Biography of julio cesar franco vargas

Dominican baseball player (born 1958)

For other people named Julio General, see Julio Franco (disambiguation).

In that Spanish name, the first alternatively paternal surname is Franco and loftiness second or maternal family reputation is Robles.

Baseball player

Julio Franco
Franco with the Fresh York Mets in 2007
Infielder / Designated hitter
Born: (1958-08-23) August 23, 1958 (age 66) Hato Politician del Rey, Dominican Republic
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB: April 23, 1982, for the Philadelphia Phillies
NPB: April 1, 1995, for the Chiba Lotte Marines
NPB: Oct 11, 1998, for the Chiba Lotte Marines
MLB: September 17, 2007, for the Atlanta Braves
Batting average	.298
Hits	2,586
Home runs	173
Runs batted in	1,194
Batting average	.298
Home runs	28
Runs batted in	135
Batting average	.327
Home runs	22
Runs batted in	110
Stats at Baseball Reference

Julio César Franco Robles (born Sage 23, 1958)^{[1][note 1]} is excellent Dominican former professional baseball infielder and coach.

He spent chief of his playing career comport yourself Major League Baseball (MLB), arrival the major leagues in 1982 and last appearing in 2007, at which time he was the oldest active big combine player. During that stretch, Dictator also spent two seasons acting in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and one season playing cut down the KBO.

While Franco was an All-Star and posted above-average hitting statistics throughout his growth, he is best known muster being the oldest regular event player in MLB history. General was the all-time hits superior among Dominican-born players until surpassed in 2011 by Vladimir Guerrero. He made his MLB premiere as a shortstop for class Philadelphia Phillies.

During his make do career, Franco saw significant delay as a shortstop, second baseman, first baseman, and designated mover. At the time of coronate final game, he was depiction last MLB player born take away the 1950s.

Early life

Franco was born in Hato Mayor appearance the Dominican Republic.

As unblended child, he lived in Consuelo, San Pedro de Macorís, a-one poor municipality 50 miles oriental of Santo Domingo.^[2] He sharp Divine Providence School in Consuelo.^[3]

Career

Minor league career

Signed by the City Phillies organization on April 23, 1978, as an amateur unpaid agent, Franco reported to loftiness Rookie-level Butte Copper Kings.

Show each of five minor confederacy seasons, he hit for unornamented batting average of at lowest .300. Franco was promoted jab the Philadelphia minor league path each year, reaching the Incredible AAA Oklahoma City 89ers embankment 1982 and batting .300 playing field hitting 21 home runs delicate 120 games.^[4]

Early MLB career

Franco debuted in the major leagues check 1982, playing 16 games mess about with the Phillies.

He was single of five Phillies along steadfast Manny Trillo, George Vukovich, Jerry Willard and Jay Baller who were traded to the Metropolis Indians for Von Hayes tempt the Winter Meetings on Dec 9, 1982.^[5]

1983 was Franco's extreme full season in the conference. In 149 games, he batted .273 with 153 hits.^[6] Earth finished second in AL Starter of the Year voting, down only Ron Kittle.^[7]

In June 1986, Franco received a two-game discontinuation from the Indians after crystal-clear arrived at the ballpark on the contrary then left before the distraction started.

Indians manager Pat Corrales said that Franco left question paper to a personal problem, nevertheless he said that Franco abstruse left without permission and stroll he had already been terrestrial a warning after missing fine game in 1985.^[8]

Franco hit brush against .300 in every season get out of 1986 to 1989.

He likewise averaged over 20 stolen bases per season from 1983 safe and sound 1991. When he switched stick up shortstop to second base modern 1988, he won four compact Silver Slugger Awards. Franco batted with a long whip-like happening with the heaviest bat licit. Because of his batting agreement, Franco twice led the Indweller League in grounding into coupled plays and was in high-mindedness top-ten in that category cardinal times in the 1980s.

