SPOILER ALERT \u2013 A HINT AS TO WHAT THIS BLOG POST is ALL ABOUT<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

On July 29, 2006, the Mets\u2019 Julio Franco became the oldest player ever put into an MLB game as a pinch runner (47 years, 340 days).\u00a0\u00a0 In that contest, the Mets’ first baseman and cleanup hitter Carlos Delgado was hit by a pitch in the top of the third inning in the New Yorkers’ 11-3 win at Atlanta.\u00a0 Franco came in as a pinch runner (stayed in at first base, going two-for-three) and promptly stole second base, going to third on an errant throw.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Four days ago (July 7), my home town Minnesota Twins signed 44-year-old RHP Bartolo Colon<\/strong><\/span> to a minor league contract with hopes that he could work his way into the Minnesota rotation.\u00a0 That is not as \u201clong\u201d a shot as one might think. While Colon was just 2-8 (8.14 ERA) with the Braves this season, from 2013 (his age-40 season) to 2016, the big right-hander was 62-40, 3.59 and twice an All Star (2013 and 2016).<\/p>\n

<\/a>

Julio Franco – Old Guys rule and he is their king!<\/p><\/div>\n

As happens so often (even more now that I am approaching another \u201clandmark\u201d birthday), this piece of current baseball news led me to reflect on a past baseball occurrence.\u00a0 In this case, it was balloting for the 2013 Baseball Hall of Fame class \u2013 in which no players were elected<\/em> \u2013 and, in which, Julio Franco<\/strong> <\/span>(a 23-season major leaguer, with 2,586 hits and a .298 career average) got only six (1.1 percent) votes. \u00a0That made Franco a \u201cone-and-done\u201d HOF candidate (at least until his name comes up for Era Committee consideration).<\/p>\n

In the meantime, BBRT would like to make a blatant pitch \u2013 Julio Franco for the Baseball Reliquary Shrine of the Eternals.<\/strong><\/span> \u00a0For those of you not familiar with The Baseball Reliquary \u2013 a unique, fan-focused, baseball organization \u2013 click here<\/a> for information on the Reliquary, its Shrine of the Eternals and the upcoming 2017 \u201censhrinement\u201d ceremonies (2:00 p.m., July 17 at the Pasadena (CA) Central Library). \u00a0Note: If you are a baseball fan and not a Baseball Reliquary member, I highly recommend joining.<\/em><\/p>\n

Now, for that blatant pitch.\u00a0 Just what is it that makes Julio Franco so special? \u00a0For one thing, when he was Bartolo Colon\u2019s age (44), Franco still had five major league seasons left in his bat and glove.\u00a0 By virtue of that longevity \u2013 and his status as a truly professional hitter – Franco holds a host of MLB \u201coldest to\u201d offensive marks. \u00a0For another, Franco’s professional (not just major league) playing career stretches from his teens into his mid-50s. Finally, he took his steady bat around the world – playing in the U.S., Japan, Mexico, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Korea. \u00a0Side thought: If you were an MLB general manager and someone brought you a player guaranteed to deliver a .298 average over 23-seasons, how quickly would you sign him?<\/em><\/p>\n

TWENTY FOR TWENTY-FIVE \u2026 NOT TOO BAD<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Only 25 Major League home runs have been hit by players who have passed their 45^{th<\/sup> birthday \u2013 and Julio Franco hit 20 of them. Cap Anson had three (all in 1897 \u2013 the year of his 45th<\/sup> birthday); Jack Quinn had one (in 1930, just shy of his 47th<\/sup> birthday); and Carlton Fisk had one (in 1993 at 45-years, 102-days old).<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n}

Consider the long -ball records held by the ageless Franco:<\/p>\n

\n
• The oldest player to homer in a MLB game<\/strong><\/em>.<\/span> Franco went deep at age 48 years, 254 days, hitting a two-run shot off Arizona\u2019s Randy Johnson as Franco\u2019s Mets topped the Diamondbacks 5-3 on April 26, 2006).\u00a0 In that same game Franco also became the second-oldest MLB player to steal base \u2013 and, thus, the oldest player to homer and steal a base in the same game.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/li>\n
• The oldest player to hit a grand slam<\/strong><\/em><\/span> (46 years, 308 days) \u2013 connecting as a pinch hitter for the Atlanta Braves in a 7-2 win over the Marlins on June 27, 2005.<\/li>\n
• The oldest player to record a multi-homer game<\/strong><\/em><\/span>, belting a pair of homers on June 18, 2005 (age 46 years, 299 days), as his Atlanta Braves topped the Reds at Great American Ball Park. Franco started at first base and went two-for-four with two homers and three RBI.<\/li>\n
• The oldest player to hit a pinch-hit home run<\/strong><\/em><\/span>, in the eighth inning of a Mets\u2019 7-2 win over the Padres at San Diego (April 20, 2006 \u2013 47 years, 240 days).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

