Julio Franco case for Hall of Fame
by engelsol on Sep 8, 2007 12:11 AM CDT
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PrintOk, ok. He does not have Rod Carew numbers but, if you consider:
And if you add to that:
And just think how his numbers would look now if he does not make the mistake to go to Japan a his peak. A really bad decision provoked because of the 1994 strike and that MLB teams didnt want to pay a lot after that. And consider that his actual numbers are diluted because of him extending his career the lasr years.
And compare his numbers with Ryne Sandberg
And more.. consider that he left MLB in the years of inflated numbers and came back after that. So if his numbers were from an All Star before 1994, what his numbers would be in 1998 when he wasnt in MLB but in Japan. He just lost 4 or 5 full MLB seasons for that case and all at hist peak.
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His longevity is amazing
but I couldn't put him in
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
If Julio
Plays another four years, he'll be in the Hall because of his longevity. Even if never elected by ballot.
Time does funny things. The worst of which is, it keeps moving when you don't.
by Ed Coffin on Sep 8, 2007 12:31 AM CDT reply actions
japan
also, didn't he just spend 1 season there? past his prime anyway? probably had something to do with the strike. franco wanted to play baseball damnit!
Al Gore 2008 http://www.myspace.com/igotsculture
What's truly amazing...
Since he's Dominican we can justly add at least six years to his age. Despite publicly saying that he wants to play until he is 50, he's in truth been doing it for years.
i think he does
10 straight all star games at 2b (9 time starter)
9 straight gold gloves at 2b
7 silver sluggers at 2b
9 straight gold gloves at 2b
7 silver sluggers at 2b
1 mvp, 2 other top 5 finishes
was a best in the post season
clearly he was the best 2b in the league from 1984-1993.
Al Gore 2008 http://www.myspace.com/igotsculture
Some things
Franco didn't play in Japan in his prime. He played there in his age 36 and age 39 seasons.
Also, the comparison to Sandberg is flawed because Sandberg spent his career as a very good defensive 2B.
Franco spent 5 years as a bad defensive SS, 4 years as a bad defensive 2B, and the rest of his career as a 1B and DH.
And he's spent much of his career as a part time player.
Franco has had a very good career, but his not a HOF caliber player.
At 36
Franco went to Japan ( a mistake in my opinion ) at 36, after a VERY GOOD 1994 season( 319 AVE, 406 OBP and personal record with 98 RBIs and 20 HRs ), so clearly in very good condition for several years to come as he has proved later.
He came back in 1996 at 37 years old and had ( 322 AVE with Cleveland ). At 1997 inexplicably he was release by Cleveland batting 284 and a 367 OBP and finish with Milwaukee.
In 1998 He went back to Japan because no team in MLB thought he had anything to offer. And lost another 3 MLB season with this.
HE wanted to continue playing and went to Mexico and Batted well over 400 and only after that ONE team Atlanta offered him a chance. But of course he was now 43. What did you want Adam, an All Star at that age after 3 season abroad. And have being a `part time player since then.
At 36 he was in his personal prime. His numbers at age 35-36 say it all...
As you said perhaps he is not a caliber HOF.. but man player like this there are not much. And by the way he shares with Ty Cobb and Pete Rose the honors of being the ONLY 3 players with more than 4,200 hits in his professional career. Including all PRO Leagues.. I now HOF is about MLB, but how many negro league players are there? many..., How many amaricans have come to Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Japan, etc and be completly failure... The list is realy great... Including many Hall of famers.
He came back in 1996 at 37 years old and had ( 322 AVE with Cleveland ). At 1997 inexplicably he was release by Cleveland batting 284 and a 367 OBP and finish with Milwaukee.
In 1998 He went back to Japan because no team in MLB thought he had anything to offer. And lost another 3 MLB season with this.
HE wanted to continue playing and went to Mexico and Batted well over 400 and only after that ONE team Atlanta offered him a chance. But of course he was now 43. What did you want Adam, an All Star at that age after 3 season abroad. And have being a `part time player since then.
At 36 he was in his personal prime. His numbers at age 35-36 say it all...
As you said perhaps he is not a caliber HOF.. but man player like this there are not much. And by the way he shares with Ty Cobb and Pete Rose the honors of being the ONLY 3 players with more than 4,200 hits in his professional career. Including all PRO Leagues.. I now HOF is about MLB, but how many negro league players are there? many..., How many amaricans have come to Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Japan, etc and be completly failure... The list is realy great... Including many Hall of famers.
I will post a diary
with players that have played in Dominican Republic..including hall of famers...it is a long list.
Sandberg
Was a fan and maedia favorite in Chicago, one was the big US market. So any thing Sandberg was great in a city where baseball was missing success.
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