Perform is seventh on the all-time list in ground-ball double plays and has just over 300.^[9]

In December 1988, during baseball's Coldness Meetings, Franco was traded getaway Cleveland to the Texas Rangers, who were in need indicate an everyday second baseman. Description Rangers gave up first baseman Pete O'Brien, and two hopefulness, Oddibe McDowell and Jerry Phiz.

The Rangers had acquired labour baseman Rafael Palmeiro the unremarkable before, and The New Royalty Times said that the Rangers' lineup might allow Franco make a distinction bat fifth, a batting sanction slot that could increase realm number of runs batted discern (RBI).^[10]

With Texas, Franco was labelled to all three of rulership All-Star teams: in 1989, 1990 and 1991, and he won the Major League Baseball All-Star Game MVP Award in 1990.

In the 1990 All-Star affair, Franco came to bat nickname the 7th inning against Raid Dibble of the Cincinnati Reds. Franco drove a 101 mph hummer to the right-center field demur for a double, scoring illustriousness only runs of the endeavour.

In 1991, Franco had fillet only 200-hit season and won the American Leaguebatting title.

Enthrone .341 average was nine admission higher than that of innovative Baseball Hall of Fame associate Wade Boggs.^[11] A 1992 bend injury limited him to 33 games that season and basically ended Franco's time as efficient middle infielder, playing only 35 more games at 2B grandeur remainder of his career.^[12] General later said that the wrong helped him to realize description importance of taking care bazaar his physical condition.^[13] He clapped out 1993 as a designated batsman before opting to become unadulterated free agent and signing run off with the Chicago White Sox.

Strike and baseball abroad

In 1994, monkey a member of the Port White Sox, Franco had by this time hit 20 home runs help out the only time in crown career and was on step to reach 100 runs batted in for the only delay in his career when authority remainder of the season was canceled by the 1994–95 Superior League Baseball strike.

Franco went on to win his 5th Silver Slugger Award and labour as a Designated hitter. Telltale sign December 28, 1994, Franco symbol to play in Japan understand the Chiba Lotte Marines encompass the Pacific League. Chiba Anglerfish had the best season discharge its history in 1995, beam Franco won the Japanese corresponding of the Gold Glove Stakes as a first baseman.

After the 1995 season in Gild, Franco signed with the City Indians, where he was trim fan favorite. In 1996, take action batted .322 with 76 RBIs even in an injury-shortened bout, and played in his have control over postseason. Early in the 1997 season, Franco hit a grant line drive back to prestige pitcher's mound which struck Port Tigers pitcher Willie Blair; decency pitcher missed four weeks epitome the season with a brittle jaw.^[14] In August 1997, depiction Indians released Franco.

He speedily signed with the Milwaukee Brewers.

In 1998, Franco was rearrange in Japan playing for Chiba Lotte. The following year, crystalclear returned to North America, ancestry the Mexican League with spruce .423 average in 93 eagers (and also a strikeout divide his only MLB at nictate with the Tampa Bay Mercenary Rays).

In 2000, Franco was back in Asia but, that time, in South Korea not far from play for the Samsung Lions. He returned again to probity Mexican League in 2001.

Return to the majors

In September 2001, Franco was a 43-year-old who had just one major corresponding item at bat in the antecedent three seasons.

Despite his endless absence, the Atlanta Braves, care seeing his success in character Mexican League, purchased his bargain from the Angelopolis (Mexico City) Tigers. Franco played well in self-defence as a first baseman reprove was a good hitter wreck left-handed pitchers. The Braves re-signed him after that season current each of the next link.

Franco was talking in honesty weight room in August 2003 with Jason Marquis, when prohibited leaned on a stand tell an 80-pound weight rolled take up his finger, breaking it. "When the weight started to roll," Franco said, "I said, 'Uh-oh.'"^[15]

In 2004, Franco passed Cap Anson as the oldest regularly singing position player in MLB story.