  A NOD TO TODAY\u2019S 2017 ALL STAR GAME<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

  Cal Ripken Jr. holds one of the “oldest to” records to elude Julio Franco. Ripken is the oldest player to homer in an All Star Game. It came in 2001, -hen Ripken – at 400 years, 320-days of age \u2013 not only homered, but also took home the game\u2019s MVP Award. Ripken\u2019s blast came leading off the bottom of the third against the Dodgers\u2019 Chan Ho Park.\u00a0 It was Ripken\u2019s 19^{th<\/sup> All Star Game and the Iron Man\u2019s final MLB season.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n}

  <\/a>Julio Franco not only holds a host of \u201coldest\u201d marks for power, he also proved that you can run right past age 40.\u00a0 On June 16, 2005 \u2013 at age 46 years, 297 days – Franco became the oldest player to have a multi-stolen base (2) game, as his Braves topped the Reds 5-2; as well as the oldest player to steal two bases in an inning.\u00a0 Franco singled to lead off the seventh inning, and stole second and third (around an Andruw Jones groundout) before scoring on a Johnny Estrada double.<\/p>\n

  A COUPLE OF OTHER OLDIES, BUT GOODIES<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

  Charlie O\u2019Leary of the St. Louis Browns \u2013 on September 30, 1934 \u2026 at 58-years, 350-days of age \u2013 rapped a pinch-hit single and scored a run, as the St. Louis Browns lost to the Detroit Tigers 6-2 in the last game of the regular season. The feat made O\u2019Leary the oldest MLB player to record a hit and the oldest to score a run.\u00a0 Side note: O\u2019Leary\u2019s last at bat (and last MLB hit) before that day came on October 5, 1913 \u2013 a 21-season gap.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

  In a bit of irony, the oldest major leaguer to record an RBI was a pitcher \u2013 the Rockies’ Jamie Moyer, who, on May 16, 2012 \u2013 at the age of 49 years, 180 days \u2013 drove in two runs in a 6-1 Rockies’ win over the Diamondbacks.\u00a0 Moyer also went 6 1\/3 innings in picking up his second win of the 2012 season. \u00a0Moyer is also the oldest pitcher to notch a major league victory – at 49-years, 150-days old).\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

  Need more convincing as to Franco’s “Shrine-worthiness?”\u00a0 Let\u2019s look at his career in a bit more depth. Franco (full name Julio Cesar Franco Robles) started his professional career in 1978 at the age of 19 \u2013 hitting .305 with the Butte Copper Kings of the Pioneer League (Rookie level). \u00a0A Phillies\u2019 farm hand, the young Dominican infielder hit .300 or better each minor league season (A, AA. AAA) until making his major league debut in 1982.<\/p>\n

  JULIO FRANCO \u2013 FOR BASEBALL RELIQUARY SHRINE OF THE ETERNALS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

  If \u00a0you believe “Old Guys Rule” – Julio Franco should be your king.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

  <\/a>From 1982 to 1994, Franco played primarily as a middle infielder and DH for the Phillies, Indians, Rangers and White Sox \u2013 making three All Star teams (MVP of the 1990 All Star Game), earning five Silver Slugger Awards and leading the American League in hitting at .341 for the Rangers in 1991. In that 1991 campaign, Franco collected 201 hits, 15 homers, 78 RBI, 108 runs scored and 36 steals in 45 attempts. At season’s end, he had hit .300+ in five of the past six seasons \u2013 the lone exception being .296 in 1990. \u00a0In that six-year span, Franco hit .313, with 67 home runs and 155 stolen bases.<\/p>\n

