Unless you are a hardcore baseball fan, you probably will not remember Julio Franco all that well. You certainly will not remember him as a member of the Quintana Roo Tigers, the Mexican League team that he played for before announcing his retirement on Wednesday. Franco's retirement age: 49. But there are several reasons to remember Franco, not all of which paint him as merely an age-defying novelty act. At the very normal age of 33, Franco hit .341 in 1991 to win the American League hitting title as a Texas Ranger. Franco also played in the Japanese League — for two separate stints — and successfully came back to the Major Leagues each time. After his second tour with Japan's Chiba Lotte Marines, he even played in South Korea and Mexico before returning to the U.S. unheard-of territory for a major-leaguer. He also batted better than .400 twice in the Mexican League, and had 4,229 hits in his professional career, including minor-league and international play. But, let's face it: The world does not remember many players who fail to get to 3,000 major-league hits; or 200 career home runs; or finish with a lifetime batting average under .300. Franco simply did some things that made a mockery of what baseball players are supposed to be able to do. Franco faced a pitcher who faced Ted Williams. Jim Kaat walked Franco in 1982, Franco's rookie season. Kaat pitched to Williams in 1959. Franco became the oldest regularly playing ...
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