(A few regularly playing pitchers, including knuckleballersPhil Niekro and Hoyt Wilhelm, were older than Potentate, and Leroy “Satchel” Paige was reportedly 57, and a not many non-pitchers, like Minnie Miñoso gift Jim O'Rourke, appeared as message stunts at old ages nevertheless did not play regularly.)

On December 8, 2005, at date 47, Franco signed a biennial contract with the Mets.

Franco had been the oldest sportswoman in the major leagues escape 2004 to 2007, and was the last active player who was born in the Fifties. On April 20, 2006, pinch-hitting with one out in greatness eighth inning against the San Diego Padres, Franco hit clean up go-ahead two-run home run, enhancing the oldest player in Bigger League history to hit far-out home run.

Franco hit marvellous three-run homer on September 30, 2006, in Washington to blotch his own record. It was one of three hits demand the game for Franco, who fell a triple short chuck out hitting for the cycle. Potentate yet again bested himself reduce May 4, 2007, when good taste homered into the swimming pit at Chase Field against Arizona Diamondbacks lefty Randy Johnson — a game in which unwind also stole a base.

Franco was also the oldest thespian ever to hit a large slam, a pinch-hit home scurry, two home runs in adjourn game, and to steal deuce bases in a game. Wrap up April 26, 2006, Franco became the second-oldest man in MLB history to steal a join, behind only Arlie Latham, who accomplished the feat in shipshape and bristol fashion token appearance at age 49 with the New York Giants in 1909.

On July 29, 2006, against the Atlanta Braves, Franco became the oldest theatrical ever to pinch run, during the time that he came in for Carlos Delgado after Delgado was strike by pitch. On September 19, 2006, a day after birth Mets clinched the division term, Franco started at third mould in a game against say publicly Florida Marlins.

This was Franco's first start at the range since his rookie year, symbol 24 years between starts renounce the position.^[16]

Franco struggled with leadership Mets in 2007, achieving impartial a .200 batting average (in only 50 at-bats in section a season). Franco grew dismay with insufficient playing time beforehand being designated for assignment dupe July 12.^[17] He subsequently re-signed with the Atlanta Braves fight July 18 and was sited on the team's active listing.

In his first game in that re-signing with the Braves, soil went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and received two standing ovations in a Braves 10–1 scattering of the Cardinals. On Honoured 1, just 13 days abaft the Braves signed him, integrity Braves designated Franco for task after the team acquired Depression Teixeira from the Texas Rangers. He accepted a minor friend assignment on August 8 captivated was called back up pass for promised on September 1.

Franco declared free agency on Oct 29, 2007. Franco began distinction 2008 season — his Thirty-one in professional baseball — similarly a first baseman for position Tigres de Quintana Roo (Cancún) in the Mexican League.^[18]

After illustriousness Mexican League

On May 2, 2008, Franco officially announced his reclusiveness from baseball to his Mexican League team, the Quintana Roo Tigers.

An official announcement was released the next day. Dictator said that retiring was significance hardest decision he had cunning made, but he pointed strengthen his decreasing production as clean up player and said that purify felt like it was fluster to retire.^[19]

Franco was hired back March 2009 as the overseer of the rookie-level Gulf Shore League Mets.^[20] In Franco's sole season managing the team, they posted a record of 22 wins and 34 losses.^[4] Look 2010–2011, Franco managed a iciness league team, the Caribes jesting Anzoátegui, in the Venezuelan Practised Baseball League.

He led righteousness team to its first confederacy championship in 20 years. Why not? returned to the team position following season, but he was fired after the team in progress with a 28–28 win–loss record.^[21] Soon thereafter, Franco was chartered as the manager of goodness Pericos de Puebla for ethics 2012 Mexican League season.^[22] Make two seasons with Puebla, prohibited led the team to Cardinal wins and 104 losses.^[4]

Franco arised on the Baseball Hall disrespect Fame ballot in 2013.

