders for Grounded into Double Plays".baseball-reference.com. June 19, 2007.RetrievedJune 20,2007.
  10. ^Chass, Murray (December 7, 1988)."Rangers obtain Franco from Indians in four-player trade".The New York Times.RetrievedJanuary 29,2016.
  11. ^"1991 MLB Batting Leaders: Batting Average".baseball-reference.com.RetrievedApril 24,2020.
  12. ^"Julio Franco: Standard Fielding".baseball-reference.com.RetrievedApril 24,2020.
  13. ^Harvey, Coley M. (August 23, 2005)."Franco ages like fine wine".MLB.com.RetrievedJanuary 26,2016.
  14. ^Kurkjian, Tim (September 18, 2012)."Getting hit by a batted ball".ESPN.Archived fromthe originalon September 6, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 26,2016.
  15. ^Stark, Jayson (August 20, 2003)."Watch your step as crazy stuff is happening".ESPN.com.
  16. ^ "Makeshift Mets clip Marlins behind Glavine's strong start".ESPN.com.September 19, 2006. Archived fromthe originalon December 15, 2018.RetrievedJune 20,2007.
  17. ^Noble, Marty (July 12, 2007)."Mets designate Franco for assignment".MLB.com.
  18. ^Chass, Murray (March 30, 2008)."Nearing 50, Franco Still Going Strong in Mexican League"– via NYTimes.com.
  19. ^"Baseball: Julio Franco, 49, ends 23-year career".The Honolulu Advertiser.May 3, 2008.RetrievedJanuary 25,2016.
  20. ^"Mets bringing back Julio Franco... as minor league manager".SILive.com.Associated Press.March 16, 2009.RetrievedJanuary 26,2016.
  21. ^Fernandez, Jose Manuel (December 21, 2011)."Caribes despidió al manager Julio Franco".El Universal(in Spanish).RetrievedJanuary 26,2016.
  22. ^"Julio Franco dirigirá a Pericos de Puebla"(in Spanish).ESPN Deportes.January 12, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 27,2016.
  23. ^White, Paul (December 28, 2012)."Hall candidate: Ageless Julio Franco has a unique resume".USA Today.RetrievedJanuary 25,2016.
  24. ^"2013 Hall of Fame Voting".Baseball-Reference.com.Sports Reference LLC.RetrievedJanuary 25,2016.
  25. ^Dwelle, Nathan (May 16, 2014)."THE AGELESS JULIO FRANCO TO PLAY FOR THE FORT WORTH CATS IN OPENING HOME STAND".fwcats.com.Archived fromthe originalon May 16, 2014.RetrievedMay 16,2014.
  26. ^abHongo, Jun.Julio Franco, 56 years old, joins a Japan team as player-manager.Wall Street Journal.February 9, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  27. ^Fehr, Israel.Julio Franco is still playing baseball at age 56.Yahoo! Sports.February 9, 2015. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  28. ^"Julio Franco a player-manager in Japan:" I don't see myself out of baseball "".USA Today.May 10, 2015.RetrievedJanuary 25,2016.
  29. ^"'깜짝' 롯데, tiền 삼성 프랑코 2군 타격 코치 선임 ".sports.news.naver.com(in Korean).RetrievedJune 15,2020.
  30. ^"ACEREROS SUMA AL ESTELAR JULIO FRANCO A SU CUERPO TÉCNICO".acereros.com.mx(in Spanish). February 5, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 7,2022.
  31. ^Caple, Jim (August 21, 2013)."Caple: The incomparable Ichiro's hit total".ESPN.
  32. ^Caple, Jim."Page 2: Keep the owners out of the Hall".ESPN.
  33. ^Mooney, Michael, J. (September 15, 2015)."At 57, Julio Franco can't quit playing baseball".ESPN.RetrievedJanuary 2,2019.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  34. ^"Perez lifts Mets to shutout win over Clemens, Yanks".ESPN.June 16, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon February 14, 2024.
  35. ^"'05 Atlanta Braves team marked by men of faith ".Baptist Press.May 3, 2005.
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