  In 1994, when the remainder of the MLB season was lost to a strike, Franco was in the midst of possibly his best campaign.\u00a0 After 112 games, he was hitting .319, with 138 hits, 20 home runs, 98 RBI, 72 runs scored, and eight steals.<\/p>\n

  JULIO FRANCO MISSED THIS ONE<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

  Jason Giambi is the oldest player to hit a walk-off, game-winning home run (42 years, 202 days), as his Indians topped the White Sox 3-2 on July 29, 2013.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

  Franco was determined to keep swinging the bat and signed to play in Japan with the Pacific League Chiba Lotte Marines. \u00a0In the 1995 Japanese season, Franco hit .306 and won the league\u2019s equivalent of the Gold Glove at first base. Franco returned to MLB in 1996, joining the Cleveland Indians, hitting .322-14-76 in 112 games. In August of the following season, the Indians released Franco \u2013 who was hitting .284-3-25 at the time. He finished the 1997 campaign with the Brewers, hitting .241 in 14 games with Milwaukee.<\/p>\n

  In 1998, at age 39, Franco was back in Japan playing for Chiba Lotte; where he hit .290, with 18 home runs and 77 RBI in 131 games. Then in 1999, he celebrated turning 40 (when most ballplayers are retired or coaching) by hitting for a .423 average in the Mexican League and getting one late season MLB at bat with Tampa Bay.<\/p>\n

  As he moved into his forties, Franco was far from finished as a player. He played in South Korea in 2000 (age 41), hitting .327-22-110.\u00a0 In 2001, the well-traveled batsman was back in the Mexican League (Mexico City Tigers), where stellar play (a .437 average in 110 games) earned him a spot on the Atlanta Braves’ roster in September. Franco hit .300, with three home runs and 11 RBI over the final 5 \u00bd weeks of the MLB season.<\/p>\n

  From 2001 to 2007, the ageless wonder \u2013 professional hitter and pretty darn good first sacker \u2013 played for the Braves and Mets. \u00a0From 2001 through 2006 \u2013 ages 42 to 47 \u2013 Franco averaged .290 over 581 games. \u00a0He hit .222 in 55 games in his final MLB season \u2013 2007 with the Mets and Braves.<\/p>\n

  Even at 49, Franco was not done battering baseballs. In 2008, he could be found at first base with the Tigres de Quintana Roo of the Mexican League (where he hit .250 in 36 games). That season, Franco \u2013 after 23 Major League seasons and 30 years after his first professional baseball game \u2013 \u00a0announced his retirement as a player.<\/p>\n

  Oops? Not so fast. In 2014, at the age of 55, he appeared in seven games for the Fort Worth Cats of the independent United League \u2013 going six for 27.\u00a0\u00a0 Then in 2015, Franco was signed as player-manager of the Ishikawa Million Stars of the Japanese independent Baseball Challenge League (identified as a semi-pro league); and he is currently listed as a hitting coach with the KBO (Korea) League Lotte Giants organization.\u00a0 Note: Franco has also managed in the Gulf Coast League (Rookie level), Venezuelan Winter League and Mexican League.<\/em><\/p>\n

  Need more evidence to support Franco’s candidacy for the Shrine of the Eternals? \u00a0 In 23 MLB seasons, Franco hit .298, with 2,586 hits, a .298 average, 173 homers, 1,285 runs, 1,194 RBI and 281 stolen bases. He also collected 618 minor league (U.S) hits, 316 in the Mexican League, 286 in Japan, 267 in the Dominican Winter League and 156 in South Korea and six in independent ball (U.S.).<\/p>\n

  Clearly, Julio Franco is a player whose skills were evident across time and geography and whose contributions and character deserve Baseball Reliquary consideration.<\/p>\n

   <\/p>\n

  I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT<\/h3>\n

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  Follow\/Like Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook page, click here.\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0Baseball commentary, blog post notifications and PRIZES.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

   <\/p>\n

  Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); The Baseball Reliquary; The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; Baseball Bloggers Alliance.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  SPOILER ALERT \u2013 A HINT AS TO WHAT THIS BLOG POST is ALL ABOUT On July 29, 2006, the Mets\u2019 Julio Franco became the oldest player ever put into an MLB game as a pinch runner (47 years, 340 days).\u00a0\u00a0 In that contest, the Mets’ first baseman and cleanup hitter Carlos Delgado was hit by […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n