Most people do not realize the age Mets first baseman Julio Franco. Julio Cesar Franco was born in the Dominican Republic on Aug 23, 1958. At 48 Franco is the oldest player in the Major Leagues, in fact he begin his Major League career with the Phillies in 1982 before two of his teammates (Jose Reyes & David Wright) were even born. The soft spoken Franco is not the most popular player in the league and does not run around blowing his own horn. He signed his first professional contract in 1979. He has made millions of dollars and had his share of moments in the sun, however his career has not been a bed a roses either.
After only playing 16 games in his rookie year (1982), Franco established himself as one of the best hitters in baseball from 1983 to 1994. During this time he won four silver slugger awards, made the All-star team in 1989-1991, was voted MVP of 1989 All-star game and won the American League batting title in 1991. During these 12 years Franco had hit over .300 six times and collected 1,922 hits.
In 1992 he was hurt and only appeared in 35 games. However in 1993 Franco rebounded and hit .289 while playing everyday for the Texas Rangers. In 1994 Franco was off to the best start of his career hitting .319 with 20 home runs and 98 RBI'S when the season was canceled due to the players strike. He returned home to the Dominican Republic disappointed his season had ended that way.
Figuring the strike would continue through the 1995 season Franco packed up his bags and went to Japan to play the 1995 season with the Chiba Lotte Marines. The Japanese league is regarded as the second best league in the world, with a level of play considered to be FOUR A, somewhere between the highest minor league class of AAA and the Major Leagues. While playing for former Rangers manager Bobby Valentine, Franco pounded the pitchers in the far east, he also won a gold glove in the Japanese League. Franco later said the only reason why he went to Japan was because he though the 1995 Major League season would be canceled due to the players strike and he just wanted to play baseball.
After only playing 16 games in his rookie year (1982), Franco established himself as one of the best hitters in baseball from 1983 to 1994. During this time he won four silver slugger awards, made the All-star team in 1989-1991, was voted MVP of 1989 All-star game and won the American League batting title in 1991. During these 12 years Franco had hit over .300 six times and collected 1,922 hits.
In 1992 he was hurt and only appeared in 35 games. However in 1993 Franco rebounded and hit .289 while playing everyday for the Texas Rangers. In 1994 Franco was off to the best start of his career hitting .319 with 20 home runs and 98 RBI'S when the season was canceled due to the players strike. He returned home to the Dominican Republic disappointed his season had ended that way.
Figuring the strike would continue through the 1995 season Franco packed up his bags and went to Japan to play the 1995 season with the Chiba Lotte Marines. The Japanese league is regarded as the second best league in the world, with a level of play considered to be FOUR A, somewhere between the highest minor league class of AAA and the Major Leagues. While playing for former Rangers manager Bobby Valentine, Franco pounded the pitchers in the far east, he also won a gold glove in the Japanese League. Franco later said the only reason why he went to Japan was because he though the 1995 Major League season would be canceled due to the players strike and he just wanted to play baseball.
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