The remarkable Julio Franco

[Pringle]

While watching the game last night, it struck me what an amazing story Julio Franco is. Has it been somewhat undercovered nationally? The guy is 48 and getting big-time minutes for a probable World Series team ... are we just queezy about age-related feats because of what we've learned the last few years? I've yet to see a definitive Franco feech, and you'd think his story would be fascinating. The guy was playing in 1982!

You'd have to go back to like Jack Quinn in the '30s to find someone this old playing this well.

Hell, Bob Gibson was the oldest guy in the National League when he was 39.

 

[Chef]

Steroids.

Julio is on the juice.

 

[Killick]

Steroids.

Julio is on the juice.

yeah, prune juice.

 

[Pastor]

Steroids.

Julio is on the juice.

yeah, prune juice.

Well, that can be listed as a performance enhancer of sorts.

 

[Starman]

Franco is the last major league professional athlete older than me.

:'( :'( :'( :'(

 

[tarheelgamecock]

There's a good bit of stuff on the Web about Franco and his regimen (do a Google search for julio franco diet). I think Rick Reilly did something on him a few years back.

This was from August...
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-franco082306&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Also...
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/01/sports/baseball/01mets.html?ex=1298869200&en=7f336ca9b512ea4e&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

 

[Trouser_Buddah]

Not trying to pile on, starman, but that will be a kick in the head for me when that happens

 

[Blitz]

Julio Franco, Kenny Rogers and Odibe McDowell were supposed to lead the early-90s Rangers to the Big Dance.

 

[Blitz]

Later, when the team was floundering as usual, gold-chain-laden Oil Can Boyd was hastily signed.

 

[Pancamo]

Julio Franco, Kenny Rogers and Odibe McDowell were supposed to lead the early-90s Rangers to the Big Dance.

not mcdowell, sierra. mcdowell left the rangers in the '80's.

 

[Claws for Concern]

I have his rookie card. It's from the Honus Wagner tobacco card series. ;D

 

[Double J]

He's got a way to go before he's in Gordie Howe's longetivity league. He played 32 seasons of top-level pro hockey between 1946 and 1980 and retired at age 52.

 

[HejiraHenry]

He probably is 52, already.

 

[slappy4428]

It is nice to see an old Julio be successful for a change.

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

Aside from him being on an LCS team, which has more to do with other people than singularly him, there's nothing you could write about Franco now that you couldn't have written a year or two ago.

 

[Football_Bat]

The question should be ... if Julio stays active long enough to get to 3K hits ...


Is he a HOFer? Or did he queer the deal by playing longer than his prostate did?

 

[buckweaver]

The question should be ... if Julio stays active long enough to get to 3K hits ...


Is he a HOFer? Or did he queer the deal by playing longer than his prostate did?

Not. A. Chance.

Never considered the best player on his own team, let alone his position or the league or the era, at any point in his career.

One batting title, 2,500 hits are his only credentials. And the latter is only because he played until he was about 50. That's not nearly, nearly enough to warrant consideration for Cooperstown.

Still a great story. And by all accounts, a great guy.

 

[BYH]

The question should be ... if Julio stays active long enough to get to 3K hits ...


Is he a HOFer? Or did he queer the deal by playing longer than his prostate did?

Not. A. Chance.

Never considered the best player on his own team, let alone his position or the league or the era, at any point in his career.

One batting title, 2,500 hits are his only credentials. And the latter is only because he played until he was about 50. That's not nearly, nearly enough to warrant consideration for Cooperstown.

Still a great story. And by all accounts, a great guy.

He probably would have made things really interesting if he'd played in the majors in 1995 and most of 1998-2001 instead of in various other countries.

Fortunately, no one's tested my "3,000 hits is a lock" theory yet. Take that, Harold Baines (2,866)!!! And Steve Finley (2,531) will need nearly four more seasons similiar to this one (105 hits) to reach 3,000. And even if he's found the "fountain of youth" *cough* friends with Barry Bonds and played in roid central in Houston in the '90s *cough cough* he'll have a hard time doing that until he's 45.

 

[Football_Bat]

Julio= 2,566 hits.

I thought he was farther up the food chain. In that case, never mind.

Now, if he played to age 52 and got there ....

 

[Columbo]

The question should be ... if Julio stays active long enough to get to 3K hits ...


Is he a HOFer? Or did he queer the deal by playing longer than his prostate did?

Not. A. Chance.

Never considered the best player on his own team, let alone his position or the league or the era, at any point in his career.

One batting title, 2,500 hits are his only credentials. And the latter is only because he played until he was about 50. That's not nearly, nearly enough to warrant consideration for Cooperstown.

Still a great story. And by all accounts, a great guy.

He's not gonna reach 3,000 hits, so it's moot.

But I believe that however you get 3,000 hits is incredible enough of a feat to get you in.