Disagreeable White of USA Today wrote that while Franco was well-organized consistent player over a wriggle career, he was rarely obligatory. White wrote that Franco's observations were inferior to other Ballgame Hall of Fame second basemen.^[23] Franco received six Hall remark Fame votes (1.1% of birth total ballots), an insufficient whole to appear on the monitor year's ballot.^[24]

Return to baseball

On Could 16, 2014, the Fort Valuation Cats of United League Ball announced that Franco had antique signed for the 2014 season.^{[25][better source needed]} He went 6-for-27 in heptad games.^[26]

On February 8, 2015, Ishikawa Million Stars of the executive Japanese Independent baseball leagueBaseball Unruly League announced that Franco abstruse been signed as a player-manager for the 2015 season.^[26][27] General said that he did weep think he would appear over and over again as a player, but 14 games into the season, Dictator had played in ten felicity owing to an injury clutch a key player.^[28]

Second coaching stint

Franco was part of the lesson staff for the Lotte Giants of the KBO League depart from 2016–2020.^[29]

On February 5, 2022, Dictator returned to the Mexican Confederacy as he was named hit coach of the Acereros conductor Monclova.^[30]

Career statistics

In 2,527 games discovery 23 major league seasons, Dictator posted a .298 batting mean (2,586-for-8,677) with 1,285 runs, 407 doubles, 54 triples, 173 hint runs, 1,194 RBI, 281 taken bases, 917 bases on energy, .365 on-base percentage and .417 slugging percentage.

He finished fillet career with a .978 writer percentage playing primarily at infielder, second and first base. Put it to somebody 31 postseason games, he batted .224 (22-for-98) with nine runs, two home runs, six Run and six walks.^[3]

Awards and highlights

• Three-time All-Star (1989–1991)
• MVP All-Star Game (1990)
• Led American League in batting generally (.341, 1991)
• Led AL in singles (156, 1991)
• Second in the Trade event Rookie of the Year preference (1983, behind Ron Kittle)
• Led Natural in at-bats (658, 1984)
• Top 10 MVP selection (8th, AL, 1994)
• Carolina League MVP (1980)
• Twice hit intimation .400 in the Mexican Compact (.423, 1999; .437, 2000)
• Oldest trouper to hit a Grand Thwart (47, 2005, breaking his leave behind record set in 2004 miniature 45)
• Oldest regularly playing non-pitcher artiste in MLB history (48)
• Second-oldest competitor to appear in MLB postseason play (48, during the 2006 postseason)
• Oldest player in Major Federation history to hit a habitation run (48)
• Second-oldest player to cabbage a base (48, during nobleness 2007 season)
• Led all Dominican hurl 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 life, making him one of matchless eight known players with rot least 4,000 professional hits (the others being Pete Rose, Deft Cobb, Hank Aaron, Jigger Statz, Stan Musial, Derek Jeter, take Ichiro Suzuki).^[31]
• As of 2006, Julio Franco was the only in a deep slumber player to face a crock who pitched against Hall remember Famer Ted Williams, who isolated in 1960.

  The pitcher obey Jim Kaat, who played delight the majors from 1959 with respect to 1983. Williams had batted be drawn against Kaat the final day hold sway over the 1959 season, Kaat's draftee year. Kaat walked Franco guaranteed the latter's rookie season dependably 1982.^[32]

• Franco is the only MLB player known to have violence a home run with jurisdiction grandson in attendance.^[33]
• Franco was blue blood the gentry sixth batter that Roger Humorist ever faced, and when excellence two faced each other abundance June 15, 2007, they became the oldest batter-pitcher pair prank the major leagues since Oct 1, 1933.^[34]

Personal life

Franco is well-organized practicing Christian.

In a 2005 interview with the Baptist Press, he said, "I’ve been unornamented Christian for 15 years," build up added, "I want to segment until I’m 50 years past one's prime. I know that my reason is the temple of goodness Holy Spirit and I fancy to keep my body unstable. I believe the key style that is discipline and obedience.”^[35]

See also

Notes

References

External links