Happy Birthday, Julio Franco

i think if his age is falsified by this point he should just come forward and bask in it. 'fuck yeah i'm 50, WHUT'

He lost about four seasons in there -- he could have had 3000 hits! (he's already the all-time hits leader for Dominican-born players)

Franco, who broke into the majors with Philadelphia in 1982, was batting .299 with nine home runs and 40 RBIs entering Tuesday. With his next homer, he would become the oldest major leaguer to hit one. Pitcher Jack Quinn was 46 years, 357 days when he homered for the Philadelphia Athletics on June 27, 1930.

``If you love this game, you can continue playing it if you continue having enthusiasm, the attitude and the desire that you need,'' Franco said.

Franco already is the oldest player to hit a grand slam and a pinch-homer.

Cleveland released him in August 1997 despite his .284 average. He spent the rest of the season with Milwaukee, then headed overseas.

He had one at-bat with Tampa Bay in 1999 and Franco spent most of 3 1/2 years in Japan, South Korea and Mexico before Atlanta acquired him on Aug. 31, 2001.

MORBIUS HATES FUN! And Minnie Minoso, too, I bet!

Julio is the last MLB player older than me. *EXISTENTIAL DREAD*

props to Randolph...

Franco Is Back With the Braves
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ATLANTA, July 18 (AP) — Julio Franco will get another chance to swing the bat in the big leagues.

Franco, a 48-year-old utilityman, signed with Atlanta on Wednesday, rejoining the Braves a week after he was cut by the Mets. He played for the Braves as a backup from 2001 to 2005. He is a 24-year veteran with 2,576 career hits and is a lifetime .298 hitter.

He hit only .200 (10 for 50) with one home run this year.

Franco played sparingly for the Mets this season, starting only six times, but he provided leadership in the Mets’ clubhouse and mentored several of the team’s younger players. Manager Willie Randolph said he hoped Franco could achieve his goal of playing at age 50, but added that there was a reason he would not have that chance with the Mets.

“The clubhouse stuff is totally overrated,” Randolph told reporters in San Diego. “You have to play, you have to produce.”

This season, Franco became the oldest player to hit a home run in major league history.

Ben Shpigel contributed reporting from San Diego.

KEEP THAT IN MIND WITH LODUCA IN NOVEMBER OMAR

Willie OTM. I like that there are still players older than me out there, but WTF, Schuerholz, this is fucking dumb.

man it was totally lo duca's fault milledge missed that play last night.

man I'm totally blaming LoDuca for everything that's not his fault

Tho instead of "I," I should refer to "the plethora of people that don't feel the need to defend an overrated catcher."

who overrates catchers? the fact that the guy doesn't get hit in the groin with every pitch makes him remarkable enough.

oh right, joe mauer, yadda yadda.

he's still a better option than thorman

cut by the braves.

this could be the end.

NOT RETIRED

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/13630613/at-57-years-old-julio-franco-playing-baseball-japan

Happy 60th birthday, Julio!